Interview by Rachel Gottesman

Hi Swampy (can I call you that?) How does it feel to have a shirt out there with your artwork on it?

Grrmblmmmmmbllmmllmmbll..., Excuse me, I have some mud in the mouth. Feeling better now. Well, I must admit it's a great sensation to be selected by the famous Threadless even if I didn't think this one would be chosen. All my friends of the swamp are happy for me !



Well who wouldn't want this one to be chosen? Lame people, that's who! Anyway, Where did the whole Swamp persona come from?

Several answers to this.

Swamp influenced my life! I was born in France in a city named Niort that is not far from French swamps, called 'marais poitevin'. It's a savage and strange country where earth and water are mixed. You never know where you put your feet ! Fortunately, there are no gators and you can go without troubles everywhere you want. The only thing you risk is losing your way ! The people living here are very close to nature like my swamp thing.



Another reason why I like the swamp is the music. I played bass in a blues band called Swampini. The music we played came from Mississippi, from a land called bayou where swamp is very present. This music is named 'swamp blues'. This is blues but with a cool tempo giving a lazy feel. Slim Harpo was a famous leader of this style. My swamp character could be someone who has spent too much time playing guitar in the bayou !

At last, I like what symbolizes the swamp. When I think of a design, my mind is like the life evolving into the deep, always changing, and I never know what it will look like.
You see, the swamp is more complex than it seems ! It's not just a poor land left by men but a great place where fantasy can be expressed.



If you actually met a swamp monster playing a guitar, would you start a band with him?

Well, it's done ! Go down to Louisiana and come to hear us eating a delicious gumbo! But mind the gators, they will be hungry too!



OK how about a real serious question? Tell us about your life as a designer.

It's always changing! I'm happy because I decided a few months ago to go back to drawing and some people (thank you Threadless!) appreciate it. I'm a bit bored with classical design. With Threadless, I can express myself without limits… only imagination.

Wow, nice pitch! Thanks!

What is your favorite Threadless shirt? Besides yours of course?

There are many good works on Threadless. I like plenty of them. Sometimes the idea is very strong and doesn't need a complex drawing to represent it and I like it. Sometimes it is an amazing work without a specific message and I just say wow! Sometimes the idea is great but the design is poor and I ask myself 'how would I do this ?' It's very inspiring to see the way different designers work, this is why I often come to the Threadless website.



Is there anything else you'd like to tell your adoring fans?

Listen to more blues! Albert King, Freddy King, BB King, Rev Gary Davis, Doc Watson, Jimmie Vaughan, Ronnie Earl, Duke Robillard, Dave Specter… Your country has plenty of amazing musicians… Very inspiring… Try to get out of tasteless music made by computers!

Blues is hand made! The more dirty it sounds, the better it is!

I play guitar too, check out this: http://www.youtube.com/jeffmarchand

Interview by Rachel Gottesman

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