SLIFT takes new songs to Toulouse streets
Heavy rock trio SLIFT is proving that sometimes the most electrifying art isn’t found behind closed doors, but on the streets. After diving deep into the complexities of their latest Sub Pop album, Fantasia, the band brought their powerful sound to the French streets, transforming a public space into a raw stage during the annual Fête de la Musique celebration.
The experience was captured in the performance video Live From the Street, filmed during a sweltering June heatwave outside the 60-capacity Toulouse club where SLIFT first played a proper show a decade ago. Directed by the band’s visual artist Guthio, the video showcases the group tearing through tracks like “The Day of Execution” and “Secret Mirror.”
For guitarist and vocalist Jean Fossat, playing outside a traditional venue offers something uniquely liberating. “If I were SLIFT’s booking agent, I would book all the shows in the streets,” he shared. “I really love the way you can take the public space and make art inside. It’s a totally crazy experience each time. There’s a lot of people and a lot of energy.”
Street performance, however, is notoriously unforgiving. The band had learned this lesson the hard way, noting that previous attempts were technically challenging. This time around, while monitors offered some help, the real magic came from years of playing together. “We know each other perfectly, so we can play just by vision,” Fossat explained, emphasizing the power of instinct in live performance.
This instinctive playing style perfectly mirrors the creative philosophy behind their recent work. The album Fantasia was intentionally crafted to push the power trio sound to its absolute limit, stripped of any fluff or overproduction. The band sought out producer Kurt Ballou, known for his work with heavy and experimental acts, to push their sound in a more brutal, raw way.
“We wanted to work with him because the idea behind Fantasia was to take our sound as a power trio and push it to the maximum — like really in a raw way without any fluff,” Fossat noted. This deliberate process resulted in a sound that is perhaps even more intense when performed live.
As the songs evolved during the touring process, the band experienced a profound shift. Fossat observed that even their older material felt different now, influenced by the new tracks on Fantasia. “It was the first time we thought, wow, the songs have really evolved between the time we were tracking and the time we’re playing them live,” he said.
This focus on rawness doesn’t mean the band abandoned their broader musical interests. SLIFT’s music still weaves in psychedelic and jazz-informed elements, explicitly referencing figures like John and Alice Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, and Miles Davis. The connection to jazz is a subtle thread that fans who listen closely can detect.
The experience of touring across North America, the UK, and Europe is an expedition for the band, connecting them to American rock history. Yet, the journey also brings a stark realization about cultural differences. While they connect deeply with the American audience’s rock-and-roll history, the experience can also be jarring, highlighting the vast differences between states and the culture itself.
When the long bus rides inevitably set in, the heavy music lover finds a calm refuge in the work of Ethiopian musician and composer, Emahoy. Her beautiful and calm sound provides a perfect counterbalance to the intensity of the road, offering a moment of peace amidst the adventure.
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