Jim Bauer is a singer, composer, performer, guitarist. He is the son of Axel Bauer and Nathalie Cardone and the grandson of Frank Bauer, who was one of the voices of Radio London, the program broadcast in France by the BBC after the appeal of June 18, 1940. A few months ago, the general public discovered Jim Bauer during the show The Voice on TF1. After two EPs, he released an album: Jim.
franceinfo: What place has music occupied since your childhood? We feel that she has been with you for so long.
Jim Bauer: I finally started the music quite late compared to the place it has now. I started at 13 with electro and hip hop. Before that, I only wanted to draw and I wanted to work in video games and manga. I only touched the guitar when I was 15. I did it because I wanted to get closer to a girl and I had to enroll in computer music classes to be in her class. And finally, I never spoke to him, but I started the music.
Today, you release your first album which is called: Jim. It’s a business card, a way of introducing yourself.
For a long time, I had the problem of saying to myself: OK, where do I start? I learned a lot of things by working for others, I’m curious and if I start with something specific, people will say: “It’s his house“. So I said to myself: I have to start with a sort of business card that is a little refined, simple, without too many concepts, but which just shows a little who I am, what I do and try to give. Perhaps a more technical indication to explain what my ‘touch’ is, so I made a sort of large fresco.
There are 16 tracks on the album. You mixed everything, created everything yourself. Was it important to keep control and go through with this artistic process?
What I like is being at the origin of the idea, starting with the blank page. I find it difficult to take projects on the road. In fact, it was also a bit of a form of fanaticism, that is to say that I am a big fan of Lenny Kravitz, of Prince, of artists like that who, at least for their first album, have everything done on their own. And so, I wanted to do the same for mine.
Is it hard to have parents who make music? Isn’t that also what pushed you to, a little, delay the deadline or to want to do something else, exist by yourself?
When I was little, yes, I think so. But they were in a kind of madness with great success which meant that for me, with my childish look, it was something a little “difficult” to live with. It’s not “difficult”, but it’s weird how everyone likes my parents. Afterwards, I lived in the south of France and I was a little further from all that, it allowed me to take a step back and see music for music and not for the profession of music.
What did your parents pass on to you?
I would say that these are two people who were very complementary. My father is a hard worker, who composes, who is also an excellent producer. There are plenty of things we don’t know about him, including all the talents he may have. He’s an excellent multi-instrumentalist, beyond being one of the best guitarists I know, maybe even the best. My mother is one of the best actresses I know and also an excellent singer, who carries a lot of emotions and who knows very well the art of interpreting the body, the stage, etc. And in fact, by drawing from both, I tried to make my micmac a little bit, but there are plenty of things in which they are still much better than me.
There is a vector that connects you to the music, and it is unanimous, it is your voice. What place does it occupy?
I almost want to tell you that it happened. When I started music, I wanted to be a beat maker. Afterwards, I wanted to be a guitarist. Afterwards, I played in the street for a long time, in Montmartre, in the metro, in bars and in clubs. I trudged like that and in this situation, I was expected to sing. For six years, I sang without a microphone and that pushed me to send the voice a little louder, while knowing how to dose it so as not to break it. And then now, it’s what allows me to create a link between everything I do.
The song that opens the album is called: fear away. It’s no coincidence that you put it first, it suits you.
Yes. In fact, it’s one of the most personal songs on the album. It’s a song that’s a lot about letting go and saying, “Go it’s good, go!“It’s always difficult for anyone to go for it. It’s a path, it takes time and it’s true that having confidence in yourself is something I’m learning.
“My demons are there to inspire me, to give me strength, a certain intensity on stage and today, they make me happy.”
I think I’m still quite tortured, but I managed to channel it a bit into the music or the lyrics. I think it’s also part of the process of becoming more adult and knowing yourself more. Me, I use it.
What does this album represent for you?
Who I am today and it’s a pretty neutral ID photo, not trying to put too much artifice or calculating something for a concept or anything, it’s just: “Hello, I’m here, it’s me, I introduce myself“, then we go further in the TOC.