HOTEL PARADISIO // Interview

We met the mysterious artist hiding under the nickname of 'Hotel Paradisio'. Indeed, this young artist who remains very secretive about the person he is and also his private life, agreed to grant us this interview where he answeredwith a great sincerity. The one who reach nearly 1.5 million views on YouTube and often described as a master of 'Cloud Rap' in France, tells us about his projects, his debut in music and especially what inspires him. Under this desire of remains lowkey we discovered - above all - a passionate and conquering young man who decided to dedicate his life to the thing he loves the most in the world: Music.

Where did you get the nickname for Paradisio Hotel? At the start, I was looking for a pseudonym, and I wanted something original that came out of the common language. I liked the idea of taking the name of a place instead of a first name or character. 'Hotel Paradisio' came naturally to me. When I started the music I was talking about a lot of travel in my songs and I thought it was good for me.

Can you describe yourself and your music to an English audience who wants to know you? I'm a rapper, that's for sure, but otherwise I do not really know how people perceive me. (laughts). I make the music for the dreamer that pushes to travel. Introspection and reflection also are close to my heart in my songs. In truth, I tried to change the idea of myself with my last EP, where I made songs with more rhythmic parts. I'm often described as a chill rapper who makes sweet music and I wanted to prove that I'm not just that.

I'm often described as a chill rapper who makes sweet music and I wanted to prove that I'm not just that.

It's true that we often talk about you as a rapper from the Cloud Rap. Is that a picture you want to change? Yes, in a way. But the problem is that people like to categorize others and put them in a box. It's always the same chorus - they associate you with a musical genre as well as others artists. For example, at the beginning I was very much associated with Ash Kidd because we had made a piece together called 'REV', now things have changed because my world evolves constantly, although in particular on Amityville, my last project.

Since Ash Kidd, you've never done any featuring. Is that a wish for you? In real I would love, but for the moment I have never met anyone with whom I had a good feeling to do a feature. But I'm not opposed to that idea.

Which artists would you dream about doing a feature with? There is a lot of American artists with whom I would like to make songs... It's a long list. (laughs). If I were to pick one, I would say Post Malone. He’s testing a lot of new things in rap and I admire him very much for that.

You were 14 when you turned to music... what pushed you towards this passion? I started playing piano when I was younger, but it didn't really impassion me. And my cousins who were older than me started making me listen to American songs, and even though at first I was struggling to get into the vibe, I got used to it and some time after that, I bought my first album of US Rap. It was by Eminem. And of course, it started to fascinate me and I began to write.

From now on, you’re an independent artist who accumulates more than 1.4 million views on YouTube. Can you tell me more about that? It is true that I am attached to my independence and dependence on people. But I mostly worked hard to get to this point. It's been almost three years that I’ve constantly worked on prouction, models, songs, etc. and now I get to live this and it changed everything. I think my next project would contain only sounds that I made myself.

End of July 2018 you were talking about creating your own label... Can you tell me more? Later, I would like to be able to produce artists, make video clips, make records. All this in having my own studio. I'm still thinking about the name for now...

You are as strong on your production as with the visuals on your videos. It must take you a lot of time... Do you devote all your time to music? Yes, all my time. (laughs). From morning to night, I'm still working on ideas. Sometimes, I don't even see the time spent as I’m so much I'm invested in what I do. Without limit, I'm "too" into it. (laughs). It's not easy every day to share my time between music, friends, and family. But you have to go through it if you want to succeed, there are sacrifices to make. It's essential. The most important thing is to believe in yourself.

Can you tell me what inspires you? It comes naturally to me with the music. Often, it is the melody that reminds me of emotions and I let my inspiration do the rest. I always try to adapt my words to the beat.

In your title 'Moto', You say "Work my pen to turn it into a missile"... Is rap also a way to fix your troubles with others? Yes and No. (laughs). Often I put punchlines in, but it is mostly to show an emotion. I'm also trying to put myself in the shoes of others. All that I evoke in my songs I have already lived, but I also try to speak for others. But it's true that I also make subliminal messages about what I can't say in a verbal voice.

You have a lot of skill in expressing what you think and how you feel. Is it hard to make it open this way or is it something natural and simple for you? I do it naturally but when I post the sound, I try not to think too much, otherwise it would stop me from publishing. It's like throwing yourself into the void somehow. Once it's done, it’s done.

There are sacrifices to make if you want to succeed. The most important thing is to believe in yourself.

In your song 'Nectar' You say "I don't want my head in the press"… The media world is something that makes me rather afraid in truth. I remain a fairly reserved person who does not necessarily like to show too much.

Can you tell me about your future plans? After the release of Amityville on 28th December, I kept going with a new project that will soon be done I think. I'll let you find out more soon.

Words © Fanny Hill Scott

Photography © Thanushan Skandarajah