THE OUTSIDER WORLD TOUR: Just before Kadebostany’s world tour, we spoke with Guillaume about the feeling of being an “outsider”

By Myriam Paraskevopoulou

Guillaume de Kadebostany talks to elc on the occasion of the band’s shows in Greece, as part of their 2026 world tour, THE OUTSIDER WORLD TOUR

I’m trying to find the right way to open the piece that will introduce my interview with Guillaume, the mastermind and fiery heart of Kadebostany. His shows have left me with so many positive emotions, so many colors and melodies that make you feel good without ever forcing a feeling upon you. His discography moves along pop pathways in a deeply intellectual way. By using trombone and trumpet in his productions, along with many ethnic elements, he creates a sonic environment that feels unique to the listener—impossible to categorize with precision. This uniqueness is also evident in his shows, which are atmospheric and different each time, not only because he fearlessly experiments with all his major hits, but because every show has something new to say. I truly believe he is one of the most influential producers working today, while at the same time his music is impossible to confuse with anything else. His aura is so distinctive that it would be impossible for his music to be anything less than compelling.

With huge hits like “Mind if I Stay,” “Early Morning Dreams,” his viral cover of Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love,” and “Take Me to the Moon,” Kadebostany have topped the charts in more than 30 countries, amassed over 1 billion YouTube streams, performed more than 700 shows in 25 countries and received praise from major international outlets including Vice, GQ, Rolling Stone, Vogue, and CNN. At the same time, their new single “Elephant in the Room,” in collaboration with rising star Selin Çıngır, has just been released as a first taste of the much-anticipated album The Outsider, arriving in January 2026—and I honestly can’t wait to hear in which direction he is sending his sound this time.

Exactly twelve years after my first listen of “Castle in the Snow”-a track I place firmly in the category of “melodies that feel like they’ve always lived inside me”-and just before the launch of THE OUTSIDER WORLD TOUR 2026 starting from Greece, I had the joy of speaking with him about the feeling of being an “outsider,” his operatic love stories, and the magical connection he has with Greek musicians.

As I’ve been listening to your music since your very first single, “Castle in the Snow,” which shook my heart through the hertzian waves, and after attending three of your shows in my country, I always tell all my friends that I am a proud citizen of the Republic of Kadebostany. But… I don’t know if there are any basic criteria for your listeners to be called citizens of your republic. Could you name two or three factors that grant someone the green pass to your land?

I think it’s much more about a mindset than criteria. The citizens of the Republic of Kadebostany all share a passion for melancholic music with a touch of hope. They’re people who can cry with a smile. And they’re deeply interested in art, any kind of art. If you have that sensitivity, you already have the green pass.

If someone listens to your discography-especially your latest singles-they will notice that you’ve begun to embrace the sound of your roots. Beyond the experimental approach you always follow in your music, is this also a form of accepting who you are?

I don’t know… I just create with the people around me. My songs come from meetings, encounters, and what people bring into my life. Maybe it’s true that I’m returning to the first kind of music I ever wrote back in the days of the National Fanfare of Kadebostany. It was folkish, instrumental. Now I explore that past again, but with vocalists. And I find it very inspiring to revisit the past and turn it into something new.

You speak about a new era: the “Outsider Era.” What led you to name an era outsider? Have you ever felt like an outsider yourself?

I’ve always felt like an outsider. I was adopted at an early age, and that already puts you in that position. But I love it. When you’re an outsider, people don’t see you coming. You’re driven by something from another world, and you can achieve big, big things. When I was searching for a name for the album, I realized that was the story: The Outsider. I want the album and the show to feel like a movie, with a main character called The Outsider. And in the end, yes he is me.

Since we’re talking about being an outsider, what are your thoughts on losing and winning in life?

For me, it’s like the alternation of day and night, the moon and the sun. A rhythm. You win one day, you lose another. That’s just life. And I’m trying to live that rhythm to the fullest.

If you could give a piece of advice to your younger, childish self, what would it be? And would that same advice be something you could give to your own child?

I’ve always followed my dream, so I think I would just tell my younger self and my child the same thing: find your passion. Once you find passion, you’re saved. You meet people who love the same things, and suddenly you feel at home with them, even if you’ve just met. This happens to me in the studio all the time. Creativity and music create instant connection.

If I’m right, some of your songs talk about love that must go through many difficulties in order to find peace. Do you think we should actively chase love?

I don’t know… In opera there’s always a dramatic love story, and I enjoy exploring those feelings. Should we change love? Maybe we should simply be more aware of the people around us. When you’re aware, love can find its way to you. But you have to be lucky too…

Your band has been composed of musicians from all over the world, but it seems you have a special connection with Greeks! You’ve collaborated with Mr. Portokaloglou, Alex Sid, and my favorite girl, Vassilina. Is there a magical connection?

Yes, there is something magical. We share the same love for crying with a smile, for melancholy mixed with hope. That’s exactly what my music is made of. So when I meet artists who resonate with that feeling, it’s natural we have a common ground. I’m lucky to collaborate with people who are like me in that way.

What has the stronger vibe for you-the moustache or the eagle?

Both. I have the eagle tattooed on my arm, and the moustache… I was basically born with it.  They’re both part of my iconography now. If someone thinks about a moustache today, some people might think of me and I like that. The eagle reminds me that even in difficult times, you have to think like an eagle: gain perspective, fly higher.

What are your favorite spots when you visit Athens? Have you ever been to the bouzoukia?

I really like Piraeus. There’s something about it a vibe. I’ve spent some time there and I could actually live there. It’s a bit broken but magnificent at the same time. It’s close to the city yet gives you a completely different perspective. I like being connected to the speed of the city, but also being able to step aside and observe it. Piraeus inspires me a lot.