So first of all, Ed Banger. How did you meet Pedro Winter, and how did your partnership with him take shape?
We met at a....party. He needed somebody to design stuff, I needed to work. It was about six years ago. I did my first work for him, and the very first Ed Banger visual, and it's lasted til today.

You've designed basically every Ed Banger album cover, and even though the images tend to be quite different, they do seem to be united by a particular aesthetic. If you had to put it into words, what's that look all about?
First of all, thank you. People usually think they're all the same! I try to differentiate every work for Ed Banger. But indeed, they are probably united by the fact that it's me doing them. I mean, it's my hand! So it's always a bit similar. But to put that into words, that's too hard for me. It's, "so-me." (laughs)

So there wasn't some strategy that you and Pedro hashed out?
Nope, it's pure spontaneity, with some particular taste and accidents.

It's funny, not a lot of people seem to know your name, but after Pedro, you 're probably more important to the Ed Banger brand than anybody. You've worked on a lot of the videos, you design the album art, you've produced music for them. Do you like working in the background, or do you sometimes wish you had a little more attention?
I'm a craftsman. It makes sense. If you build the imagery, you don't need to be in the spotlight. You serve a cause. I'm fine with that.

What would you say you're influenced by, and why?
The awkwardness of non-designers who happen to design at some point, for some reason. Like a restaurant sign made by the cook. It's like a child's drawing. Someone who doesn't "know" the rules usually creates something beautiful, almost perfect.

As long as we're on the subject, what about people working today that impress you? How about other craftsmen the world should know about?
The world should know about the Belgian crew called the ERS. They're primarily based in graffiti, which is one of the main visual fields I know about these days. A bunch of 7 over-talented guys who draw and paint like no other.

Okay, new topic. I have to be honest, I was stunned to find out that you DJ. Have you been doing it for a long time? Did somebody at Ed Banger teach you?
Well, no. I think I started one or two years ago. No one really taught me, but I had the chance to spend a LOT of time in the booth with my friends and watch. And if you look at Erol Alkan's hands or Dave and Steph Dewaele's for two hours every three days, not to mention Pedro and Mehdi and Feadz, etc, well, you get to learn, I guess. I'm still bad, but I'm getting better. It's actually a lot of fun, and it allows me to keep on having fun with my crew.

But you couldn't have looked at what they were doing and said, "Well, that looks pretty simple. Shouldn't take more than a few months to get real good at this..."
Hahahaha that's just what I said. Once you get how to mix, the more you do it, the easier it gets. No, really, there's no special trick. I guess anyone can do it. I don't own turntables to practice.

I have similar questions about your music production. You have a remix on Ed Rec, Volume 2, and an original production on Volume 3. Is there a So-Me 12" or EP in the future?
Well, I'd love to, but unfortunately, it's hard to find the time to do it well. Every time I try to save time for it, a big visual job, one I don'e wanna miss cause it's exciting, comes in the way and prevents me from making new tracks. You know there's no point doing it if it's not going to be done well. And that takes time. Let's say design takes up all my time now.

Do you have a pal who helps with them?
Well, I've always been doing music, playing in bands as a teenager, etc. So no, once again, as with DJing I've been watching and learning. Music software is easy and intuitive, like the design software. You just have to know what you want and trust your ear. It's like art direction, you just need to know what you want and which way to take. I love music, and I know what I like or dislike, so even with a low level of skills, I can manage to get something that sounds like what I want.

Finally, you must be creating stuff all the time. Doodling on sketchpads, screwing around on photoshop, whatever. How many hours a day do you work on everything, from music and design to whatever else?
The question is how many hours a day do I sleep? I'd say eight. The rest is that. But I'm lazing around as much as I can. Deadlines rule my world.

Does that stuff sometimes wind up turning into other projects for other people, or does Ed Banger have you on some kind of exclusivity deal?
Well, as far as music graphics, I only focus on Ed Banger, which is my mothership. I wouldn't want similar acts to have similar graphics. It would be confusing and weaken our imagery. But I can and do work in different fields for different people all the time.

What've you got coming up?
I'm directing a video for Kid Cudi's "Day n Nite," which already has an FHM-like video for the Crookers mix. I'm working on the original song. Can't wait to see what it looks like, it's along process.

Anything I've missed here? Anything you want to get off your chest?
"Get Off Your Chest" by Jay Dee is a good song.

So-Me's video for Kid Cudi's "Day n Nite" will premiere in February. For more So-Me updates, doodles, and musings, check out his blog at Coolcats.