The FÄM Soundcheck

A Shared Love for Music

Music has been at the center of both Marie and Jannick’s lives, though their paths to it couldn’t have been more different. For Marie, it began in a home immersed in sound. “My dad played in bands, my brothers made music too, and we always had funk, soul, and old-school R&B like Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind & Fire playing,” she recalls. Singing lessons at eight led to her first performance at a youth center. “I was so nervous I hated it, but something kept pulling me back.”

Eurovision also played a role early on. Marie participated in its preliminary rounds in Belgium, though her parents cautioned her about the highs and lows of competition. “They told me to be careful because I might feel sad if I didn’t get through,” she says, laughing. “But I kept pushing myself.”

A turning point came during secondary school when she organised a charity concert. “My brothers joined me on stage, and that was when I knew music was my path,” she says. But life had other plans: business management studies took her away from music for a while. It was only after feeling stuck that she returned, finding solace in songwriting - and eventually, Jannick.

Jannick’s journey was more technical. “I started as a drummer in rock bands, but I wanted to understand more,” he says. Watching his bandmates talk about music theory left him feeling out of the loop. “The guitarist and bassist would discuss chord progressions, and I’d just sit there like, ‘What are you even saying?!’” he laughs, a sentiment many drummers might relate to. Determined to bridge the gap, Jannick taught himself piano as a teenager, unlocking a whole new level of understanding.

Later, he turned to production with Ableton, diving deep into the world of electronic music. “At first, it was just covers and bqcking tracks for gigs, but creating beats became something I loved.” Furthermore, during live shows, Jannick often brings an added twist, stepping into his aptly-named alter ego - Mr Bass - to lay down the basslines for tunes like “Why’d You Never Call Me,” much to the delight of the audience.

Yet, his creative energy felt incomplete until he met Marie. “Seeing audiences connect with our songs was transformative. That’s when I knew this was what I wanted to do.”

The Birth of FÄM

Every great story has a beginning, and for FÄM, it all started with a simple request (not an accurate retelling, artistic liberties were taken):

“I want a keyboard player.”
“I am a keyboard player.”
“Cool, wanna click immediately, form a new band, and make amazing music?”
“Yup.”

In reality, as Jannick explains, “Marie had posted about looking for a keyboard player. I messaged her, and though meeting for the first time was a bit awkward, we quickly clicked.” The connection wasn’t just musical but deeply personal, rooted in a shared appreciation for artists like Tom Misch and Kaytranada.

What neither of them expected was how seamlessly their styles would align. Marie jokingly calls her pre-FÄM sound “depressed deep house,” a far cry from the soul-infused grooves they now create together. “It was like discovering something we didn’t know we needed,” she says.

The name FÄM, however, predates their duo. “It comes from the charity concert I performed at with my brothers,” Marie explains. “My brother suggested ‘Fam’ because we are a family. Adding the umlaut gave it a twist.” For Jannick, it was a natural fit. “It reflects the community we want to create with our fans - a family.”

Finding Their Sound

FÄM’s music has evolved significantly since their early days. Tracks like “Save Yourself” leaned heavily on danceable electronic beats. “We wanted to make people move,” Jannick says. But over time, they found a deeper groove. “‘Why You Never Call Me’ marked a shift -  richer melodies and emotionally resonant lyrics,” he adds. The influence of artists like Olivia Dean and Cleo Sol is evident in their current sound.

Marie describes this evolution as finding their emotional core. “When we play songs like ‘Losing Again,’ we see people vibing more. It’s like being home on stage.”

The pair also admits to letting their audience guide them. “After gigs, we notice which songs people resonate with the most,” Jannick shares. “It’s helped us refine what we want to create.”

Music as Therapy

Both artists find solace in their craft. “If I haven’t written in a while, I feel off,” Marie admits. “It’s a way to channel my feelings into something tangible—it’s my therapy.”

For Jannick, the process is bittersweet. “There are moments when I’m stuck, comparing myself to others. But finishing a track we’re proud of makes it worth it,” he says.

Marie elaborates on how music connects them to their listeners. “Seeing people feel something from our songs - it’s cathartic. It reminds me that we’re not alone in what we’re feeling.”

Details & Dreams

FÄM’s attention to detail sets them apart. In “Losing Again,” Jannick added a subtle synth layer to the final chorus. “It’s barely noticeable, but it adds fullness,” he reveals. Similarly, “Wyncm” features a slightly out-of-tune chord. “The mixing engineer wanted to remove it, but I loved the happy accident.”

Marie highlights the evolution of their tracks. “Hearing an early version of ‘Wyncm’ without the final drum layer made me realize how much it added. Now, I can’t imagine the song without it.”

Even their live performances include deliberate surprises. “We like to tweak arrangements slightly for gigs,” Jannick says. “It keeps things fresh for us and the audience.”

As for their dreams? “I want to play AB, Rock Werchter, and Pukkelpop,” Marie says, cautiously optimistic. “Collaborating with Tom Misch or Jordan Rakei would be incredible. Our producer in London is friends with Jordan, so fingers crossed!” 

Jannick dreams of opening for Olivia Dean. “Support acts are great because there’s less pressure, and you get to introduce your music to new audiences,” he says.

Their shared aspiration is a full-length album. “We’re taking our time, but we want it to be something we’re truly proud of,” Marie shares. “It’ll be a snapshot of who we are as artists.”

Closing the Night

The concert was nothing short of magical. FÄM brought the house down, their soulful grooves and heartfelt lyrics hugging the audience. As the final chords of “Losing Again” faded into the night, the room erupted in applause, a testament to the undeniable connection Marie and Jannick have cultivated - not just with each other, but with everyone lucky enough to hear them play.