Behind the pseudonym SIZ is Sylvain Palis, member of the Flippin’ Freaks collective and member of several bands in Bordeaux, France (TH da Freak, Courtney & The Wolves...). Nurtured on 90s indie rock, Sylvain started the SIZ project in 2016, with Quentin Plantier (drums), Rémi Lemoine (bass) and his brother Thoineau (guitar). Produced by Arthur of JC Satan, the band's debut album, Liquid (2019), unveils eight compositions that resemble sonic detonations, borrowing from the impressive walls of sound typical of shoegaze, as well as the tortured guitars reminiscent of the Seattle grunge scene. After a few French tours, 2021 marked the beginning of a collaboration with the label Howlin' Banana Records, centered around a couple of singles, 'From The Sea To Your
Mind’ and ‘The Aquatic Light’. These two melancholic and lyrical compositions feature soothing guitars, revealing a previously unseen facet of his songwriting.
SIZ is my solo project, which I began in 2015. I started performing live with some of my friends in 2016; they were part of the collective Flippin’ Freaks, which has now evolved into a label. The current lineup was established in 2018 and includes my brother, Thoineau, on guitar, my friend Quentin on drums, and Rémi on bass. The name 'SIZ' originated when I was a baby, and my brothers started calling me that—it just stuck. Plus, I was too lazy to come up with a cooler band name.
When I was in high school, I used to be in a band called 'The Dillingers.' We weren't particularly great, but it was a lot of fun. Our musical inspiration came from bands like The Kooks, The Strokes, and The Hives. Then, I ventured into experimenting with ambient music, influenced by Jean-Michel Jarre. Eventually, I started working on my project, SIZ.
During my childhood, my parents introduced me to the trumpet, and my brothers were deeply passionate about music. We spent a lot of time watching MTV. I was not great at school; all I could think about was music, so I started creating my own.
First concert that you ever went to?
What's your writing process like?
What other artists or songs inspire your music?
The track "What Does Moon Thing" was a reference to a band that holds significant importance to me: What Moon Things. You can even hear some jazz influences in my music. For instance, in "Abracadabra Love," I was inspired by the theme of "Blue Rondo à la Turque" by the Dave Brubeck Quartet
What's the live experience like and your philosophy on playing live? Do you think the music live should be identical to the recorded version or should it be its own thing?
I like live performances for their distinction from recordings. In the recording studio, you have endless possibilities — you can layer fifteen guitars, vocals, orchestras, sound designing, whereas live performances impose certain limitations. I play with three other musicians, which brings a sense of constraint but also a raw, almost brutal quality that comes from the musicians or their gear. It feels more organic, allowing accidents to occur and create something entirely new.
One of my worst shows happened when we were supposed to play at a festival. We waited for hours, but the festival ran significantly behind schedule, and unfortunately, we never got the chance to play. On a brighter note, my favorite show took place in a bar in Bordeaux called 'L'Avant-scène.' We played very loud, we were at home, all our friends were there. I think it was our best show.
What's up next for the band?