In an era where genre lines are constantly being blurred, emerging artist The Southside of France is carving out a space that feels both deeply personal and sonically unpredictable. Hailing from Lafayette, Louisiana, his music lives at the intersection of alternative rock and hip-hop—melding emotion, atmosphere, and raw storytelling into a sound that refuses to stay in one lane.
But his journey didn’t begin in a studio—it started with friends.
Like many artists, France first found his footing during his senior year of high school, recording music in casual sessions at a friend’s house. What began as a creative outlet quickly evolved into something more serious. Surrounded by good energy, experimental beats, and the inevitable frustrations of chasing the perfect take, he started to realize music wasn’t just a hobby—it was a path.
That path became clearer once he began producing his own beats. Taking control of his sound allowed him to shape his music from the ground up, building a style influenced by artists like Kanye West, Nirvana, and The Strokes. Like his influences, France leans into vulnerability and experimentation, creating music that feels as introspective as it does expansive.
His first major release, Say Less, introduced listeners to a darker, more emotional side of his artistry. Created during a difficult period in his life following a car accident that left his vehicle totaled, the project captures the weight of sudden change and personal struggle. It’s raw, reflective, and unfiltered—a snapshot of an artist working through real-life setbacks in real time.
But instead of staying in that space, France chose to evolve.
We had a chane to sit down with TSO France, talk about his career and what all has let up to this current moment in his career.
Q: Your stage name, “The Southside of France,” creates a cool bit of imagery—but you’re representing Lafayette, Louisiana. How does the culture of South Louisiana bleed into your music, even when you’re drawing from UK rock or Chicago rap?
TSO: I appreciate that. The Southside of France mostly stems from The Louisiana Purchase and Louisiana coming from France. I try to make music that fits my name but when it comes to Louisiana’s influence on my music, I honestly don’t know if I have much now that I think about it. If anything, I can for sure say Little Richard is instrumental, considering he recorded hits like Tutti Frutti in New Orleans. I have to credit him because rock music is a huge influence in my life, music, and upbringing. So big thanks to him for being an OG. For UK rock, Oasis is one of my favorite bands. Both of the Gallagher brothers’ personalities are in their music’s DNA. I admire Liam’s stage presence and style, on and off track, plus Noel’s lyrical style, which even influenced me in songs like White Diamonds and Comfort Zone. The Stone Roses’ vibe and overall feel is something I’d like to replicate as well. Everyone and everything came together well, especially the melodies. Their first album just feels good to listen to, and I’d like to get that across with my music. I’ll give the Sex Pistols some flowers too. Even though The Stooges, Death, Bad Brains, and Ramones came first in the U.S. punk scene, I really love the tone and aggression from the Pistols. Johnny Rotten’s vocal inflection paired with Steve Jone’s guitar riffs from their Never Mind the Bollocks album. Now, for Chicago rap, I’d mainly go to Kanye West, Chance the Rapper, and Vic Mensa. Kanye switches up the vibe and aesthetic from classic album to classic album with his cemented confidence and assurance; Chance brings an eccentric style and dope beat selection on Acid Rap; and Vic blends his rap and rock influences. Plus, INNANETAPE from Vic deserves more love.
Q: You’ve mentioned that things really clicked once you started producing your own beats. How did taking control of the boards change the way you write lyrics? Do you find yourself writing “for” the beat, or do the melodies come first?
TSO: Producing for myself changed a lot. From not needing to depend on anyone for beats, to being able to craft my own style. When it comes to lyrics, I definitely write for the beat more often than not. I usually listen to an instrumental for melodies and flows to come out. Sometimes I do come up with melodies and lyrics separately away from a specific beat then figure out which beat fits they best. That’s not as often or on purpose though.
Q: You’ve cited Kanye West as a major inspiration for your goal to be an “inspirational” artist. Beyond just the music, what is it about his career or creative philosophy that you’re looking to emulate in your own journey?
TSO: Sometimes I half-jokingly say Kanye helped raise and mold me growing up. His music was a soundtrack to my life, but I fully respected and admired him as a person too. I still do. He’s definitely been controversial since his early years in the game but him saying what others won’t really makes him who he is. I’ve found myself doing the same throughout my life. His unwavering confidence in himself even influenced me to the point where I might come off as arrogant sometimes, but I more so just know who I am, believe in myself and what I do. His style era to era was dope too. The Graduation era was the most pivotal for me. It’s like I didn’t know what “cool” was before all of that. The vibes, the clothes, the Nike Yeezys. The aesthetic and direction were perfect. Overall, he’s always been himself and influenced me to do the same unapologetically. Being undeniable over time. I’m not the typical black male from South Louisiana and people have always made that clear to this day so I just go with it and hope others like me do the same.
Find the full interview with TSO France in our May issue of The Chrd Magazine dropping early May!
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