Introduce yourself, who exactly is Quicche?
Quicche is Marc.
What first inspired you to become an artist?
When I started making music, as a teenager, it was certainly, even if it doesn’t sound particularly romantic, just a tool to make friends – at least that’s what I hoped. As I grew older, I realised how much strength one can draw from one’s own creative work and how important it is for my own processing. So the drive has turned 180 degrees since then – the motivation from the outside has given way to an intrinsic motivation.
Congrats on your upcoming release! I’m told the process of creating your album was transformative. How did your new “Red Eyes” single come about?
I think the pandemic has changed many of us. I realised at some point that I was becoming more cautious in my social interactions and that it was extremely important to me that (all) people like me. At the same time, more and more people were losing control of their anger and taking it out on those around them, which in turn made me extremely insecure.
‘Red Eyes’ was my attempt to let go of these feelings, which came from both outside but especially from my own thought spirals, and to detach myself from them.
Tell me more about your affiliation with R&S and your journey with Renaat in finalising the collection.
After the album was finished, we sent it to R&S – quite naively via Instagram, since at the time I hadn’t released any music and didn’t even have an artist profile on social media – I was, if you will, a shadow with a Soundcloud link. But it worked: Renaat and I spoke on the phone the very next day, got to know each other and about two months later we closed the deal over good food and even better drinks in Ghent.
Renaat and everyone else involved gave me complete artistic freedom, for which I am incredibly grateful, especially since this is anything but a given in today’s world. For example, I remember Ren asking me if I wouldn’t mind writing one or two more songs for the album since it’s not too long (which of course he’s right about). I replied that it was very important to me that all the songs on the album were written within the month of isolation and that any more songs would feel alien – without any further discussion, he supported my idea, as it was essential from my artistic perspective.
What’s your ideal vision for your music career when it comes to dream gigs?
I always feel that my music has a connection to nature. So my dream would be to play concerts that harmonise the music and the environment in which they take place. Red Rocks comes to mind spontaneously, best at sunset or even at night.
Were your family supportive in your formative music career?
100%! My family, but also everyone around me, has always supported me in everything I have done, as long as I followed what was good for me. I will be forever grateful to them for that.
On the other hand, there is also some truth in the fact that I probably would never have been able to follow this path without such a supportive environment. I think that we will never be able to get to know a lot of art, maybe even the best art, because it is so difficult for artists to survive and many have to give up along the way.
Outside of music, what else makes you tick?
I like to read, watch films or meet up with friends. I don’t have a huge circle of people around me, but the people who are close to me are really dear to my heart. I also have the strange habit of watching football game recaps, even though I’m no longer really involved in sports, it somehow calms me.
What would be your perfect collaboration?
I would really like to work with authors or poets. Sometimes I have the feeling that lyrics in the context of music are just an accessory or a medium to convey a melody, and that lyrics therefore become more and more irrelevant, even though language has such power.
It would be great to exchange ideas with people who have found their passion in writing. For example, I really like Kae Tempest, a conversation with Benedict Wells would certainly be interesting (also because of the lack of a language barrier) or, of course, Patti Smith.
Talk us through your creative process
There isn’t really a set schedule that I follow, although routines are really important to me – I get up, have a coffee and then go to the studio to make music. In some phases I work on existing songs, in others I actively try to write songs, and in yet other phases I try to block out any sense of purpose and give myself space to experiment, in the hope of finding new styles or techniques.
What’s the story behind your artist name?
To be honest, I’ve always had trouble coming up with fictional names that I can suddenly identify with. My benchmark is to find a name that someone can call and I would immediately turn around without feeling strange about it.
My friend Philip, who also worked with me on Red Eyes, gave me the nickname Quicche years ago, so it felt only natural to choose this name as my stage name as well.
What’s something we don’t already know about Quicche?
Before I decided to become a musician, I really wanted to become an athlete. I was even a pretty good tennis player and trained almost every day until one day a player three years younger than me, who was one of the best in his age group at the time, absolutely wiped the court with me and showed me the reality. In retrospect, it was probably important that this happened, otherwise I would still be chasing this dream today.
Do you have any weaknesses you’re actively trying to improve?
Lots. I put a lot of pressure on myself and have enormous expectations, which sometimes take on unhealthy proportions. Also, when I’m making music, I try to block out the outside world as much as possible, but sometimes I still find myself subconsciously wondering how my friends, management or label will react to the song I’m working on. I definitely want to improve on this, even though I’ve already made a lot of progress.
Which piece of studio kit is your favourite and why?
That’s a really difficult question. I think the Prophet 6 from Sequential is at least the device I use the most. The sound of this synthesiser is simply incredible, even if you only have a few modulation options for it.
I have been very interested in modular systems for a long time and have recently started using the Digitakt II from Elektron as well – both of which offer endless possibilities, which I love. Part of my philosophy, however, is to have fewer devices in any case, but to know them very well, rather than having a room full of expensive equipment that you are not really able to use.
What is it about music that excites you most?
I love approaching music from different perspectives: Sometimes I feel more like a painter who’s seeing the entire length of a song as a canvas, adding little embellishments and details everywhere to ultimately give it my signature. Other times I see myself more in the role of a curator. When I experiment, I record an enormous amount of sounds and in the end it’s no longer about writing a classic song, but about linking the various fragments in a logical and emotionally coherent way, just like a curator who puts together a museum exhibition.
Give us 3 of your favourite songs, past or present…
Jon Hopkins – Immunity
Vegyn – Debold
Lana Del Rey -A&W
What advice would you pass onto younger generations?
Do exactly what you want to do and, if possible, have fun while doing it.
What’s the best piece of advice another person ever gave you?
Don’t see your inner voice as an enemy but as an advisor.
I often worked on music and my inner voice screamed that none of it felt authentic – I went into battle and wanted to prove that I could do it even though I actually knew that it was right. The subconscious can be incredibly helpful because it usually reflects an absolutely unfiltered perspective that you can react to.
Incidentally, this technique is not only applicable in the creative field but can also be very helpful in everyday life, for example when making decisions.
Producers are often great chefs with creativity in their blood. Is this the case for you?
I never cook according to a recipe, but always make something up, so in that sense, the creativity part fits quite well. Unfortunately, the results are quite diverse. I have cooked dishes that I am sure could have been offered in a restaurant, still sometimes my dishes are hardly edible.
Do you have any performances coming up?
There are a few concerts planned, but they have not yet been announced. However, I share all updates on my social media channels.
Any other releases in the pipeline that we should know about?
After ‘Red Eyes’ the album release is coming up and with it the release of many songs that so far have only been heard by people who have seen me live. I also wrote a song a while ago for a short film that will probably come out in 2025 at as well, and my second album will be released in 2026 at the latest. It’s not getting boring!
Open plug, why should people support your new release?
I give absolutely everything I have and everything I am into this music, and maybe it will give you something back in return.
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