In his latest conversation with us, OneSelf – the moniker of Mario Deschenes – lifts the curtain on his eighth album Versions ‘N’ Not 8 and the unflinching commitment it took to bring every beat, lyric, and mix to life single-handedly. Far from the well-trodden path of collaboration, Deschenes carves out his sound in total solitude, channelling each layer of his music through an uncompromising lens of personal discipline and emotional intent. The interview offers a rare look at how independence has sharpened his creativity rather than isolating it, as he reflects on his discography, explains his recording rituals, and hints at where his muse might take him next. With reflections on grief, growth, and the endless pursuit of innovation, this interview is a meticulous unpacking of artistic willpower and a refusal to stagnate.
OneSelf, thank you once again for talking to us. Last time, you gave us a fascinating insight into the creation of Seven Eleven. This time, we’d like to know more about your process and your artistic independence.
It’s a pleasure to talk to you about my most recent album, Versions ‘N’Not 8. The Seven Eleven album was quite a journey.
You want to know more about my creative process and artistic independence. Wow It’s an answer of a lifetime, and I’ll try to describe my musical world as best I can.
You are the sole musician and producer on your albums, which is a remarkable feat. What are the biggest rewards and challenges that come with taking full creative control over every aspect of your music
Thank you for saying it’s a remarkable feat, but I don’t think so, I have as my source of motivation, if I don’t do it, there’s no one to do it. If I don’t do it, there’s nobody to do it for me.
My greatest satisfactions are when I write a good text, create the music that goes with the lyrics, record it with the sound I want, with the arrangements that support the song. When the song is finished and I feel I can’t improve on it, then comes a moment of pride, which is short-lived. Because I remember a phrase from one of my creative teachers who said you’re as good as your last creation. If your song is good, well done, what about the next one?
While one of the greatest challenges of creative mastery is to continue to be creative after 8 albums, because I don’t want to repeat what I’ve already done, I’m always looking for what can be different, what will be different.
I’ve already started putting together songs for the next album, and I think I’ve figured out what it’s going to be about.
This search, which I’m talking about, starts with the writing, not repeating a way of doing things, a way of saying things, even if I’m not going to repeat myself.
When you are working on a track, how do you approach balancing the different roles — from songwriting to arrangement, performing, recording, and mixing — without external collaboration?
How do I approach balancing different roles? Well, I take on each role, one after the other.
When I write, I am a writer. I decide the text is good, and then I head to the studio to find the right drum rhythm to accompany the lyrics, the guitar sound, the interpretation of the words, and the emotions I want to convey. At this point, I become a guitarist, singer, and programmer in addition to being a writer. This is when I modify the lyrics
I’m in service of the song, making it the best it can be. I start by recording the drums. Once that’s done, I record the voice and the guitar simultaneously. The voice will be re-recorded later in the creative process. Then comes all the other instruments and arrangements.
Once the song is complete with mastering, I redo the final mix as many times as necessary until the song feels perfect.
All this is done without any external collaboration. Over time, I had to adjust to this approach, perhaps because I don’t like waiting—waiting for someone else to be ready. Plus, the time spent waiting could be used for something else. So, I learned to work independently in order to achieve the best possible quality for my songs. I must play different roles for my songs, but I love it.
As the only musician on your albums, you must develop a distinct connection with each song. How do you decide when a track is truly finished and ready for release?
Yes, I do have a certain connection with my songs, since I write them. Not all the songs I write are recorded. When it comes time to select the songs, I reread the lyrics as if I were not the one who wrote them. If they move me, appeal to me, and the theme resonates with me, I choose them. They then join other texts for a second selection.
Then comes the day of recording the album. Which song speaks to me the most? It’s a matter of feeling. Often, it is the lyrics that resonate with me the most. After that, the creative and recording process begins, all the way to the final mixing.
Once finished, I listen to the song on the living room sound system. If it sounds good, it’s fine. If something feels off, I investigate what might be wrong. If it’s the mixing, I rework it. If it’s good, the voice is clear, the instruments are well-balanced in the mix, and the song still appeals to me, that’s a good sign.
The next step is to listen to the song in the car with all the ambient noise while driving. If the song still pleases me, then I can say it’s finished and ready to be part of the album.
All these steps take time. And it’s the best way to have the best possible songs.
In what ways do you think your albums carry a unique signature because of your solo approach compared to records produced with full bands or external producers?
It’s a difficult question because, so far, all my albums bear my signature at every step, through the entire creative process. I don’t know what happens in other bands; I can only imagine based on what I’ve read on the subject.
What is certain is that I make all the decisions, and I take full responsibility for them. If the album turns out well, I’m the one responsible, and that’s great—I appreciate it. If the opposite happens, I also take full responsibility and tell myself I’ll do better next time. I listen to what others say and see if I can improve certain aspects for the next album or song. If, however, it’s an artistic choice and someone suggests an approach I hadn’t thought of, I’ll definitely try their idea on another song.
Since I am the sole orchestrator of my albums and feel that I improve with each one, and since I have more ideas to try out, my method can’t be all that bad. I don’t know any other way to make an album besides the way I do, but what saves me is that I don’t want to repeat the same formula. I’m always looking for another way to make music, to write it, record it, and mix it.
I know there are still other aspects to explore.
Over the years, how has your independence shaped the evolution of your sound and recording techniques? Are there any moments in your discography that particularly stand out to you as milestones in your growth as a solo artist?
When I look back on my past years, it’s clear that they have shaped my evolution, whether in writing or in the recording process. I was—and still consider myself—to be learning. I’m still learning and know that this journey won’t end with the next album.
I must say I started recording with a 4-track cassette recorder, then an 8-track cassette recorder, and later moved to digital, and so on. I have never stopped learning.
It took me years to trust myself and to embrace the fact that I am a songwriter, composer, performer, guitarist, singer, sound engineer, arranger, director, and producer.
Looking back, I understand that each song leads to another song, and each album leads to something different on the next. In the early albums, the songs marked my creative path and my journey of growth. For me, there was a turning point starting with the third album, Traces. There are very good songs on that album, but the fourth, Portraits of a Confidence Door 4, marked the biggest shift. It was an album I made after the death of one of my brothers, as a tribute to him.
The fifth album, Unicitude, was an album of freedom where I explored new aspects of creation. The sixth, Atypical So (A) Typical, felt like the most polished and refined album—at least that’s what I thought at the time.
Then came Seven Eleven, where I poured everything I had learned up until then into what I believe are very good songs.
Finally, my most recent, Versions ‘N’ Not 8. I thought the sixth would remain the most complete, but I was wrong. This album truly lives up to its name. The songs are multiple versions, at every stage of creation, resulting in the best final versions of each song.
From the fourth album to the eighth, these are records that reflect a departure from my earlier approach to albums.
I wouldn’t have been able to create Versions ‘N’ Not 8, my most recent, without making the ones before it. When I look at the songs now, I see the growing confidence that has taken shape and continues to develop.
I know what I’m capable of creating and where I’m headed. I’m already excited for what’s to come.
Since your music is entirely self-created, what does your songwriting environment look like? Do you have specific rituals or habits that help you stay creatively focused when you’re building an album from the ground up?
My writing environment, at least at home, always includes a stack of paper and a pen, just in case… I don’t have any specific ritual to speak of. Inspiration can strike while reading a book, watching a show, having a conversation, or during a family dinner—or not.
Life in general provides me with plenty of inspiration;
however, it’s up to me to find the angle from which I want to approach what has caught my attention.
It’s up to me to write it—or not…
What new themes, sounds, or challenges are you aiming to explore in the future?
I know that for my next album, I want to explore the theme of Time—the evolution of time and how it changes our lives. I’ll see where this idea takes me.
It’s possible that I might completely change direction, but one thing I do know is that I want to keep having fun with sounds and offer the best songs and videos I can create.
I want to stay connected to the music world in general, keeping up with new trends.
I aim to continue evolving musically, to provide you with the best lyrics and music you deserve.
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Stream and purchase the latest LP from OneSelf via Bandcamp.
Interview by Amelia Vandergast
