When I Walk In is a piano driven track with an Erik Satie – Gnossienne No.1 feeling, an intricate use of strings and a calming vocal delivery by Veronica Charnle aka Plumes. Read our discussion with the artist below!
Describe your sound in 3 words
Adventurous, lyrical, melancholic
Tell us a few things about When I Walk In. What is the story behind the song?
When I Walk In is inspired by a whirlwind romance I had in Marseille. The guy I was seeing had an apartment looking out on the sea with ships docked right across the street. The whole situation made quite an impression on me and though this person turned out to be… highly unsuitable, shall we say? Lol… when I look at his photos in my phone I understand still why I fell for him.
You have already released several albums. How would you describe your musical progress over the years?
I think I’m more comfortable having space in my music. So literally the arrangements are less dense maybe because I’m more confident in the essence of what I’m expressing.
Artists and people who have influenced and inspired you?
Bjork and Liz Phair were early influences. I love them for their musical inventiveness and the emotional range they bring to pop. When I I studied jazz in university, the standards made such an impression: Gershwin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern… Since moving to Paris 6 years ago I’ve mostly been influenced by classical music. So Satie, Fauré, Berlioz… and because I lead small vocal ensembles I’ve enjoyed diving deep into choir music and madrigals.
If Eric Satie were alive today, what kind of music would he compose?
I think if Satie were alive today he’d be into experimenting with electronics, writing quirky, brilliant songs for beautiful people to sing (don’t think he’d want his face plastered all over social media) and still not be accepted by academia.
Your music has a very atmospheric sound. In which place or state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?
Even in my more upbeat music, people have told me there is something soothing about it. So if you want to feel relaxed, even on the dancefloor, that’s probably the state of mind to be in for listening to my music.
Which book should we read while listening to your music?
If you want to go full throttle into the melancholy of impossible love, I recommend the short story “Love Child” by Doris Lessing.
What isn’t a crime but should be?
Doing without substantial arts programs in public schools.
Thank you!
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