Notre Dame on his 'Recollection' EP, new label, and remixing Röyksopp and Lenny Kravitz

Notre Dame stands at the intersection of cinema and club culture, a French producer whose emotive approach to electronic music has captured the attention of industry titans from Keinemusik to RÜFÜS DU SOL. Since his breakthrough with "Yumi" on Solomun's Diynamic label, he has carved out a distinctive sonic territory that bridges dancefloor energy with atmospheric storytelling, earning releases on prestigious imprints like Innervisions and Cercle Records while gracing stages from Tokyo's Womb to Miami's Space.

Now, with the launch of Paranormal Society, his own label platform designed to transport listeners "into a parallel world where music and art intertwine," Notre Dame is merging his passion for electronic music with visual storytelling and anime culture. The imprint's sophomore offering, the "Recollection" EP, showcases this vision through two contrasting tracks that explore the duality between club intensity and travel solitude, featuring the dancefloor-ready title track and the introspective collaboration "Homesick" with Shoure. 

Fresh off his acclaimed remixes for Röyksopp's "Sordid Affair" and Lenny Kravitz's "Let It Ride," we caught up with Notre Dame to discuss the emotional contrasts that drive his creativity, the evolution of Paranormal Society's vision, and how he maintains authenticity while building a label universe that connects electronic music with broader artistic expression. From his philosophy on knowing when a track captures something essential to his approach to remixing versus original material, Notre Dame reflects on staying curious and honest in an ever-changing landscape. 

The "Recollection" EP explores memory and emotion through two contrasting tracks. What personal experiences or moments inspired you to create this specific pairing of "Recollection" and "Homesick"? 

It came from the contrast I constantly experience, between the intensity of the club, the tension of the crowd, the energy, and then… the solitude of travel. Airports, long flights, waiting in unfamiliar places, that’s when reflection hits. These two tracks were born from that duality, the outer chaos and the inner stillness. 

You describe "Recollection" as built for the dancefloor with vintage house piano, while "Homesick" is more introspective. How do you balance creating tracks that work in club settings versus more personal, emotional listening experiences? 

I love making tracks for the club, I feel that energy. But sometimes, pushing a track too far in that direction can make you lose its soul. With Homesick, I felt that adding more energy would take away from the purity of the emotion. So I held back, on purpose. Sometimes, less impact makes for more resonance. 

Your collaboration with Shoure on "Homesick" came from "a quiet moment of feeling the need to go home." Can you tell us more about how that collaboration developed and what Shoure brought to the creative process? 

Exactly, we created the first version before we even realized what the feeling was. The title Homesick came naturally, after listening back and feeling that strange emotional pull. Shoure brought the harmonic depth, chords, melodies, and a sense of fragility. I then restructured the whole track, worked on the bass, drums, and sound design to make it hit in just the right way. It was a true exchange. 

Paranormal Society launched with "Do For Your Love" and now continues with this EP. How has your vision for the label evolved since its inception, and what role does the "Recollection" EP play in establishing the imprint's identity? 

The vision remains the same: building a universe that connects electronic music with visual storytelling, anime culture, and emotion. Right now, we’re developing a lot of exciting things that will unfold after summer. What matters to me is putting out music that feels true to who I am at that moment. I feel that’s the way to stay relevant in this industry: stay curious, stay honest. 

You mention wanting to "keep only what felt essential" with these two tracks. How do you decide when a track captures that essential quality, especially when working across different moods and styles? 

That’s always the hardest part, knowing when something is enough. I try to stay focused on the core idea and not decorate it too much. It’s very subjective, of course. But with this EP, I aimed to deliver two distinct, impactful pieces, both quite simple, but each with its own strong identity. That contrast is what makes them feel essential to me. 

Your recent remix work for artists like Röyksopp and Lenny Kravitz has gained significant attention. How does creating original material for Paranormal Society differ from your approach to remixing established tracks? Are there any other remixes on the horizon for you? 

The difference is that with my label, I try to follow a coherent vision, musically and aesthetically. When I remix, I allow myself more freedom. Sometimes it gets chaotic, and I end up making three or four versions before settling on the right one. But it’s fun, it’s refreshing. And yes, there are more remixes coming very soon, including some surprising ones.

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