Paris-based producer and visual artist Crayon is set to release his next single, ‘Kill Your Idols’, featuring singer Lossapardo, from his highly anticipated debut album, ‘Home Safe’, which arrives on October 24 via Erased Tapes. “Originally, ‘Kill Your Idols’ began as an instrumental piece I created using my old guitar and a looper/reverse pedal,” Crayon shares. “After some time, Lossapardo sent me a version with his vocals pitched down, breathing new life into the track. It remains true to its initial essence—an embodiment of the message: let go of your idols and embrace your individuality.”
all photos ALEXANDRA WAESP @alexandrawaespi
This single builds on the excitement surrounding ‘Home Safe’, following the introspective title track with Yamê and JPL (Tora) and the lively ‘Diamond Miner’ featuring ELIZA and FKJ. Each of these tracks illustrates the album’s diverse soundscape, which deftly blends elements of soul, folk, jazz, hip-hop, and electronic influences.
Crayon, a prominent figure in the Paris music scene and a collaborator with notable talents like Josman, Dinos, and Prince Waly, is fully stepping into the limelight with this introspective, genre-defying project. The inspiration for ‘Home Safe’ emerged from vibrant Sunday jam sessions held in a shared Paris apartment, where Crayon and jazz pianist Bastien Brison welcomed musicians and visual artists, fostering a collaborative and improvisational atmosphere that became the album’s creative foundation.
The album was shaped over three years in Crayon’s childhood home on the outskirts of Paris, where he sought to create a warm sound that reflects his musical comfort zones. “’ Home Safe’ is about revisiting the sounds that brought me solace growing up,” he notes, recalling fond memories of his stepdad’s folk records and the calmness of home.
At the heart of the album lies a profound question Crayon posed to his collaborators: What does home mean to you? The resulting contributions from an impressive array of artists, including anaiis, Rhye, ELIZA, Yamê, Arthur Teboul (Feu! Chatterton), JPL, and Lossapardo—paint a deeply personal exploration of this theme.
Crayon’s artistic vision seamlessly intertwines sound with visuals. “Creating music for me has always felt like painting with sound, melding textures and forms,” he remarks. This artistic sensibility is reflected in the work of creative director and choreographer Sulian Rios, whose surreal papier-mâché masks echo the avant-garde spirit of 1970s New York, allowing Crayon to present himself on camera while maintaining an air of mystery.
With ‘Home Safe’, Crayon invites listeners into an intricate realm where sound, image, and emotion converge, a debut that is both introspective and collaborative.
