There’s a sliding scale of tattoo studios - from private studios for single artists, all the way up to multi-location studio franchises - and on that scale, La Machine Infernale sits pretty high up.

This factory building turned mecca of body modification hosts a steady roster of resident and apprentice artists, as well as up to 200 guests a year, laser tattoo removal, piercing, and even events.

We caught up with Billy, owner of La Machine Infernale, about how they’re able to manage such a large cohort of artists, the collaborations they’ve done with global brands, and the attitude that’s more important than style, skill or experience.

What’s your name, and what’s your role at La Machine Infernale?

Hello, I’m Billy, the actual owner of the shop and I’ve been a tattoo artist for over 15 years now!

When was La Machine Infernale first opened, and by who?

The shop opened for the first time in 2003 by ex-owner Yorick, who’s actually a tattoo artist from Texas USA.

Can you tell us which artists work there, and what styles they specialise in?

Actually we have around 14 resident artists at the shop but it often changes depending on the arrival of new artists and some departures.

Currently we have:

BSV Darkshades - blackwork, dotwork and ornamental

Mathilde - neo-traditional and illustrative

Miguelito - fine line and microrealism graphic tattoos

Nick Cuervo - portraits and realism

Jade da Silva - fine line blackwork

Sombreveine - sketch-style blackwork

Elwish - blackwork illustration

Ronan - graphic blackwork

Saiarivano - Japanese and neo-traditional

Raschid - portraits, realism and surrealism

We also work with approximately 150 - 200 guest artists per year in our GuestZone, the place at the shop dedicated to hosting worldwide travelling artists.

There are many different styles of work at the studio - almost any you can think of!

Would you say La Machine Infernale has a particular ethos or vibe?

I would say LMI works really hard to maintain a high level concerning tattoos, but also to keep a respectful approach with the clientele and artists who come into our shop.

I personally insist on the fact that everyone who steps into the shop should feel very comfortable - both artists and their clientele need it to feel like home.

How do you balance the needs of so many resident artists?

We are always happy to welcome new resident artists. As a tattooer myself, I always think about the chance I had back in time and the trust the artists who hired me put in me.

I want to do the same for newcomers. I don’t think the industry needs to stop having newcomers, but I think the newbies arriving in the industry need to be well surrounded and the best advice given to them. Besides that, our clientele is open to many different styles, so we can build a client base for all the members of our resident team .

What kind of events do you run throughout the year?

We work with a lot of different local tattoo events which - to my eyes - are the best way to build the perfect clientele for our team of resident artists, but also for our guests.

We also like to collaborate with brands for events in their retail shops at the mall, like Timberland, Moxy hotels, Monster Energy, and more!

How often do you place an order with Killer Ink, and what are some of your most ordered products?

We place an order with Killer Ink every week. We need a large amount of ink, of course! But we also order lots of cartridges and all the supplies needed to set up our workstations.

 Do you have music or any other entertainment playing in the studio?

Of course! We are all fans of music or even musicians ourselves, so music is very important for us - all kinds of music, even if metal and hip hop are the most common!

We also built a stage in the shop and collaborate with brands like Orange Amplifiers. The stage is here and ready for any show we can host while we’re having an event at the shop.

 How is your studio decorated?

The studio is 800 square metres and that all needed to be decorated! We obviously have some prints of our favourite artists, but also some Mural Graffiti by Insane 51.

The studio is an old factory and we wanted to keep the spirit of it so we didn’t load it up with too many dust-friendly things. We like to keep it simple and mix it up with wood and plants, combining the factory with organic spirit.

 What tattoo furniture do your artists use?

All 25 of the tattoo booths are equipped the same with comfortable beds, workstations, stools, armrests, lamps, etc - everything an artist needs to work properly.

Every newcomer at the shop brings only their machine, inks and supplies; the rest is already set up for them.

What do you look for in a new tattoo artist to join, guest spot or apprentice at your studio?

First of all is artistry. We need to feel something about their art, whatever style it is. If it’s an apprentice I don’t care about the level of skill or experience they have, the most important thing for me is that they need to be a real, passionate, and dedicated artist. Hard work pays off!

 What is your favourite piece of La Machine Infernale merch?

All of them. But every time we add a new design to our merch line it feels like it’s getting even better than before!

 Do you offer any other services, such as piercing or laser removal?

Yes! Because the studio is so huge, we can have all these services without being all squeezed. Each service has plenty of space to work at their best.

We have piercing, laser tattoo removal, and a PopUp zone where different creators come and set up their work in the studio - that changes every three months. There’s even more to come this year!

What is the tattoo community like in Roubaix, and the wider Lille area?

Roubaix is not a very huge city and not the best for the tattoo community. I would say we are lucky to be placed in the middle of a lot of different big cities like Lille, Paris, Brussels, and even London. Many of our customers come from these cities, and even further away too!

 Will we see the team at any conventions this year?

Yes, we’ll focus this year on local tattoo conventions like Tournai, Douai, and Lille. In 2025 we will try to be back at more different conventions, maybe even in the UK.

Huge thanks to Billy for telling us all about what it means to be a cog in La Machine Infernale! Find the studio on Instagram or Facebook, and make sure to share any pieces you get there with us on the Killer Ink Instagram page!