Ahead of her headlining show for Chicago’s Tomorrow Never Knows Festival at Sleeping Village, we touched base with Lindsey French who fronts as Negative Gemini, a (formerly) Brooklyn based artist who now resides and identifies with Los Angeles. Through our email exchange, Lindsey shared her intriguing musical background. She blends indie, pop and electronic production in a one of a kind way - composing her own take on the electronic indie genre. Her most recent project, Bad Baby EP, attests to this unmistakably creative spin on her art.

In an exclusive Q&A, Negative Gemini gives us a look into her musical beginnings, Chicago artists she admires, and finally - offers her 12 track Angelic Crush playlist for These Days, curated specifically to convey her electronic production influences. You can connect further with Negative Gemini on Spotify, Instagram, and Twitter. Be sure to snag a ticket to Negative Gemini, Fee Lion and Panic Priest at Sleeping Village this Saturday, January 19th!

Could you tell the These Days audience a bit about yourself? A quick introduction would be great!

My name is Lindsey French and I am not a Gemini. I live in Los Angeles, I love animals and plants, I collect matchbooks.

When did you start producing and how did your interest in producing music come about?

I have been recording music since I was fifteen, but I didn’t learn to produce electronic music until about 8 years ago when my friends who were making beats taught me how. We were all in a rap group and I got really interested when I realized that this way I had endless creative options of composing, whereas before I was writing songs on guitar and they just never seemed full or right.

Can you describe, from your perspective, what the techno/electronic (indie) scene is like in LA, as well as name a few bands that inspire you there?

To be fair, I am a newb, I just moved here in September. So I have no idea but that’s fun for me. I don’t get out very much either. But there are a lot of bands from here that inspire me, that’s part of the reason I came here… of the past and present, some acts that I think of when I think of LA and what I'm into are Cherry Glazerr (yep 2 r's), Elliott Smith, Ariel Pink, Weyes Blood, Animal Mineral, Neon Indian, George Clanton (my boyfriend he he), Buzzy Lee, I know there are so many more I just haven't found out about yet. Blink-182 is from San Diego!! Historically it's just a legendary place so it's pretty exciting to go around and see all these streets and places referred to in so many songs, films, books, other works of art.

We're aware you have a headlining show for Chicago's Tomorrow Never Knows Festival at Chicago's Sleeping Village soon. Do you have any ties to Chicago?

Yep, I’ve played at The Empty Bottle a few times. A fellow artist on my label 100% Electronica, EQUIP, lives in Chicago and he’ll be helping me hold it down at the merch table [Saturday]. I also had the pleasure of playing with Chicago act Born Days, the solo project of Melissa Harris, her music is wonderful. Fingers Inc and Frankie Knuckles are great. Big inspiration. All the house music out of this place, WOW!

You mention you've drawn influences from underground techno from the 90's and early 2000's. Where else do you currently pull inspiration for your production?

Yeah, also pop and rock music from those eras. I’m also enjoying soul music from the 60s, the songwriting then was untouchable. Korn. Psychedelic pop.

Finally, can you tell us a bit about the selections of your playlist?

This is a collection of songs old and new that have inspired the way I've produced my own music. Of course this means very much in regards to the types of sounds and instruments I like, the drum sequencing, and not so much in regards to the singer/songwriter aspect of my music.

Songs That Changed My Life: Negative Gemini's 'Angelic Crush' Playlist