The French are often stereotyped as quite intellectual. They like to talk about the music. Gilles Peterson (who is half French) says "They enjoy the breakdown of the thing more than they do the thing itself. Some people go to see film, go to the cinema, they kind of enjoy talking about it more than actually seeing the film, that's what the French are like"? Would you agree with him?
Yes, I would definitely agree with it. I think it's a big problem in France: people talk a lot but don't act that much. It's a good thing to talk, but one has to act when the moment comes. I am an action man. I don't like to spend hours talking about something, I like achieving more than talking.

However, I understand that talking has its good sides too, you can confront ideas, find new meanings to things, develop new ways of seeing things. But you shoudn't be satisfied only with talking. Your question also makes me think about these labels who talk about your music, tell you what makes it a bad music, how it could become a better one, they keep talking but most of the time they just haven't listened to it! This is the dark side of what you said. It's the same thing about movies: most people like to get critical about them just from what they've heard of it, but they'd better just go and watch it!

What French DJs do you like?
I really love DJ Gilb'R, who is a member of Château Flight, from Versatile records. But as I've just told you I prefer listening and acting rather than talking.

For those feeling sorry for the Channel Tunnel operators and fancy a trip on Eurostar to Paris, what are the best places to hear live music?
The best place to hear live music would be the Batofar. No doubt about it. You can listen to electro groups live, and also good DJ mixes. What I like is that there are many different styles of music more or less linked to electro music. Programation rocks there! Plus the venue in itself is great. It's in an old eastern boat on the Seine. It's very original.

I'm not sure if he still has, but Gilles had a residency at the Rex? Any good?
Yes Gilles had a residency at the Rex, I went there a couple of times, it was a great performance.

What's Nouveau Casino like? (109 rue Oberkampf 75011 - Megablast had a launch party for his 'Jubita' 12" on La Rosière records).
Le Nouveau Casino is a trendy recent place. It's one of the very good venues in Paris, it promotes the French electro music scene very well.

Are you having a launch party for 'The Quest'?
There definitely will be a launch party but the plan is not finalized yet. The only thing I can talk about cause that's for sure, is that we will arrange everything for Paul Murphy to be there.

Will you be doing or going to any festivals in the summer in Paris?
I don't have anything totally sorted out for this summer so I prefer not to talk about what might not happen. What I can tell you though is that I really like the Paris Jazz Festival at Parc de vincennes. It's an open air festival, it's not expensive and it's pretty cool. Last summer I saw Bugge Wessetolft and Dhafer Youssef too. Dhafer Youssef did a great performance on Laurent Garnier's latest album called "The Cloud Making Machine". It was quite different from what we've heard so far with Laurent Garnier, I really like this album. The funny thing is that the cloud making machines he's referring to are the same cloud making machines that you can see on my video. They must be quite inspiring! Another great Parisian summer festival is called "Banlieue bleue". I saw great people such as Roscoe Mitchell, David Murray, Steve Coleman or Jean Michel Pilc there. Awesome !

Where's the best places to buy records/CDs in Paris?
Some good places where you can buy records in Paris are 12 Inch 18 rue de Turbigo, 75002 Paris; or Betino's 32 rue Saint Sebastien 75011 Paris or Fnac Champs Elysées. There also is Crocodisc near le Panthéon where you can get old and recent jazz great vinyl.

Where are the best bars to chill out and meet interesting people?
A very nice area in Paris to chill out is Belleville. Many bars are nice, especially on Saint Martha Square. It's a small place, surrounded by small buildings, it makes you feel like you're in a small countryside village. It's cool. Especially in the summertime when the terrace gets very animated with gigs and a very pleasant atmosphere. Plus it's not expensive. Near there is the Café Chéri, which is a cool place too.

Paris is full of iconic tourist sights, could you suggest a less well known alternative sight that a tourist would find interesting?
The Museum of Romantic Life is a nice place. It has a small unknown garden where it feels good to hang out in. I also like the Parc de la Villette: there is the Cité de la Musique, Cité des Sciences and also a very nice garden area with psychotic gardens, technological gardens, gardens with different kinds of odours.You can enjoy different experiences at the same time and during the summer there are many festivals too.

What's the best websites or magazines/newspapers for finding out what's on in Paris?
The best magazine is Lylo and the best website would be www.parissi.com. Lylo is convenient because it is generalist and gives you information about rock or reggae gigs as well as electro. It also give you addresses for good restaurants.

So if you are in Paris this St. Valentine day and you've been to Café Chéri, and The Museum of Romantic Life, don't get carried away. Remember 'The Quest' by Mod X with Paul Murphy remix is out on Ice And Spice Records on 14th February 2005. You will be needing this 12".