Be My Wife
Paris-based artist Be My Wife unveils a bold goth-pop vision, blending DIY spirit, cinematic storytelling, and raw emotion, as this interview explores creativity, identity, and an unconventional artistic journey deeply.
1. Be My Wife feels like a “Big Bang” moment in your creative journey—what shifted in 2023 that made this project finally take shape?
Well, it all actually started towards the end of 2022 when I began working with a spiritual guide.
I met with her because I was feeling clogged creatively and I needed some energy moved around.
After some deep work together, she helped me realize that I could no longer expect opportunities to come to me… Instead, I needed to create these opportunities myself and embrace the uncomfortable.
A few months later I met with the artist, Will Benedict, to discuss possible commercial collaborations. During our meeting he mentioned he was working on an absurd musical theatre performance to be set at the Bourse de Commerce in Paris. Without hesitation, I asked him if I could audition to be in it.
I landed one of the main parts and in September 2023 we held two showings of his play, Pandemonium.
I would say the moment I stepped into that spotlight; in front of a packed house; was the catalyst for Be My Wife.
It felt correct. It felt cathartic. And above all, it was the most fun I had had in a really long time.
Weeks later, I bought a synth and started writing the songs that became The Restless Pursuit To Deliver A Feeling.
2. Your work blends goth, pop, and DIY counterculture with cinematic storytelling—how do you balance these influences without losing cohesion?
I believe these are all quite compatible with one another… except the pop approach and that’s what fascinates me.
I’ve always been a fan of all things counterculture. The more obscure, the better.
But I also appreciate a good earworm and am intrigued by what it takes to have a song pierce through the zeitgeist.
Artists like Gary Numan and Depeche Mode did this before me so I can’t claim ownership of this mix of styles, but I do hope to give it my own twist.
3. Releasing two EPs as eight standalone singles with videos is ambitious—what inspired this non-traditional rollout?
I’m generally quite strict with myself.
I am also not coming from the music industry, so I felt the urge to tackle this project however felt right.
I don’t have a label or a manager giving me their input or guidelines of what it takes to “make it’ these days.
I also feel that any notion of a “proper approach” went out the window with the arrival of streaming services and influencer culture.
So I took my own approach and decided to give each track its moment.
The visual component was imperative and will continue to be a major part of Be My Wife.
I come from a visual art background so sound and visuals will forever go hand in hand in everything I create.
4. Humor and heartbreak coexist in your music—how important is this duality to expressing your identity and queerness?
Well, I’m a Gemini.
And duality is something I’ve lived with and explored my entire life.
I love the idea of being able to feel things deeply, but then also turn around and laugh about them.
We live in a paradoxical world and Be My Wife aims to reflect some of these contradicitons.
This duality is also how I’ve always approached my sexuality. I came up before queerness was excepted by the masses.
I’m not saying things are easy for young queer kids today, but we’ve come a long way from how we had to deal with these matters in the 90s.
So I learned how to embrace these opposing notions of how I wanted to behave and how I was expected to behave. Presumed notions of right and wrong…
This dichotomy has always excited me.
5. Each track explores a distinct sonic and visual world—how do you approach collaboration with different directors and artists?
I’m very privileged to have an impressive network of creatives that surrounds me.
I work as a Creative / Image Director for Fashion campaigns and my job consists of overseeing the full development and creative production of these campaigns.
For Be My Wife, I wanted to lose this controlling grasp and leave room for the reinterpretation of my songs by artists I respect.
In all cases, I’ve shared the tracks / lyrics with the directors and let them come back to me with a concept.
Of course, it’s a collaboration and open conversation, but I like exploring someone else’s visual interpretation of my songs.
Often times, how others live the song helps shape the meaning of the song.
6. With a European and UK tour planned for 2026, how do you envision translating Be My Wife’s visual universe into a live experience?
I’ve done a few live shows already where I explored layering different instruments over the existing tracks.
As a one-man show, I felt the urge to play instruments over all the tracks.. almost as if I needed to prove that I could actually play live.
That need to prove myself has slowly tapered off and I also noticed I wasn’t letting myself get transported by the tracks properly, so these upcoming lives will be much more performative and much less “musical”.
I really just want to sing and make you feels things.
I’m also hoping to make you dance.
Please, if you come to my shows this summer, leave your phone in your bags / pockets and lose yourself while dancing with your eyes closed.
That’s all I ask…