Raul Anthony
Feb 3, 2025
Vern Vennard Produces "The Houston Halloween Sessions" for French Artist Seb — 5 Years & 2 Continents in the Making
By Raul Anthony
Vern Vennard, guitarist and founding member of Zak Perry & The Beautiful Things, has once again stepped into the producer’s chair — this time for a project close to both his heart and his home. Literally.
The upcoming five-song EP, titled “The Houston Halloween Sessions,” features French singer-songwriter Sebastien Leclercq and Beautiful Things drummer Julien Mahieux. The entire project was recorded starting back in October of 2024 at NovAria Studios, Vern’s own home studio nestled in the tropical backyard oasis of his Houston residence.
“The thing about NovAria,” Vern says, “is it’s not just a ‘home studio’ in the technical sense. It’s my actual house. You’re recording in my living room, my kitchen, walking out back to the pool and grabbing a drink by the waterfall between takes. It’s laid-back and creative in a way that sterile studios just can’t match.”
Julien Mahieux agrees. “It felt like a retreat,” he says. “No pressure, just vibes. We’d track all day, then jump in the pool with a whiskey and talk about life and music. That atmosphere really got into the songs.”
The project has been years in the making. Vern had wanted to collaborate with Seb ever since he first heard him shyly play a few of his songs during Vern's time building his American Preux Studios in France. Back then, Seb was an unassuming songwriter with raw talent and zero ego. “I basically had to convince him that he was good enough to work with me,” Vern recalls. “He was shy and didn’t know how good his songs were. But I knew. I heard it in his unique melodies and his writing, even sitting in my control room with nothing but an acoustic guitar."
Seb remembers that moment vividly. “At first, I wasn’t sure my stuff was strong enough,” he says. “But Vern kept telling me, ‘Man, you’ve got something here.’ He believed in me — and that changed everything. It made me feel really good about my songs for the first time.”
For this record, Seb handed the reins over to Vern completely. Vern not only produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered the entire EP, but also played guitar and bass, adding subtle re-writes, arrangements, harmonies, and textures throughout.
“Seb gave me total freedom,” Vern says. “He and Julien would hang down at the pool and I'd be up in the control room working on stuff. Then I'd head down grab them and show them the ideas and he’d just go, ‘Love it.’ That kind of trust is rare — and it made this project really special.”
The result? A moody, melodic, and deeply personal collection of songs that blends Seb’s introspective French songwriting with Vern’s American rock instincts and Julien’s dynamic, expressive drumming.
“This record is exactly what I hoped it would be — and more,” Julien says.
Seb agrees. “It’s beyond what I imagined. Vern elevated every track, and Julien’s drums gave it real soul. I’m proud of it.”
“The Houston Halloween Sessions” drops September 2025, and it’s a must-listen for anyone who loves heartfelt songwriting, cinematic arrangements, and the kind of chemistry that can only come from mutual respect — and maybe a little tequila by the hot tub.
This one’s worth the wait.