This is our last Tunepical interview until September and I wanted to end the season on a fun note. Instead of our usual interview format I went with something a bit outside the box…
Name, profession, stats?
– Van Hechter, professional smiler, MC, songwriter and stylish clown! 5’11” (or 5’10” if not standing perfectly straight or 6” with cowboy boots on), 158lbs, 27” waist, black hair with grey temples, blue eyes, lean muscular build, trademark: mustache…
Paris is?
– DJs Eico & Loki Starfish, my super stylish cousin with his delightful future wife, great food, art and fashion, endless nights (God, the French party late!).
NYC is?
– DJ Chauncey Dandridge (my disco brother), Stonewall Inn, staying at the West Side YMCA (living the Village People dream 40 years later hahahah), music everywhere, edgy street fashion, crazy eccentric creatures, a sense of ”Everything is possible”, best pizza by the slice!
Florida is?
– Where I seem to always fall in love, where I make at least one friend a day, where I return to friends I keep in my heart year ’round. It’s The Big Coconut & The Peacock, it’s steaks & seafood, it’s disco dancing with an open shirt forgetting about the world’s problems.
Montreal is?
– Truly home. I’ve had to travel a lot to realize it. Montrealers have a sense of humor I’ve found nowhere else & I always miss it after a long time away! Montreal is also drastic seasons (95F to -22F over 12 months, which means we are perpetually adapting), it’s where I love to ”cocoon” & pester my downstairs neighbor with daily visits impersonating various invented characters (he does the same, mind you- it’s our game), it’s recording new songs with Eryck Wyseman, dinners with my godchildren when I’m not working and entertaining folks at Orage on Thursdays & Saturdays, having so much fun week after week.
What are your favorite songs this summer?
– I am listening to ”Good Luck, Babe” by Chappel Roan on a loop these days. I didn’t even like the song at first, it took about 10 listens before I went mad for it. Also on a loop: ”Mystical Magical” by Benson Boon and ”Messy” by Lola Young. I am also very much into Manchild by Sabrina Carpenter- she’s a new style feminist and I like it.
When is your next release?
– October! A bilingual song (French/English), very disco but very sad. One of my most emotional tracks to date.
Who would you like to go on a date with in your wilder dreams?
– You! When are you free? Actually, I wouldn’t mind having a drink with Benson Boone. It wouldn’t be a date: he’s straight. But if there’s ever a chance at spending time with him, I’ll take it. I find his songs incredibly refreshing, terribly romantic and I love people who have humor- he has volumes of it.
Plus, old musicians such as I enjoy hanging out with youth: it keeps us on our toes.
Music link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDocOJMkIfM&list=OLAK5uy_kA2TDY4xWL9WE7rgQkP2UFg4g5Dyz8KG0
If visiting Montreal this summer, make sure to catch Van’s performances and MCing shenanigans at Orage Club (7700 12e Av Montréal Qc Canada H2A 2Y7) on Thursday & Saturday nights!