IN CONVERSATION WITH SEGA BODEGA

interview MARIE-PAULINE CESARI

Numéro Netherlands Digital presents Sega Bodega, Cover Star of the day. Known for his experimental sound and fearless creativity, Sega Bodega continues to push boundaries with his latest album, Dennis—an introspective journey that delves into themes of love, identity, and self-reflection. We had the chance to sit down with him to talk about the album, his artistic evolution, and how Dennis captures the emotional complexities of his world.

tanktop ANN DEMEULEMEESTER
jacket and trousers CANNONE

How do you approach fashion in your personal life? Do you see it as an extension of your artistic identity, and how does it relate to the persona you’ve created with Sega Bodega?

Honestly, I feel like I’m pretty boring when it comes to fashion. I like being told what to wear, but lately, I’ve been getting more into it. I have a hard time letting go of clothes and I can wear the same thing for years. I did like the clothes we used for the cover editorial though, especially the 3D-Printed pieces. 


Moving on to your latest album, Dennis. I’m curious about the role of sleep and dreams in the album and it feels like a journey where reality and dreams blur. Have any specific dreams or experiences influenced the creation?

It was more about the flow of dreams. You know how in a dream, you can be in one place, and then suddenly you’re somewhere completely different, and it all makes sense? That’s what I wanted the album to feel like—extreme jumps in sound and flow. Like in a dream, where you’re at home one moment, and the next you’re on a boat on Mars.

jacket, waistcoat, and shirt ANN DEMEULEMEESTER
headpiece by CLÉMONT BILLON

Would you rather have lucid dreams where you control everything but never fully wake up, or wild, unhinged dreams every night where you wake up completely refreshed but don’t remember anything?

That’s tough, but I think without dreams, life would be very different. Even if you don’t remember them, I believe they’re important. I’d go with the wild, unhinged dreams.

It sounds like sleep and dreams are a journey of self-discovery for you. With Dennis, what have you learned about yourself as an artist and as a person?

I’m not sure if I’ve learned anything yet. The album is still new to me, and I haven’t had a chance to play it live. I think that kind of reflection comes later.

tanktop and trousers YUJIA SUN
boots ANN DEMEULEMEESTER

Speaking of reflection, you’re playing in Amsterdam on November 2nd. Will we get to see more of that self-discovery in the performance?

Yeah, definitely! The tour will have more of a club vibe. I’ve already started making some trance music on the side, and I’m excited to bring that into the live show.

That sounds exciting! I’m also curious about the symbolism in your work. Are there any tracks on Dennis with hidden meanings you’d like to share?

There are some production tricks I haven’t explained yet. For example, there’s a pattern in how the dialogue by Miranda July is spread across the album, but no one’s noticed it yet. I’d rather not spoil it before someone figures it out!

coat MAISON MARGIELA
jacket, shirt, and shorts MARINE SERRE
boots ANN DEMEULEMEESTER

You debuted Dennis live on Twitch, which was a unique way to connect with your audience. Did that public setting influence the final outcome of the album?

Definitely. When you’re performing on Twitch, you have to keep it interesting because people are watching in real-time. I don’t like talking much, so I focused on making the music captivating. Watching some of the old streams back, I’ve realized there are ideas I’d love to revisit, though I didn’t save all of them!

That must have been challenging, especially with live feedback from the audience. How do you handle judgment in such a public process?

It’s tough. When you’re creating, you’re never sure if something is good or not. Having people give real-time feedback can be humbling. I miss the pressure in a way, but it was intense.

full look ANN DEMEULEMEESTER

Do you think you’ll recreate that connection with the audience on your upcoming tour?

I’m thinking about doing a different kind of show—not for the tour, but maybe later. Something where the audience is more involved in the process, maybe sitting down or lying down. I’m still figuring it out.

That sounds amazing! I’d totally volunteer for that. You’ve also mentioned you’re more interested in club-style performances rather than being the main focus on stage. What can we expect from your upcoming tour?

Yeah, I’m not a fan of being the center of attention. The tour will have a club-like feel, but I’m already in a different place creatively, so I want to wrap this tour up and try something new afterward.

shirt, trousers, and rings ROHAN MIRZA
bag CANNONE

I understand that you and KISS Facility are working on an album now. How does working with her differ from your solo projects? And what are the future plans for this collaboration?

Yeah, we're making an album right now, and there's also that trance stuff I've been talking about. She's been doing a lot of vocals on that as well. So, it's another different project, but it's been fun. I love making more chilled, indie, shoegaze-like music. 

When the album is done, we’ll have to balance our tours so they don’t overlap. The creative process has been easy because we spend a lot of time together, and if I work too much on one thing—like electronic music—I get bored. So, having multiple projects keeps my brain fed, you know? Plus, she shows me so much new stuff, which is always helpful.

tanktop and trousers YUJIA SUN
boots ANN DEMEULEMEESTER

I guess you're always learning, which keeps you engaged! You've explored complex emotions and deep psychological themes in albums like ‘Romeo’ and ‘Salvador’. With all these projects, how do you unwind? Do you have any hobbies or practices that help you stay grounded?

That’s the problem—I don’t! I’m still trying to figure that out because making music doesn’t relax me anymore. It’s my job and passion, so it’s become the same thing. I’ve tried ceramics, which is fun, but I need something more instant than going to a class. I’ve tried video games too, but they bore me. If you have any suggestions!

Meditation and yoga are good too, they help you reconnect with your feelings! 

Yeah, I’ve done a bit of that, but I need something creative, like ceramics. But yeah, I do think meditation is helpful.

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coat and stole ANN DEMEULEMEESTER
right
coat and sweater JUNYA WATANABE MAN
bag INNERRAUM

Speaking of stress and staying grounded, how did the COVID lockdown affect you as both an artist and a person? I saw you released a lot of covers during that time, with Oklou for instance. Why did you decide to release those now?

I actually really liked the lockdown. It was a stressful time, but also kind of exciting—something like that had never happened before. I was sad that my shows got canceled, but I ended up making a lot of music, including the album ‘Romeo’. I probably wouldn’t have made it if not for the lockdown. I sampled a lot of those covers in ‘Romeo’ and ‘Dennis’, so those songs wouldn't exist without that period.

As for why I released the covers, people asked me every day for four years to put them out, so I had to. But I’m glad I did because I’ve been getting personal messages from people telling me how much those covers meant to them. I didn’t think about it much at the time, but I’m happy they resonated with people during such a transformative period

full look ANN DEMEULEMEESTER

How did you come up with the concept for ‘Dennis’ cover, with you lying on the floor in an empty cinema?

That cover was kind of freestyled. We shot in this abandoned university in London, and there was this empty theater, which reminded me of the black-and-white photo of me walking through an empty theater for ‘Kepko’. So, it felt like a nice connection between the two.

The image wasn’t supposed to be the cover, and it wasn’t even supposed to look like that. In the shot, Maya is actually pushing my chest down because we were trying to recreate a scene from an old Japanese film called ‘The Iron Crown’, but it didn’t work out. Aiden, the photographer, made it work in a different way, and I’m so happy with how it turned out.


You seem to embrace signs and connections a lot in your work, like they guide you. Is that something you believe in?

Yeah, my whole life is like that. It’s annoying at this point because I can’t ignore it, even if I want to. It’s so in my face, so I just let it happen.

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flight jacket YUJIA SUN
denim jacket and trousers MUGLER
belt DIESEL
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full look CANNONE

I feel the same way sometimes! Like when things line up too perfectly, it’s hard to ignore. Do you believe in fate?

Yeah, I think everything happens the way it’s supposed to, even if it’s hard to understand sometimes. Horrible things happen to good people, but it’s all part of something bigger. It’s hard to explain, but I think there’s a reason for everything.

You’ve mentioned feeling like you’re sometimes forced to see or do things. Do you realize how much people appreciate your work, and are you proud of yourself?

I don’t really see it. It’s still weird when people tell me they like my music. I should try to see it, but it’s hard. I judge myself on materialistic things sometimes, which isn’t good. I can’t see myself from someone else’s point of view.

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coat, sweater, and trousers JUNYA WATANABE MAN
bag INNERRAUM
boots ANN DEMEULEMEESTER
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full look ANN DEMEULEMEESTER

Are there any dream collaborations you’d love to pursue, or are you focused on your current projects?

Right now, I’m focused on my own stuff and working with friends, but I really want to make a soundtrack for a film. I haven’t secured anything yet, but that’s something I’d love to dive into. I just want to work on a great film. It’s a different way of working, and I’m interested in exploring that.

That sounds incredible! I hope you get that opportunity soon. Thank you so much for your time. I’m excited for your upcoming projects and tour!

Thank you! It was great talking to you. I hope we can catch up again soon.

TEAM CREDITS:
talent SEGA BODEGA
photography & art direction CORALIE WATERLOT
styling & art direction ANTHONY GOETZMANN
make-up JEANNE SALORD
hair CLEMENT BILLON
movement director AMBRE ANASTASIYA VANCAMP
light director KADER BENNACER
styling assistant LÉA MANGHERA
production ISSUE AGENCY
studio 711 STUDIO PARIS
editor & interview MARIE-PAULINE CESARI