IN CONVERSATION WITH PIERRE DE MAERE

interview by MARIE-PAULINE CESARI

After the release of his first album, Pierre de Maere has established himself as one of the major  artists on the French music scene. He impresses with his ambition, boldness, and confidence, and  it’s clear that his self-declared aspirations are following a rapid upward trajectory. He recently  collaborated with Dua on ‘These Walls’, featured on her latest album.  

top ISABEL MARANT
pants BALMAIN
shoes PRADA
accessories BULGARI

Pierre, it was so nice running into you at the Numéro France 25th anniversary party in Paris. You’ve  always been so upfront with your ambition—like when you said, “Make me famous.” Where does  that boldness come from? 

Boldness comes with carelessness. That’s why it’s always best to get passionate  about a discipline when you’re young. When I started composing and singing, I  hadn’t taken any theoretical lessons. I moved forward without overthinking. I didn’t  waste energy questioning my abilities or fantasizing about outcomes beyond what  was possible. They say you can recognize fools because they dare to do anything,  and in learning an art, you shouldn’t stop yourself from being a bit of a fool, a bit  ignorant. Your first drawing will never be your best, but it will lead you there. My  "boldness" comes from carelessness, from a lighthearted approach to things. You  shouldn’t take anything too seriously. 

Your song ‘Un jour, je marierai un ange’ is such a feel-good track. Do you remember the moment  you came up with it or what inspired it? 

I wrote ‘Un jour je marierai un ange’ four years ago, in my childhood bedroom. At that point, I often  fell in love with fictional characters from TV shows or books. I fell for the character of Isak in the teen  series Skam, and that inspired me to write this song. It deals with an impossible, fantasized, and  idealized love for a being who doesn’t even exist. 

trench coat & pants BURBERRY
shirt SEAN SUEN
ties FENDI
shoes PAUL SMITH

You grew up in the Belgian countryside, where things are pretty quiet. How did that slower pace  influence the way you make music? 

It’s true that I was often bored during my adolescence in the incredibly quiet  countryside. But I think boredom is a good thing—it stimulates creativity and the  need to escape. We didn’t have a TV, and our Wi-Fi was very unreliable, so we had  to find other ways to keep ourselves busy. My mom signed me up for drum lessons,  which introduced me to composition for the first time. It’s funny because I feel like  I’ve only been living my adolescence in the last three years, since moving to Paris.  I’ve experienced more "firsts" here in three years than I did in twenty in the Belgian  countryside. My second album will probably partly explore that: first times and the  sincerity that comes with them. 

left
full look LOEWE
accessories BULGARI

right
top PATOU
pants DRIES VAN NOTEN
accessories BULGARI

You’ve mentioned artists like Lady Gaga and Stromae as influences. What is it about them that  speaks to you, and do you see pieces of their work in your own? 

I love Lady Gaga and Stromae because they offer an entire universe, an imagery  that goes beyond the songs themselves. Like me, they’re fans of fashion, image, and  music. They combine my three passions in each of their projects, and it’s incredibly  inspiring. In that sense, I do see pieces of their work reflected in mine.

left
coat & shirt MIU MIU
glasses ARMANI via LUXOTTICA
accessories BULGARI

right
full look DIOR
rings BULGARI

Your songs feel theatrical but also really personal. Do you see your music as a way to tell stories, or  is it more about processing your own emotions? Or both? 

On my first and only album so far, I used music to tell stories that weren’t mine. I  would take on roles, dramatize narratives to make them more entertaining, and  always approached my subjects with excess and a romanticized perspective. Now, I  put more of myself into my lyrics. I share my own experiences rather than imagining  stories I wish I could live. I’ve experienced so much in such a short time, and writing  it into music is a wonderful way to process it all. 

Fashion seems like such a big part of your identity. When did you start using clothes as a form of  self-expression, and how does it tie into your music? 

I have a very healthy relationship with fashion because I’m passionate about it  without being an expert. No one expects anything specific from me in this area, so I  feel free to do whatever I want. Fashion has played an important role in building my  self-confidence. I feel much more agile and powerful in a well-tailored suit than in  sweatpants. On stage, I couldn’t dance like I do without the slim waist and broad  shoulders created by my suit. The outfits I wear are therapeutic for me and inevitably  send a message to my audience. Without saying a word, what I wear signals  whether I intend to make them laugh or draw them into a dramatic scenario. That’s  the beauty of fashion. 

left
top ISABEL MARANT
pants BALMAIN
shoes PRADA
accessories BULGARI

right
blouse & hat
ARMANI
pants STYLIST’S OWN
shoes TALENT’S OWN
acessories BULGARI

Your visuals are always so striking. How much do you personally get involved in creating them, and  how important are they to telling your story? 

I’m 100% involved in creating my visuals. They’re the first thing the audience sees  before the music even starts and tell a story that’s entirely mine. They allow me to  reinvent myself endlessly, have fun, and stand out. I designed the cover of my album  myself, which was beautifully shot by Marcin Kempski. I work closely with my stylist,  Jonathan, to design my looks, and with my MUAH, Fabien, to create my makeup and  hairstyles. Of course, I collaborate with other creatives for music videos to gain fresh  perspectives. Relying solely on yourself can be limiting. 

You work so closely with your brother, Xavier, on your music. What’s it like sharing that creative  process with him? Does it ever get tricky, or is it all smooth sailing? 

Working with my brother, Xavier, is an incredible privilege. It’s wonderful because there’s no  politics or filters—we speak our minds without pretension, and there’s absolute trust. We  both work toward the same goal. Of course, we each have different sensibilities, which can  sometimes lead to tensions, but that’s also what makes our collaboration interesting. Xavier  loves indie music; he’s a bit of a slacker. I love pop hits, and the mix of those two influences  creates something intriguing. 

left
full look BALMAIN
shoes BALMAIN
sunglasses MIU MIU via LUXOTTICA

right
full look LOUIS VUITTON
accessories BULGARI

Your album covers so many emotions, from big, epic love to darker moments... Is there a track that  feels especially meaningful to you right now?

Musically, my favorite track is ‘Enfant de.’ It’s very pop, full of lightness, and unpretentious,  but I’m convinced the production is amazing. It doesn’t resemble many other songs, but it  fully represents me. As for the lyrics, I’m very proud of ‘Les oiseaux’ and ‘J’aime ta violence.’  Both are dramatic and transport me into a film-like atmosphere. I love being swept away,  and those songs have that effect on me. 

left
coat & pants DRIES VAN NOTEN
top GIVENCHY
knit belt SEAN SUEN
shoes PRADA

right
coat & top YOHJI YAMAMOTO
pants ISABEL MARANT
shoes FENDI
accessories BULGARI

You’ve already hit so many milestones—sold-out shows, huge collabs, and now a duet with Dua  Lipa. What’s been the most “pinch me” moment of it all so far? 

Dua. 100% Dua. Spending an afternoon with her in the studio, listening to her sing and  record melodies and words I’d written—it was euphoric. There was a sense of unreality in  that moment that I’ve never felt anywhere else.

TEAM CREDITS:

talent PIERRE DE MAERE
hotographer EMMANUEL GIRAUD
stylist JONATHAN HAYDEN
styling assistant EMMA SIAUT
hair & makeup FABIEN GIAMBONA
editor TIMI LETONJA
cover design ARTHUT ROELOFFZEN