On FORCE, brothers AKPOSSOUL and Manoo let the pressure gather. Released via XPLR, the track layers percussion, electronics and rising synths around a hypnotic groove, giving each addition room to deepen its intensity.
Connecting Manoo’s long-established presence in French house with AKPOSSOUL’s Montreal perspective, the collaboration becomes the second release on Rocco Rodamaal’s new imprint. Their shared musical understanding bridges the distance between Montreal and Lyon, with trust and direct feedback forming the record.
For FM PRO 10Q, AKPOSSOUL discusses the instincts behind their partnership, the discipline of leaving space in a mix and why FORCE fits a label built around creative freedom.
Sometimes adding a small percussion detail can create more tension than adding a big synth.
Q1. FORCE takes its time to reach full intensity. What was the track’s starting point?
The starting point was really the groove and the atmosphere. We wanted to create something that had a strong physical presence, but without revealing everything immediately. From the beginning, the idea was to build tension progressively and let the track breathe. Rather than starting with a big statement, we wanted the energy to develop naturally, with each element adding another layer. The intensity comes from that gradual accumulation.
Q2. As brothers, what do you hear in each other’s musical instincts that makes this collaboration work?
I think we understand each other very quickly musically. We don’t always need to explain everything with words. We can hear when something is working, when something needs to be pushed, or when it’s better to leave it alone.
We also have different instincts, which is important. Manoo has a huge amount of experience and a very developed musical identity, while I’m constantly bringing my own perspective and influences into the process. That balance creates a good tension between us. There is trust, but we also challenge each other.
Q3. AKPOSSOUL, how have your West African heritage and life between Lyon and Montreal shaped what you bring to FORCE?
I think those different parts of my background naturally influence the way I approach music, especially rhythm, groove and movement. My West African heritage is part of who I am, while growing up in Lyon and later building my life in Montreal exposed me to very different musical environments and cultures.
But I don’t consciously try to put all of those elements into a track and say, “this is African” or “this is Lyon” or “this is Montreal.” It’s more subconscious than that. All of these experiences have shaped the way I listen and the way I feel music, and they become part of the music naturally.
With FORCE, I think that comes through more in the energy and rhythmic sensibility than through any specific reference.
Q5. The arrangement keeps gathering weight through percussion, electronics and rising synths. How did you decide when to introduce each new element?
A lot of it came down to listening to the track as a whole and feeling where it needed more energy. We didn’t want to fill every space just because we could. Each new element needed to have a purpose. Sometimes adding a small percussion detail can create more tension than adding a big synth, so we were really paying attention to the balance between movement and space.
The arrangement developed progressively, and we kept asking ourselves whether each element was actually making the track stronger. If it wasn’t, we took it out.
Q6. Rocco launched XPLR alongside his established Memories Records imprint. What attracted you to this new venture, and what conversations shaped FORCE becoming its second release?
I’ve been a fan of Rocco’s productions for a long time, so the opportunity to release music through a label he is developing was very meaningful to me. There is also a personal connection. Rocco is close to my family, and I’ve known his musical journey and his relationship with Manoo for a long time. So releasing FORCE on XPLR feels special on both a personal and musical level.
The conversations around the track were very open. There wasn’t a feeling that we needed to force the music into a particular category. The focus was more on whether the record had the right energy and whether it connected with the vision behind XPLR. That freedom was important for us.
Q7. XPLR launches with an open brief spanning house, techno and experimental electronic music. What do you want “FORCE” to communicate about the label’s direction at this early stage?
I think FORCE represents the idea that XPLR doesn’t need to be defined by one specific genre.
For me, the important thing is the experience the music creates the atmosphere, the energy and the emotion rather than whether you can put it into one particular category. FORCE has elements that can connect with house, Afro House, techno and deeper electronic music, but it doesn’t really need to belong exclusively to one of them.
If anything, I hope it communicates that XPLR is a space where artists can explore their own sound without having to follow a strict formula.
Q8. FM PRO TECH Q: Which production tools or techniques were most important in giving FORCE its growing intensity while keeping the mix clear?
It was mainly about layering and knowing when to leave space. We wanted the track to grow naturally, so every new element had to add something to the energy without making it feel overcrowded.
Q9. FM PRO TECH Q: With AKPOSSOUL based in Montreal and Manoo in Lyon, how did you organise the collaboration, from exchanging ideas to agreeing on the final version?
We worked remotely, exchanging ideas and different versions until the track felt right. Because we’re brothers, the communication is very direct. We can be honest with each other and make decisions quickly, which makes the distance much less important.
Q10. What would you like FORCE to open up next, both for your partnership and for XPLR’s developing identity?
I hope FORCE leads to more music together and gives us the opportunity to explore new directions. For XPLR, I hope it continues to give artists the freedom to express themselves and explore different sounds.
Ultimately, I think the most interesting thing is to keep exploring.
©fm