Marc Rebillet

Keeping us in the loop

Being made redundant was the start of the improvisational musician’s career – and now millions of fans have fallen for his genre-hopping brand of electronic uniqueness

Words WILL LAVIN Photography SHANE McCORMICK

Becoming famous was never part of Marc Rebillet’s plans. Or rather, he didn’t think it possible. Yet the improvisational producer and YouTube star, also known as Loop Daddy, is now one of the internet’s most dynamic musicians, beloved by millions for his quirky, frenetic livestream performances – usually while dressed in nothing more than a silky dressing gown and boxers.

No subject is off-limits, no lyric too taboo, but Rebillet’s output is more than throwaway comedy – his songs often have roots in serious sentiment and display genuine musical talent; he had classical music training up until the age of 15.

Despite his natural ability to perform, Rebillet – who was born in Dallas, Texas, to a French father and an American mother – sidelined his urge to make music for more than a decade, working regular office jobs instead. It was only when he lost his job in customer support at a Dallas call centre that he dared to really try. “I probably would never have pursued music professionally had I not lost that job,” he says.

In 2016, armed with a MIDI keyboard and his trademark Boss RC-505 Loop Station, Rebillet began filming livestream performances from his New York apartment – and people liked it. His rapidly growing online following earned him local gigs where he prided himself on winning over sceptical lunchtime diners. He has now released three albums and two EPs, performed for audiences of thousands around the world, and collaborated with some musical. It’s basically a parody of music. You exploit music to make jokes. I hate music comedy. Hate it, hate it, hate it. So I don’t want to be part of that club. I hope that what I’m doing is banger enough to stand as good music, and then I’m just doing stupid shit over it. That’s my conflict: trying to be a musician first and then the other stuff is kinda silly.

So the music is the main thing?

The music is the main concern. It needs to sound good in order for me to be able to do anything remotely funny over it. I think over the years my stuff has become less shock-value shit. It’s less like goofy comedy and more refined, I hope. There are a lot of serious messages in there now, and I hope the music sounds a little better than it did a few years ago.

Did your father’s belief in your musical aspirations spur you on?

He was unbelievably charismatic, as French as you can possibly imagine, and he loved me more than anything else in the world. Because of that, he had ceaseless advice. As a kid, I just wanted to make beats, but he was like, “No, you need to perform. You need to do this, you need to do that.” He was such an aggressive enjoyer of life and would always say things like, “Oh man, what a great dinner we’re having,” and “Oh my God, look at the sky. Take in a deep breath.”

of his musical heroes – from Flying Lotus to Erykah Badu – which he’s described as “just insane”.

Rebillet’s late father Gilbert was a huge supporter right up until his death from Alzheimer’s in 2018, always telling his son he belonged on the stage. Now, at 33, with a new Amazon Music web series (We’ve Got Company) and a European tour underway, Rebillet can finally agree.

  : What did you tell yourself when your dreams of a music career seemed doomed?

 : I had the same conversation with myself over and over again: “Who are you kidding? You’re getting older, you’ve never made a cent doing music, and you obviously don’t have the work ethic to get it done. Why keep holding on to this ridiculous, insane notion?” Then one day, when our whole [call centre] department was let go, I was given two months of severance, so I looked at it as free time to get things together. I went to see this dude who I’d waited tables for, and he hired me to play a beer festival at his restaurant. It was the first time I ever got paid to make music, in any capacity. Within a month, I had three weekly residencies and some one-off gigs. At first I thought it was a fluke. But then, as the year went on, I started filling out these rooms.

Humour is a big part of what you do. As a trained musician, does that ever cause inner conflict?

I don’t want to be considered a comedy musician, because to me – aside from Weird Al [Yankovic] and Tenacious D, who are untouchable icons – that genre is not legitimately

Is that the source of the positive affirmations in your music?

Absolutely! I’m lucky, I was given a lot of love as a kid. Even when I’m dealing with stress and anxiety, my baseline setting is pretty happy. So that comes out. And now I know it resonates with people, I’m tempted to do it as much as I can. What better thing can you do with this feeling than to evangelise it? We’ve Got Company airs every Wednesday; twitch.tv/amazonmusic. The next UK date on Marc Rebillet’s European tour is the O2 Academy Glasgow on August 8; marcrebillet.com

“My baseline setting is pretty happy. So that comes out”