Name: Leslie Goldsztejn aka LESSSS
Nationality: French
Occupation: Producer, DJ, sound engineer
Current release: LESSSS's edit of "Drone," originally released by French group Train Fantôme, is out via HARDPULSE.
Recommendation for Paris: One place I absolutely love in Paris is 59 Rivoli, an incredible art gallery on Rue de Rivoli. It spans multiple floors and brings together artists from all over the world, showcasing all kinds of artistic expressions. The energy of the space, the diversity of styles, and the creativity that fills every corner make it truly unique. It’s a huge source of inspiration for me, especially when it comes to my work, album covers, and visual identity.
If you're in Paris, I highly recommend checking it out—you never know what kind of art or artist you’ll discover there!
Topic I rarely get to talk about: I’m really passionate about astrophysics and astronomy. It’s something that has always fascinated me. Just thinking about the scale of the universe, the mysteries of black holes, or the possibility of other worlds is mind-blowing. There’s something both humbling and inspiring about looking up at the night sky and realizing how small we are in the grand scheme of things.
Even though it’s not something I talk about often, it definitely influences my perspective.

If you enjoyed this LESSSS interview and would like to know more about her music, visit her on Instagram, and Soundcloud. 



When it comes to experiencing the sensation of “energy” as a listener, which albums, performances, and artists come to mind?

Personally, when it comes to experiencing the sensation of “energy,” I directly want to listen to rock bands like Nirvana or metal bands like Gojira.

I also like really energetic French rap, like the band Train Fantôme which is a French punk rap band. It’s music that contains really trash guitars with very rhythmic drums and high tempo.



I also want to listen to some very cinematic, powerful music like the original music from the movie Interstellar by Hans Zimmer.



It’s a super powerful album, with intense music and high energy but this time the tempo is slower.

There can be many different kinds of energy in art – soft, harsh, healing, aggressive, uplifting and many more. Which do you tend to feel drawn to most?

It depends on the mood I am in but most of the time when I want to receive energy from music it’d be a healing and aggressive energy/music. Like a track or an album that would «attack» me but in a good way to make me feel better (I hope that makes sense). As if you did a really intense sport session and after that you feel relaxed.

This is the type of energy I need to have a good balance in my mood and in my head.

I have had a hard time explaining that listening to death metal calms me down. When you listen to a song with a particular energy, does it tend to fill you with the same energy – or are there “paradoxical” effects?

I fully understand what you mean. It’s exactly the same for me.

High energy and aggressive music allows me to let off steam. It calms me down and allows me to empty my head.

In as far as it plays a role for the music you like listening to or making, what role do words and the voice of a vocalist play for the transmission of energy?

For me, having lyrics in a track is really important and helps me to identify myself with the track or just helps me to remember it.

Even if I don’t understand what the singer says (because it’s a language I don’t speak or because the vocals have been cut, pitched etc and you can’t really understand any words), a track that contains vocals will directly touch me more, and I personally think that it automatically transmits more emotions and energy.

For me it’s really hard to produce a track without vocals. I usually build a whole track around a vocal I like: the structure and rhythm of it, how they align with the beat, contribute to the overall energy and helps to transmit it.

When it comes to experiencing the sensation of “energy” as a creator, how would you describe the physical sensation of experiencing this energy? [Where do you feel it, do you have a visual sensation/representation, is there a sense of release or a build-up of tension etc …]

Usually when I receive a high dose of energy from music paradoxically I can’t move my body anymore, I close my eyes and I feel an excitement in my belly.

When I produce a track it’s the same, I close my eyes to listen to what I’ve done and if it’s a really energetic track or if I really like it, I can’t move and I’m just loving it!

When it comes to composing / songwriting, are you finding that spontaneity and just a few takes tend to capture energy best? Or does honing a piece bring you closer to that goal?

I'm more the type to spend a lot of time on a track.

The first sessions are crucial because they set the tone for the track: its energy, rhythms, structure, etc. The following sessions are mainly for mixing the track, and that's when I get closer to my initial goal.

I manage to make it complete and maintain a more or less consistent level of energy throughout the track using FX, fills, build-ups, etc.

How much of the energy of your own music, would you say, is already part of the composition, how much of it is the result of the recording process?

For me, the energy of my music is a mix of both. The composition already carries an intention, a raw emotion that defines the soul of the track.

Since I produce entirely on a computer and don’t have recording sessions, the production process is where that energy fully comes to life. Every sound, texture, and effect is carefully shaped to enhance the original composition.

I’d say it’s about 50/50, the composition sets the direction, but the production refines and amplifies its energy.

How do you capture the energy you want in the studio?

Since I produce entirely on a computer and don’t have traditional studio sessions, capturing energy is all about how I shape the sound during the production process.

It starts with the composition, the drums, the vocals and the synth. Then, I use sound design, effects, and mixing techniques to bring that energy to life. Every choice, from synth textures to automation and layering, is a way to translate the energy and emotions I want to transmit.

For me, the 'studio' isn’t a physical space, it’s the creative process itself.

What role do factors like volume, effects like distortion, amplification, and production in general for in terms of creating the energy you want?

The effects I’ll use and how I’ll mix a whole track depends on the energy, emotions I want to transmit.

Most of the time the energy of the track is aggressive and raw so I’ll use distortion, overdrive, saturation etc, I’ll try to make the tracks sound as loud as possible (without saturating and of course by following the standards of levels of the streaming platforms), so it has a massive power and a high energy. Using all these effects allows me to make the track more consistent and give it more depth.

To achieve that raw and aggressive energy, I believe the track needs to have «air», especially in the high frequencies, while being very 'thick' in the low frequencies, creating an almost overwhelming energy.

Tell me about the importance that the right mindset (or the absence of it) and rituals play for your process when it comes to hitting the right energy.

For me, mindset is everything when it comes to capturing the right energy.

I don’t have strict rituals, but I do need to be in a certain headspace where I feel connected to the emotions I want to express. Sometimes, that means listening to specific tracks for inspiration, tweaking sounds until they ‘click,’ or even just stepping away and coming back with fresh ears.

If my mindset isn’t right, forcing the process never works, the energy has to feel natural.

In terms of energy, what changes when you're performing live on stage, with an audience present, compared to the recording stage?

For me, the audience’s energy is everything. It helps me get into the mood of the show and makes me appreciate the music even more. There’s something special about feeling that connection in real-time by the way people react, move, and engage with the music. It also recharges my energy, which I later channel back into my productions.

Performing live gives me a better understanding of what works in a live show, helping me refine how I convey emotions and energy in my tracks. That interaction is a key part of my creative process, even when I’m back in front of my computer producing

How does the presence of the audience and your interaction with it change the energy of the music and how would you describe the creative interaction with listeners during a gig?

The presence of the audience completely transforms the energy of the music. Their reactions, their movement, and their engagement create a real-time feedback loop that pushes me to give even more. I feed off their energy, and in return, I amplify it through the music. It’s a constant exchange.

The interaction is almost like a conversation without words, I can feel what resonates, what hits the hardest, and that helps me shape the flow of the set.

It’s also a huge source of inspiration for my production process later, as it shows me how to better translate emotions and intensity into my tracks.

What kind of feedback have you received from listeners or concert audiences in terms of the experience that your music and/or performances have had on them?

Almost every time after a show, people come up to me saying that my set had an indescribable energy, something they’ve rarely experienced before. I also receive a lot of messages telling me how powerful the set was and how the energy is still resonating in their bodies long after the show.

For me, this is the best feedback I could ever receive because it means that my music has truly transcended and left a mark on them. That’s exactly what I aim for: to create an experience that stays with people, both physically and emotionally.

Would you say that you prefer to stay in control to be able to shape the energy or do you surrender to it and allow the music to take over? Who, ultimately has control during a live performance?

For me, it’s a mix of both. I keep a lot of control over my set, making sure the energy flows the way I intend, but at the same time, I let the music take over. That balance is what makes my performance truly powerful.

I structure my sets around that feeling, allowing moments where I guide the energy with precision, but also leaving space for the music to take over and for me to fully immerse myself in it.

In the end, the control is shared between me, the music, and the audience. It’s a constant exchange of energy that makes every show unique.

The energy that music is able to generate can sometimes be overwhelming. How, do you think, can artists make use of this energy to bring about change in the world?

Music has the power to unite people, creating a deep sense of community and solidarity. When a track or a performance carries a certain energy, it goes beyond just sound, it becomes an experience that connects people on an emotional and even physical level.

I believe that an intense performance can leave a lasting impact on the audience, almost like a visceral imprint that stays with them long after the show. That kind of energy can shift perspectives, open minds, and even bring people together around a shared feeling or vision.

For me, that’s the real power of music, its ability to transcend barriers and create moments that truly resonate.