1. How long has the Divine Comedy label been running for, what were your reasons for starting it and what was the inspiration behind the name?
We created DC back in 1996, as there were a lot of inspiration and cool bands everywhere, in so many different styles ... BUT, best sellers weren’t as ever the most creative and catchy; Oasis, Pulp and Divine Comedy were amongst the more popular in the independent charts ... being even the flattest in their genre ... so, ironically, Divine Comedy records was the name. It re-locates Dante’s ... and the independent music ... in the UNDERGROUND. In the middle of 1996, I was at a Divine Comedy show, it’s not that they were so bad an act in the studio (compared to the horrible Oasis...), but their show wasn’t absolutely anything special; the public was in love, but I believe they didn’t even understand why. Maybe it was “in the mood” to love that. So, this example of collective hypnotism by the “HYPE” symbolises existence in general. So, Divine Comedy records, yeah ... to start another adventure under that name was a good reason for me to begin!!!!!

2. There seems to be of recent many new French acts and labels appearing on the scene. Have you noticed a positive change yourself in the French scene and if so what reasons do you feel there are for it?
Well, indeed the French scene features some great acts as Celluloid Mata or Mlada Fronta and more recently Sulphuric Saliva, H.I.V+ or Lith, there was not really a scene with labels, teams ... We arrived, the press here get in touch with DC 4 and 6 (“Trees 1” and first H.I.V+ cd), then foreign reviews come ... and immediately, something happened in France ... M-Tronic (signing Mlada Fronta), Brume, La Citadelle and Ombre Sonore released stuff a few months later ... Divine comedy was a motivation (in the sense “it’s possible as a French label”), but just one amongst other motivation; the scene was there, and doing well there. That’s just the fact.

3. My first experience of Divine Comedy Records was the release “Trees On Oscillation vol. 2” album, which is a compilation of various artists. The theme of this album is based around Industrial Noise and Industrial dance music, so does this present us with a clear outlook on the music that your label promotes (solely Industrial) or do you also diversify into other areas?
We are diversified in the sense we are exploring quite all the floors of the Industrial concept (Symphonic, Ambient, Harsh, Ritual, Experimental) ... but we love to explore concepts far beyond music... I mean the industrial concepts not only musical, but something you feel everywhere, in a world full of radioactivity and immensity ... and EMPTYNESS.

4. Who are the bands that are currently signed to Divine Comedy Records; do they mainly originate from France?
Mainly, yes, as H.I.V+, Lith, Othila, Land, Fin De Siecle and Komplex are French people. But S.A.T.K.A, sedarka and Empusae are from Belgium (like Sonar and Hypnoskull who did an exclusive 7” with us!!!), A Challenge Of Honour is from the Netherlands. Das Reut are from Russia; they’re the side-project from Reutoff and will do their first official release as a 10” with us. We’re also planning for an Italian band on DC...
So, let’s say that we are a very open company, as “feeling” is not a question of country, religion, or the likes. Just AFFINITY rules.

5. So, Affinity is the key features you look for in a band?
Sorta “spirit”, like the way you choose a record you want in your collection maybe. We love very professional people doing “free” music, if you see what I mean ... as you can consider imagination’s the contrary of DEFINITION. I like the experimentations that lead somewhere, like a song, with a strong melody...
Industrial must have the achievement every kind of music must have. That’s why, for example, Free Jazz by Ornette Colemen or John Coltrane’s not noise or pure hazard, or ... hazardous .We also must have the same sense of aesthetism, and it’s so simple when we listen to a release or talk with a guy; we immediately see if we have something in common or not ... There’s certainly a D.C “profile”, but it’s for the reviewer to say that, not for me.

6. How many releases are there now available from Divine Comedy?
Exactly 15...

7. Do you offer other services like management or mail ordering; if not is this something you might consider for the future?
I love to concentrate on the releases (from A to Z), so, there’s a part of management, in the choice of directions ...but generally, we do large promotion and the likes ... just understand it’s very hard to help bands to find gigs or tours, when you live in such a “fucking long way from everywhere’s town” like Marseilles is.
For a mail order, yes, it may be a plan. For the moment, I keep my concentration on our record shop, here in Marseille; the mighty KALEIDOSCOPE.

8. How do you handle the promotion and distribution of the label?
I’m very fond of communication and the likes, the way our bands have a good diffusion! We’re now part of the Tesco distribution, and we have a lot of other channels, as Audioglobe in Italy, Malignant in the USA, tons of mail-order companies have D.C releases, more and more. I work everyday on that, that’s the only secret; I don’t want the bands signed on D.C to be deceived!!!

9. What is the latest news relating to the Divine Comedy label?
The release of the brand new single by Hypnoskull, three fucking good tracks, with screaming voices, saturations, and all what we love with him!!! I’m very proud that Patrick Stevens contacted me to release this, really ... not proud in term of “I’m congratulating myself ”, but in the way that it proves that the hard work D.C provides leads to somewhere...

10. What are the media and clubs like in France; are they very supportive towards Industrial music?
Media’s are D-Side and Elegy, two beautiful magazines, fully coloured, and covering all the tendencies in Dark or Electronic music, from Gothic to E.B.M to pure industrial music or the likes... it’s in French language, but its merits are to be seen by everybody... concerning the club’s, I really dunno...

11. How do you visualise the label and the French scene in five years from now?
My traditional way of thinking makes me avoid talking like Jesus Christ or politicians... I like Visionary Art, but I hate false prophets...

12. Any message you might like to leave us with?
Oh, yes, we really love music, and we consider INDUSTRIAL music not like a business, but as a conviction... and... GOOD NIGHT to all!!!