ARTISTIC GROWTH
Geoffroy on Cultivating Both Plants and Creativity
SMOKING IS A BIG PART OF GEOFFROY’S CREATIVE PROCESS — WHICH PERHAPS EXPLAINS
the mellow, richly textured electro-soul soundscapes of his Polaris Music Prize-nominated debut album, 2017’s Coastline, as well as 2019’s intensely personal 1952, an atmospheric electro-soul tribute to his late mother. It’s a delicate balancing act, where cannabis can enhance his writing but also holds him back.
“[Cannabis] puts me in a bubble where I’m more focused and extra creative, but at the same time, easily distracted,” the Montreal multi-instrumentalist acknowledges. “It’s the one challenge when creating high, to remain focused on the task at hand. Too many interesting options come to mind and interfere with the genius spurs.”
He’s a daily smoker who favours “light sativas during the day” before switching to “indica after dinner, if the plan is to take it easy.” He recommends Tangerine Dream, a THCdominant sativa strain that “will surely give you a little buzz, but you’ll still be able to keep a straight face in case you’re handling serious business.” He also uses the highCBD strain Ringo’s Gift when smoking onstage or going about his morning routine.
“It’s important to understand that different strains will have dramatically different effects on your brain,” he notes.
“Some leave you feeling light, cheerful and floaty, while others will leave you couch-locked and lost in your own thoughts — not that that’s a bad thing, it just depends on the context.”
When not working on tunes, he loves satisfying his munchies at some of his go-to local Montreal food spots. A few of his favourites after smoking include the griot fritay (fried pork) at Casse-croûte Sissi & Paul, banh mi from Marché Hung Phat, smoothies from Shäika Café, and veggie thali at Chand Palace.
In response to Canada’s recent changes in cannabis laws and culture, Geoffroy says that “we’re heading in the right direction,” but we still have work to do. Specifically, he believes “we should all be able to grow our weed legally, as we grow our own basil” — something that remains illegal in Quebec. Federal laws allow adults to grow up to four plants, but Quebec’s Cannabis Regulation Act states, “It is totally prohibited to cultivate cannabis for personal use. Note that it is also prohibited to possess a cannabis plant.”
“They make it so confusing, especially for stoners,” he says of the laws.
For Geoffroy, being allowed to grow his own cannabis is the goal. “Anybody who gives growing weed a shot is a hero,” he says.