HAUT & FORT - Working Class Voices ! (France - Punk/Oï! - Interview with Christophe, Tom, Manu).

Hi—Can you introduce yourselves and tell us how it all began for you—how you discovered this musical world, what drew you to it, what fascinated you, and what made you want to make music?
Tom (Bass): Hi! For me, it all started through my dad (Manu). When I was younger, bands like Camera Silens, Komintern Sect, and La Souris Déglinguée were a real gateway… We were pretty old-school at first, but later I discovered newer bands like Lion’s Law and Rancoeur, and from there my dad also got interested in everything that’s happening today.
I have to say that, in a way, we got swept up in this new wave. The comeback of older bands like Komintern Sect was accompanied by a massive influx of new bands all over France (and around the world) that represent a new generation. So we went to a lot of concerts, and the atmosphere really moved us and swept us away; that’s when my dad suggested that we, too, take the plunge into this adventure. I started playing bass, and that’s how we formed the band.
Christophe (Drums): Hi, to be completely transparent, I don’t come from the traditional Oi! scene at all: I’m a pure product of ’90s metal! My heart still beats for those heavy, distorted guitars, the double pedal, and the raw power of that era.
What drew me to music and pushed me behind the drums was that dark, earth-shaking energy of metal—the need to let it all out. So, how did I end up in an Oi! band? Quite simply because the raw energy, urgency, and sincerity come from exactly the same mindset. When my friends roped me into the Haut & Fort adventure, I was immediately on board: the groove and aggression of the style blend perfectly with my metal background. At the end of the day, good music is the kind that hits you in the gut—no matter the label!
Manu (Vocals/Guitars): For me, it all started in the ’80s; I got hooked on French Oi! after discovering the compilations *Chaos en France 1* and *2* and *France profonde*. They introduced me to a veritable treasure trove of bands like Komintern Sect, No Class, Camera Silens, Kidnap… Out of curiosity, I then started digging deeper and exploring what was happening in this scene that’s always been a part of my life. As I made more discoveries, this culture and mindset took on greater importance. So, musically aligning myself with this movement was ultimately a no-brainer.
It’s truly an incredible adventure to keep this band going with my buddy and my son. A human and musical adventure worth all the gold in the world!

What if I told you that you had to leave for a deserted island in 5 minutes—you’d have no choice… except to take three albums with you… which ones, and why? Would you say these were game-changers at some point in your life?
Christophe (drums): Five minutes? No time to think—I’d rush to the shelf and pick my holy trinity of ’90s metal!
"Sublime Dementia" by Loudblast: A monumental album. And beyond being a death metal masterpiece, it’s the pride of the North! Seeing guys from our neck of the woods put out a record of this caliber is bound to be inspiring. There’s that bond of blood and territory that we also find today in Haut & Fort: that northern identity—solid, genuine, and no-nonsense.
"Heartwork" by Carcass: For me, it’s the absolute perfection of aggression and melody. The drumming on this album is a true demonstration of power and precision.
"Wolverine Blues" by Entombed: The pinnacle of death ’n’ roll. It’s heavy, it’s raw, and it’s packed with groove.
Tom (Bass): Only three albums? That’s a tough call—I’ll have to set aside some that are close to my heart. But a few stand out right away:
La Souris Déglinguée (their 1981 debut album): It exudes passion, hatred, and youth—it’s a whole mindset unique to *La Souris Déglinguée*, which for me is accompanied by a touch of nostalgia; I was lucky enough to spend my childhood with this album playing in the background.
Joy Division’s "Unknown Pleasures": The album is excellent from start to finish—that’s no secret—and their influence extends far beyond the world of rock.
And finally, Bromure’s debut album—edgy, with catchy saxophone riffs, and true to the spirit of skinhead culture—is an excellent Oi! album that definitely belongs in my top picks.
Manu (Vocals/Guitars):
Camera Silens’ debut album: for me, a must-have from the Oi! scene. An album that helped put French Oi! on the map far beyond our borders.
La Souris Déglinguée’s debut album: authentic, rock ’n’ roll, with lyrics by Taï-Luc. A true classic!
The Clash’s debut album: pffff… An absolute killer from start to finish! The cover art, the lyrics, and, of course, the music. Not a single track to skip!

Would you say these albums were game-changers at some point in your life?
Christophe (drums): Absolutely. These three albums, released in the same year, shaped my playing and my style behind the kit. Loudblast showed me that you could come from the North (of France - Ed.) and deliver some seriously heavy stuff, and that energy is exactly what I bring to Haut & Fort’s Oi! scene today!
Tom (Bass): As for whether they changed the game—I’ve got a shaved head today! They influenced me a lot, especially La Souris Déglinguée; the spirit they exude really resonated with me. It was a turning point that opened the door to the skinhead culture I ended up getting into.
Manu (Vocals/Guitars): These bands have clearly influenced my musical tastes, my choice of concerts, and, more broadly, my lifestyle. Far more than just music, they’ve helped shape the person I am today.

Tell me about the band… How did you meet—the current lineup—past experiences—and most importantly—WHY the need to form THIS band?
Christophe (Drums): Manu (Vocals/Guitars) and I go way back: we’ve known each other since we were teens! We grew up together and shared our passion for music. Even though he’s always had a thing for Oi! (while also listening to metal), we’ve always had a real common ground. When they started Haut & Fort, they naturally came looking for me to play the drums! The icing on the cake is that Tom, Manu’s son, plays bass: seeing that father-son bond is amazing.
Today, Haut & Fort is all about family and friendship.
In the past, Manu and I had already tried playing together in other projects, but it never really worked out. All those past attempts and experiences have given us some experience under our belts. Today, with maturity and all the right ingredients in place, we know exactly what we want and where we’re going.
Manu(Vocals/Guitars): The band has a particularly close-knit, family-like vibe. Obviously, that lets me share a lot of moments with my dad—it’s a project close to our hearts, an adventure we’ve embarked on together. Kayou (Christophe) has always been a very close friend of the family; in our eyes, he’s practically part of the family. This band is, in a way, the fulfillment of a dream; I love being part of a journey that I’m passionate about and that resonates with me—and above all, having the chance to do it with the people I care about.
Christophe (Drums): We had this deep-seated need to play music that’s sincere, authentic, and uncompromising. When your childhood friend asks you to join him to finally bring a concrete project to life, it’s a no-brainer. It’s a chance to blend our influences, share our energy, and deliver raw, gut-wrenching sound!

Describe your sound and explain why I should listen to YOUR band at all costs?
Manu (Vocals/Guitars): Haut & Fort is, above all, an independent, raw, and uncompromising sound that exudes working-class spirit and DIY ethos. Doing things ourselves, with whatever resources we have on hand, while staying true to our values—that’s essential. It’s our mindset, our way of doing things, and what defines the band’s identity.
Tom (Bass): We don’t aim to follow the recent cold Oi! trend; aside from one track on the demo (“Deuxième Classe”), which is close to that sound, we don’t plan to continue down that path. Instead, we’re trying to go back to the roots of Oi! with almost British-style melodies, an edgy sound, and, of course, the spirit of the working class!
Christophe (Drums): With us, there’s no faking it, no posturing. We deliver music made from the gut, driven by genuine human connection. If you love sharp riffs and the sound of the streets, you’re in for a treat.

Lyrical and musical inspirations/influences? How important are lyrics to you? Are there specific messages or ideas you’re trying to convey and share through your lyrics?
Tom (Bass): As for the lyrics, they’re very important to us—we’re here to speak out, to talk about the reality of working-class life! This resonates with us particularly because we come from that background, in a region whose history is heavily rooted in the exploitation of workers, factories, and, of course, the mines. We highlight what surrounds this culture—what a working-class kid faces on a daily basis, or even the worker himself—along with the injustices and history he endures. In the same vein, we champion skinhead culture—it’s about putting certain truths back in their proper place.
As for the influences that shaped these lyrics, L’Infanterie and Maraboots share that same spirit.
Musically speaking, I draw a lot of inspiration from the bass-playing style found in L’Infanterie and Snix.
Overall, it’s a return to our roots.
Manu (Vocals/Guitars): The lyrics are essential to me. With Haut & Fort, we mainly tackle themes that are close to our hearts: our region, Nord-Pas-de-Calais and its history, the working class, skinhead culture, and friendship. It’s our lived experiences, our roots, and our values that we try to convey through our songs.

About your latest release?
Tom (Bass): Absolutely everything on the demo is homemade—recorded at our place with whatever we had on hand. We did our best to make sure the sound quality was good.
The cover art is a photo of me on some train tracks that Adam, a very good friend, took. As for the logo, my dad (Manu) designed it—I handled the cover art as a whole!
As for distribution, we used DistroKid, so the demo is available on most platforms—YouTube, Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music… It’ll be released physically soon; we’re currently looking into a CD and cassette release for now.
Manu (Vocals/Guitars): We really enjoyed recording and putting together this demo ourselves, using whatever resources we had on hand. It was important to me that we do things on our own and release a record that’s entirely homemade, without trying to do more than we could with the resources we had.
I think that’s also what the underground spirit is all about today: taking initiative, doing things on your own, and seeing your ideas through to the end, with passion and sincerity.

What are your plans?
Manu (Vocals/Guitars): We’re currently working on new tracks to prepare for a future album. It’s a lot of work and it takes time, between our day jobs and everyday life!
We rehearse whenever we can, with one goal in mind: to be able to bring “Haut & Fort” to you in concert soon.
I’d really like to bring a second guitarist into the band to open up more possibilities for our compositions, enrich our sound, and give us even more power.

What’s your wildest dream for the band?
Tom (Bass): A tour would be awesome, but realistically, the dream we had for the band is already coming true—whether it’s the positive reception, the adventure, the people we get to meet, the moments we get to share—all of this brings the band’s spirit to life, and we definitely plan to keep the momentum going!
Manu (Vocals/Guitars): My dream for Haut & Fort is simply for the band to thrive and last as long as possible. To meet as many people as we can, share moments with like-minded folks, and, in our own small way, try to leave a mark—no matter how small. That would already be a lot.

Your BEST and WORST concert—as a band—and why?
We haven’t played a concert yet, but the first one will certainly be a big moment for us.

Upcoming live performances?
Manu (Vocals/Guitars): For now, we’re not playing any concerts. Between work and everyone’s other commitments, it’s hard to free up enough time to properly promote the project. We’d rather move at our own pace and take things seriously; for now, we’re focusing on writing and recording our songs, hoping to be able to play live once the conditions are right.
Tom (Bass): We rehearse regularly with the goal of playing shows as soon as possible, but we’re waiting until we’re polished and properly prepared—we definitely don’t want to rush things.

A few words about your local scene—are there any bands you’re friends with that you’d like to mention?
Tom (Bass): In the Hauts-de-France region, we have a very active local scene, particularly around Lille, with many bands that share a certain spirit—a rather cool vibe, much like the region itself, though warm at heart—which creates a sort of regional musical identity, you know!
Over in Boulogne, there are our friends from BELEK, who also got started in 2026—we get along great with them. In fact, Malik, who’s on vocals, just formed a new band very recently, Brouillard, and they’re working on some really, really heavy stuff!

What’s the question you’d love to answer but have never been asked? Heads up—I’m also waiting for the answer that goes with it…
Tom (Bass): What role did your friends and family play in making this project a reality? 
It sounds silly, but a project like a band doesn’t rely solely on its members—it also depends on the support they receive.
That’s undoubtedly what pushed us the most to keep going—what really kept the wheels turning. The friends and family who helped us and encouraged us to believe in this project—and who believed in it alongside us—the radio stations that played our music, the streams, the shares, the donations… we can’t thank enough those who are there for us and who, through their support, contribute their part to the whole. .. All this to say that you need to support your local scene, your friends, and your family in their projects—it’s a major factor in making this one a success!
Manu (Vocals/Guitars): Do we still need the underground today?
More than ever, I think. In an era where everything has to move fast and everything is calculated, doing things yourself—with your own resources and guts—still makes perfect sense. You don’t need big resources or recognition to exist. As long as there are bands, labels, zines, and people willing to get involved.

Well, the interview is coming to an end… Is there anything else you’d like to add? A point I didn’t think of? Something important, funny, silly… It doesn’t matter!
Manu (Vocals/Guitars): We’re well aware that the oi! scene and skinhead culture are threatened by extreme tendencies that tarnish a culture that doesn’t belong to them. It’s important for us to make our stance clear by declaring loud and clear that we’re part of the traditional scene : SHARP and working class.