Forty-nine performances around the world later, The Storyville Mosquito is back in the city of its creator, Kid Koala. The Press spoke with the multidisciplinary artist, who was also very friendly.
One afternoon, when Eric San was 6 or 7 years old, his mother told him that the whole family was going to watch a movie. The child is not particularly delighted. The VHS image is in black and white and the music is old-fashioned. It is Modern Timesby Charlie Chaplin.
“After a minute, I was captivated,” recalls Kid Koala. We all laughed heartily. I have never seen my grandmother laugh so much. I also remember some sadder moments. A special energy was palpable. In my head, I told myself that I was going to replicate this energy when I grew up. For me, this project was like a dream. »
This last sentence, the artist born in Vancouver and now residing in Montreal, said it to us in French with a sparkle in his eye.
DJ, musician, composer, cartoonist and creator with a boundless imagination, Kid Koala has been striving for years to bring emotions to all generations. The Storyville Mosquito, presented for the first time at Place des Arts in 2019, is one of those shows that brings together young and old. It tells the story of a clarinet-playing mosquito who leaves his small village to try to join one of the best orchestras of all time in the big city.
En plus de sa prémisse mignonne, The Storyville Mosquito se distingue par sa spontanéité chorégraphiée : « C’est comme un film en direct réalisé par une équipe de 15 personnes, dont des marionnettistes et un trio de cordes, filmé par plusieurs caméras et projeté sur un grand écran. C’est comme si on pouvait voir le making-of et le produit fini en même temps », résume Kid Koala.
Le choix d’une performance intégralement en direct ajoute complexité et imprévisibilité, mais permet d’offrir un divertissement unique. « Nous voulions la liberté de faire évoluer le spectacle et l’urgence de l’adapter en temps réel. Par exemple, si les marionnettistes sont dans une zone et que la foule apprécie, nous, les musiciens, allons leur en donner un peu plus afin de poursuivre l’élan », explique Kid Koala. Bien qu’il estime que ces moments de communion sont inégalables, le concepteur souligne que l’œuvre n’est pas improvisée, car la synchronisation de certains éléments et des transitions est cruciale.
Le groupe ajuste aussi sa performance selon l’âge du public. Les représentations en après-midi, où il y a plus de jeunes, sont différentes de celles du soir. Le lieu a également un effet. « Presque toute l’équipe habite Montréal, alors on fait quelques petits clins d’œil à notre ville », note Patrick Martel, concepteur des marionnettes et marionnettiste, présent lors de notre rencontre virtuelle avec Kid Koala.
Ça va être notre 50e représentation, alors c’est une célébration pour nous.
Kid Koala
Il ajoute : « Il y a beaucoup de changements par rapport à la première avant la pandémie. Nous avons 10 ans d’expérience ensemble avec [le spectacle précédent] Nufonia Must Fall and we are continually progressing, but everything can still collapse at any moment,” he remarks with a laugh.
Creaturesthe game and the show
PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE KID KOALA SITE
The album and the game Creatures of the Late Afternoon
Almost a year ago, Kid Koala released the album Creatures of the Late Afternoon. Created mainly during the pandemic, the disc is also sold with a magnificent board game. “We often played games as a family and I watched many animal documentaries with my daughter. They inspired me for the characters. I played around thirty instruments to create the music, which will be the soundtrack for our next show,” explains the 49-year-old artist.
He hopes to complete the creation with the same team as that of The Storyville Mosquito within two, two and a half years. This third work will be even more ambitious. “ With the experience of the two previous shows, we set ourselves greater challenges. We want to make nods to the cinematographic language of action films from the 1990s,” announces Patrick Martel.
Back to rap
Kid Koala first distinguished himself as a hip-hop DJ in the 1990s. With rapper Del the Funky Homosapien and producer Dan the Automator, he formed the group Deltron 3030. The homonymous album, released in 2000, and its sequel, Event 2published in 2013, remain highly respected avant-garde works.
The Montrealer confirms that the trio plans to reunite to conclude the trilogy. “Del started writing, but nothing has been recorded yet. The plan is to release the third album and tour in about a year. »
Kid Koala also indicates that he and his compatriot Scott Da Ros, aka Deadly Stare, are working on a project with rapper Ladybug Mecca, of Digable Planets. “We’re fans of hers and were curious to hear her on some really dark beats. She came to Montreal and was very enthusiastic. We would like to finish the album soon. »
The Storyville Mosquito at the Cinquième Salle at Place des Arts, from February 29 to March 3, as part of Montréal en Lumière
Visit the Place des Arts website
Visit the Kid Koala website (in English)
Who is Kid Koala?
DJ, musician and cartoonist born in Vancouver, he studied at McGill University and lives in Montreal.
He created the multidisciplinary and interactive shows Nufonia Must Fall, The Storyville Mosquito, Satellite Turntable Orchestra And Space Cadet Headphone Concert.
A member of the band Deltron 3030, he has also released numerous solo albums, collaborated with Gorillaz and toured with Radiohead, Beastie Boys, Björk and Arcade Fire, among others.
He contributed to the music of the films Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, The Great Gatsby And Baby Driver.