Normandy Whale: Building Rug Radio and Bridging Culture
Comptoir NFT, Compend-AI-M, and wen Farokh?
Normandy Whale co-hosts Comptoir NFT – the first French language show on Rug Radio. Read on to learn more about his journey into web3, France’s outstanding web3 artists and creators, and growing with Rug Radio. WagginWendy chatted with Normandy Whale over DMs for this fascinating interview.
How did you get involved in Rug Radio & decide to host a weekly show?
I discovered the project through the Degenz Discord and via Mando / OSF who had been accumulating a position in early '22.
I met my co-host @nico16184 through the same Discord and we started doing weekly calls to discuss market trends and compare notes. At roughly the same time, I started an NFT newsletter in French (normandywhale.substack.com) and we were both already involved with the Rug Radio NFTs, so it felt natural to formalise that discussion and turn it into a show. Also the audio content for NFTs in French was very limited at the time (and still is) and most often focussed solely on the art and the technology. As investors we felt that it was important to shed some light on the market fundamentals driving NFT prices and educate people in that respect. We feel that it is extremely important to learn the basics to not get burned unnecessarily, the market is hard enough as it is!
Tell me about the French-speaking web3 community --
As mentioned before, the French web3 crowd is heavily focussed on art & technology, which is great. We have a lot of innovators and founders involved with some of the best businesses in the web3 space. Ledger, Sorare, Sandbox, RTFKT, Arianee, Dogami, John Karp are some good examples of well-known successes. We also have amazing artists. I'm thinking about Pascal Boyart, Obvious, Agoria or Luluxxx for example. Those names are not always widely known by the international community but surely will in the not so distant future.
We also have some pioneers that have help grow the ecosystem and empower the web3/nft space, I am thinking of Jmpailhon, Benoit Couty, Arthemort, Gaspard & many others! Now our role is to help grow this via our show and help make it more accessible and investable for people that are curious about web3 & nfts. While having fun of course!
luluxxx @luluixixix and Pascal Boyart @pascalboyart
Are you involved in any projects besides Rug Radio? Which ones excite you the most?
That's easy, Degenz. Mando and OSF are just killing it. When you retire from very well paid trading jobs to go 100% web3, this is no small gap. And from their first NFT project literally going to zero to where they are at now with Degenz, the GM show, OSF's art, those guys are definitely here for the long term (and long term means years, not 6 months!). They also understand the codes, are now part of the NFT culture and more importantly, have no problem adapting, putting the leg work and take hard decisions. This is what you want to see. Also they never complain or fud, that kind of etiquette is in Scarce supply atm. They have packed so much in DAP - cool artist drops, research, whitelists opportunities, flips discounts, discord (where OSF genuinely interacts and give advice), and I am probably forgetting other perks. Most of my best connections in the space come from that Discord. The cliccfam is a good example.
What’s your favorite NFT and why?
With no hesitation, {Compend-AI-M} 2022 #1 by @Agoriamusic.
{Compend-AI-M} 2022 #1 by @Agoriamusic Only piece I bought on Superrare and above >1.5eth. When you know, you know! Away from the aesthetics and being drawn to the piece by its graphic simplicity but complex depth and vibrant colours, @agoriamusic is a pioneer in the space. His unique approach of AI art, collaborating with scientists to create "Biogenart" is just mind-blowing. When you get the high definition artwork, you find yourself indefinitely scrolling and zooming into the details. Almost like a meditation bubble, to escape the brutality of the web3 / NFT space! And to top it off, the artist is committed, making appearances in French media and using his own influence as a well-known DJ to advocate for art on NFTs. Also very accessible on Twitter and great vibes chatting to the guy on Twitter, that can't hurt either. He's been mostly on Tezos so far with a few grails on Superrare on eth but this guy is on a rocketship, so much talent!
If money were no object, which NFT would you buy?
RLD by @OSF_nft. Still have ptsd from missing that opportunity. Hopefully I get there some day. It’s not the most expensive Uperol Spritz, neither the most historical, but those editions you get from it just hit with me. or Professional Degen 3 are great examples. Also I like the commitment and the idea that you’ll tag along with the artist without having to spend more eth every month (If you can afford the entry cost). OSF is also very innovative with engagement around his art. 7 sins and Rektguy are great examples. And btw, the piece itself is fantastic! And the community of collectors is top notch!
How did you get into the NFT space? What was your journey?
My wife owns an auction house in France (Caen-encheres.fr), when I started to hear about NFTs in the auction magazines from sales at Christies / Sothebys I had to look it up! I also work in tradfi and completely ignored crypto and missed all the fantastic price action of the past years. Just couldn’t get excited by tokens. Took some time for me to get there but NFTs were the perfect gateway for me! I minted my first NFT in décembre 21 and just got hooked.
How much time do you spend in web3? Do you have another job?
Probably too much! This stuff is addictive. Twitter, Discord & GM show / Nifty Portal almost daily. Also I travel a lot, so full immersion in the metaverse! And yes full-time job in tradfi. There is a good overlap on macro discussion & trading illiquid assets so that is actually complementary. Tbh, the quality of the information flow I get from some of those communities and top players is often better than what I can get at work.
What would you like to see most as Rug Radio evolves?
I need more helllllpppppp!!! to deal with the backend of content creation, edit, upload, innovate etc... @gldncrypt0 has been a fantastic help but I think we need to get even further if we want to be consistent in creating quality content. I think people underestimate how much time it takes to do all of that and then push it on social media, especially when this is just a hobby and that you have a job you depend on and kids!!! If we want to scale-up, we need that backbone so we can grow as quickly as possible and really establish ourselves as the number 1 media platform for web3.
What tools do you use to find, trade and buy NFTs?
Flips.finance, gem.xyz, OS, objkt, Twitter, Discord
Have you connected with anyone over web3? Who inspires you most in the space?
Of course, my co-host, plenty of other people in Paris. Even met OSF & Mando in London and expecting to meet a lot more at the Rektshow in London early November, get your rektguy!!! Most of the irl event are in the U.S. unfortunately or dates that just don't match my busy schedule but I want to do more.
As for inspiration, if I probably wasn't clear, the infamous duo OSF / Mando is top of the chart, otherwise the crew at the Nifty Portal is amazing. Pio, Nick, Kix and their soon to be boss - Node (who let the wolf into the barn?). The consistency, the tone, the quality. I mean i find myself listening to coffee shop stories from Nick, wtf?!! I won't name Farokh just because he still needs to make it to our show 🤣
Have you attended any Web3 IRL events? Your favorite?
So far very few because of personal constraints. Favorite to go to would be NFT NYC of course but timing is tough for me and family duties make it difficult!
Doxed or anon?
Semi-doxed? Doesn't really matter anyway, I am a small fish, despite the pseudo! But I’ll happily meet most people irl and tell them who I am!
Where can people find you and your NFT collection?
On Twitter / LinkedIn/ Instagram @normandywhale, also have degen account @rektNormandy, the newsletter normandywhale.substack.com, and main wallets are normandynft / normandywhale / rektNormandy.
Any more comments?
----- wen @Farokh on Comptoir NFT 🤣 ? -----