Meet Queer French Rapper & Singer Eddy De Pretto

You may not have heard Eddy de Pretto's music yet--he's just beginning to cross over the Atlantic into the States with his poetic, gorgeous rap (yes, it's all in French). De Pretto's debut full-length album, Cure, came out this month--it's a stunning sonic landscape that covers all different kinds of sounds: soft, gentle piano moments morph into synth-heavy songs screaming to liberate the dancefloor.

De Pretto spent years perfecting Cure to be just as he wanted it. His process begins with the lyrics-- he looks for "themes I want to analyze, words that leave me questioning, that shake me up," he explains--and then finds the melody and transposes each piece together onto the piano.

In terms of what the album covers thematically, he says: "It is really personal and autobiographic. The most challenging is the creation, a slow and laborious process. It is very difficult to be facing your own self."

Related | Gallery: Queer Rapper & Singer Eddy De Pretto Photographed in the Streets of France

As someone who is almost entirely writing about his own experiences, De Pretto explains that his queerness certainly is a major factor in his writing and how he expresses himself to his fans. But while he does write a great deal about his experiences with boys, the album is certainly not limited to just his homosexuality.

"I really think, after all, every person--whatever their sexual orientation--would find it interesting... I am pleased to see that," he muses.

De Pretto cites Frank Ocean, Tyler the Creator, XXX Tentation, Jorja Smith, and Bibi Bourelly as major sources of inspiration. He rejects labeling his music within any specific genre, citing that limiting his sound to one "type" of music feels "slightly reductive"--instead he suggests: "I leave it to the curious to come and listen to it."

De Pretto is heading on tour this month to begin promoting the new album. Take a listen, and watch his video for the single "Fete de trop" below:

Styled by: Phil Gomez

Shot by: Thibault-Theodore Babin

Photo Assistant: Clemens Klenk

Makeup: Jennifer Lecorre

Location: Weird Fishes Studios Les Lilas, France

Fashion: ami, Drole de Monsieur, Bond
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