Gojira’s Joe Duplantier Reflects on Summer Olympics, New Music

“I considered the entire metallic neighborhood at that second.”

Joe Duplantier joined Loudwire Nights on Friday (Aug. 30) to replicate on Gojira’s efficiency on the opening ceremonies of this 12 months’s Summer season Olympics.

“That was a reasonably mystical second, earlier than it kicked in,” Duplantier stated about what he was feeling proper earlier than Gojira tore into “Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça Ira!)” with composer Victor le Masne and opera singer Marina Viotti.

“I believed to myself, ‘What the heck am I doing right here? What’s going on? Are we about to play metallic on tv worldwide? That is insane.'”

When host Chuck Armstrong requested Duplantier what music he would have gone with for the ceremonies if Gojira obtained to decide on, the frontman was grateful he did not have that duty.

“I might be torn,” Duplantier admitted. “What ought to we play? One music? Are you kidding? First, for positive, we might have gone with one thing that has a that means for the scenario on the planet proper now. We at all times need to be related and we at all times need to empower folks. We at all times need to talk with folks by our music and our artwork.”

Fortuitously, Duplantier was capable of finding vital that means in “Ah! Ça Ira!.”

“It is concerning the revolution,” he defined. “The unique music may be very, very bloody. The lyrics are actually, actually gory — we will go to the wealthy and dangle them.”

He stated he managed to search out a number of sentences within the music that, whereas heavy and darkish, additionally carried a little bit of hope. He additionally needed to verify to sing in French, Latin and English in order that the music would have a global enchantment.

“It seems we had some wiggle room to do our factor.”

Are Gojira Engaged on New Music?

With contemporary power coming off of their efficiency on a worldwide stage — and as they gear up for a large tour supporting Korn — Duplantier did say that Gojira are engaged on what is going to doubtless be the follow-up to 2021’s Fortitude.

“We’re resting for a bit and writing some music,” he shared. “It is a nice alternative to shake off the rust and get again in motion.”

READ MORE: What Gojira’s Olympics Efficiency Means For Metallic’s Future

When Chuck requested extra about new music, Duplantier was understandably hesitant to reveal an excessive amount of.

“It is not a secret, however…we’re in the midst of it,” he stated.

“It is exhausting to inform folks what it’ll be, you understand, and I additionally don’t need folks to be stunned. However we’re working, we’re working, we’re attempting to ship one thing that’s significant and impactful. We’re very bold by way of writing songs. We need to take a transparent step ahead and upward with this album, so we’re placing all our love and power on it.”

What Else Did Gojira’s Joe Duplantier Focus on on Loudwire Nights?

• Why he and the band have thrown their help behind Captain Paul Watson: “I am completely in shock and outraged and I would like to ship a powerful message to anyone who’s going to learn this or take heed to this…it is a image of one thing that is taking place on earth the place any person who’s attempting to do the correct factor and is doing the correct factor — he saved tens of hundreds of whales — is being put to jail when the nations which might be doing felony actions and unlawful whaling are nonetheless roaming free and killing whales.”
• Why he is okay opening for Korn, despite the fact that Gojira are getting extra used to headlining and co-headlining excursions: “We like to go on tour with our buddies, the bands that impressed us within the first place. I imply, we come from loss of life metallic, do not get me mistaken, however Korn was one thing within the image sooner or later. We had been listening intently to what they had been doing, being very ingenious and authentic.”
• Why he is extra involved about being dad and specializing in the fundamentals with Gojira than the rest: “I’ve my children, my spouse, I am attempting to be a dad and take a look at to not suck at it … In fact, I’ve devoted virtually 30 years at this level to this band, that is my life to play in Gojira and write songs and ship messages.”

Hearken to the Full Interview within the Podcast Participant Under

Joe Duplantier joined Loudwire Nights on Friday, Aug. 30; the present replays on-line right here, and you’ll tune in dwell each weeknight at 7PM ET or on the Loudwire app; you may also see if the present is on the market in your native radio station and take heed to interviews on-demand.