Artwork by Angelina Nonaj Design by Ellyson Gasparetto — Artwork by Angelina Nonaj
Design by Ellyson Gasparetto

A friendly face and frequent visitor at our studio space in Montreal (official Also Cool Mag HQ), Francis Latreille, the Quebecois producer, DJ, and label owner known as Priori is a mainstay in the city’s electronic music scene. With influences spanning from the rhizosphere to the exosphere, Priori’s unmistakable productions blend intricate organic sounds with whirring, bleepy cosmic soundscapes traversing house, techno, ambient, and IDM. The spinning, airy rhythms are a full sensory dance bound to keep you light on your feet.

Priori’s scope of creativity is most evident in his multitude of collaborations, including Jump Source with Patrick Holland (Project Pablo), the NAFF label with Adam Feingold (Ex-Terrestrial), ANF, New World Science, M.S.L., and Ntel, among others. Little Flower is the artist’s second solo EP after debuting with the cerebral On a Nimbus in 2019. With such a relaxed disposition, you’d never guess how busy he is - we took a moment to discuss creativity, curiosity, and life’s comforts.

Maya Hassa for Also Cool: Journeying back down to Earth from your spot on the nimbus, you encountered a little flower. Tell us about this flower.

Priori: Hehe! I'd like people to picture their own little flower, but I see a purple daisy. There is an old tree nearby, narrating the lyrics in the title track.

Also Cool: This EP sounds like walking through the depths of a dense, shimmering forest, all senses stimulated, becoming more and more engulfed in nature's harmonious symbiosis. You mention taking pleasure in the chaos and coveting the unknown - how do you approach exploration in your creativity - what are you curious about, where do you let that curiosity lead you?

Priori: That's super flattering and pretty much what I had in mind when making it. Except for maybe the title track, I don't think these songs have narratives. To me they are more like tableaux or landscapes. If you look outside a window, small changes/events occur, transient (i.e. someone walking their dogs) or gradual (the sky changing colour). Sometimes it's nice to just sit there and enjoy the view. The title track tells more of a tale, it's kind of an ode to growth and diversity.

I just try to stay curious, which in my case is the main fuel for creativity. It really doesn't have to be music, though. Books, video games, places, people.

AC: While on the subject of creativity, I can't skip over the multitude of different projects you are involved in - what are you working on these days, who are you collaborating with?

Priori: I think I appreciated the seclusion at the beginning of the pandemic, and it was great for writing new solo material, but ultimately I really enjoy the collaborative process. I've been working on a lot of music with close friends lately - Maara (who released a record on NAFF last year) and I made a few tunes that we're very happy with. I'm also working with Olivia (aka Regularfantasy) on some vocal club things, which is a really fun process. I have a release ready from sessions with Ludwig AF as well, that will come out at some point. Maybe some new Jump Source material in the future as well. Patrick and I share a studio, so there's a constant exchange of ideas and sounds. We both get very excited by the recording process itself so we need to dedicate time for experimentation. We just re-wired everything and there are new possibilities, which is usually when we write our best work, in my opinion.

AC: Has your direction changed over the course of the past year's chaos? Your older releases draw references from science fiction, but Little Flower is bustling with earthy vibrations.

Priori: I think it is always changing, whether consciously or not, but I also don't think of science fiction as being separate from earth. There is a lot we don't understand about this place, and we come up with stories to fill the gaps, express our views, or just to have fun. I also just got excited by some of the sounds I was getting using modular synthesis and how they reminded me of biology and matter (knocking rocks together, leaves rustling, insects flying, etc.). Sounds from nature are complex and the infinite routing possibilities of modular instruments really bridge that gap.

AC: Lately I've found comfort in listening to and making cheesy remixes of uplifting 90's trance and early 2000's dance music - maybe a little too much - what's your go-to feel good music, or maybe you have other comforts that you enjoy?

Priori: Haha you have to indulge. I think music should trigger feelings and feeling good is nice! Lately a lot of brit pop and rap. Shoegaze is the constant.

AC: If you had to spend the next year in a sensory deprivation tank, but were offered one week to immerse yourself back into the world, where would you go and what would you do?

Priori: This is kind of what spring felt like this year. Go on a hike with friends, swim in a lake, eat fruits, mushies if it feels right.

Priori

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