Soft spoken, Eric Mouquet is every bit a Frenchman blond, blue eyed, charming accent, et al. Eric has been to India many times before. He came to Mumbai last year (November) for Banyan Tree’s Milan - Maestros in Harmony - Rahul Sharma and Eric Mouquet concert. This was his third visit. The multiple Grammy winner who alongwith co – patriot Michel Sanchez formed the immensely popular band Deep Forest, is famous for the success of songs like Sweet Lullaby, Pacifique, Nightbird, was in Mumbai minus his band mates.

Seated on a sofa in the green room of St Andrews Auditorium, Bandra, Mouquet recalls how the ethereally lilting Sweet Lullaby the smash hit from their eponymous first album put them on the ethnic elecronica map in 1992. Mouquet also speaks about the band’s early days of Deep Forest, his split with former band mate Michel Sanchez in 2004 and how together they created over a dozen chartbusters. We must also not forgot to mention that both Rahul (Sharma) and Eric gave a superb performance that night, it was magical to say the least. Rahul ended the show with a great take off from Deep Forest’s massive hit Sweet Lullaby.

Over to the interview now.

Eric, when did you first come to India?

I came here to India in… 1996 …. a long time ago, when I released my album Boheme. I had come for promoting my album, but I did not play here. This is the second time I am playing live. I then came in 2012 December to Bangalore to perform with Rahul Sharma.

Your new album is called Deep India. What is the reason for this?

Well actually the title is a series called Deep Project. It is named after different countries that we have visited and we try to bring out the music of that country. You have Deep Africa, Deep China and so on. So in India we have called it Deep India. But what happened was that in 2002 around that time I think, we were going to start our new album, but then differences cropped up with my band mate Michel Sanchez and so we had to split as he had a strong point of view and a lot of differences in working and ideas too. At that time I began to work with an American artist Josh Gobran who is a very big artist in America. I did an album with him and a few songs and it became a very big hit selling over 7 million copies. Then we went on to do more albums and more soul and pop music styles. I did this for like four years, but then I was missing my Deep Forest sound and so I went back to it again. I wanted to make my own songs again, songs which are more earth related. I am really passionate about my music. During this time I met a lot of people and lot of musicians with lot of views and so then I planned on making Deep Brazil and so on. That’s how Deep Project came about.

You have also recorded an album with santoor maestro Rahul Sharma. Can you tell us how you met him?

Sometime in 2012 I got a call from Sony Music (the record label he is signed onto) and they asked me if I was interested in doing an album with Rahul Sharma. At that time I did not know him. I never knew anything about Rahul and so I goggled and found a lot of his music. I liked it very much and we exchanged a lot of ideas and music through internet, he sent me some music files and we started to compose the album like that, and then in December 2012 for the first time I met Rahul personally. When I met him, I saw his picture of course, on Skype, but when I met him in Bangalore it was like meeting old friends it’s like we knew each other for many years. The album is due to be released in March.

Are you planning on making any music video for Deep India?

No we have not decided, but maybe Sony Music will decide on that.

So you are really basking in Indian culture and music. What about the food? Have you tasted Indian food?

OOOOOOOOOh yes, I like Indian food, the spicy ones, everything I taste is so nice, I don’t know anything so I started with masala is so good, but sometimes it is very spicy. Most of the time it’s okay. (Laughs)

So let’s go down memory lane. The ethereally lilting Sweet Lullaby the smash hit from their eponymous first album put you guys on the ethnic electronica map in 1992 as world music artists. Comment

That one song changed everything for us and gave us a look in a new direction altogether.  

Have you collaborated with nay foreign artists besides world music artists? Yeah I have worked with Peter Gabriel. I worked on a movie with him called Strange Days…. I did a song with him….the movie was directed by James Cameron. Michel was also there with me at that time. Then I worked with Youssou ‘Dour and many others…..cannot remember all the names now.

How did the name Deep Forest come about?

The word Deep comes from my love for the rock band Deep Purple and Forest came about because of the Pigmies' chants….sound in their tracks, and their habitat that of the Equatorial forest. As they live deep in the jungle and the music is deep, so the name sounded very magical.

You made an album called Made in Japan. Any chance for a Made in India?

Most of the time we record our shows, and so we keep them in our archives, so maybe one day after we go back I can dig and see if we can make a live album or so.

What is your message to your fans in India?

You know in every country I go, in Africa or Asia, I meet so many people who are fans of the very first album (of Deep Forest). They grew up with it and I am so proud of it, and so my message to my fans in India is listen to Deep India and you will feel the Deep Forest story unfold.

-  Text and Photos By Verus Ferreira