Laura Cahen presents Partout, an unapologetically poetic work enriched with vintage sounds and an intensely expressive performance. Make sure to catch here live at the one of the most intimate and lovely venues, St Pancras Old Church, on Feb 27.
Check out our conversation with the artist below!
Describe the sound of your new album “De l’autre côté” in 3 words
intimate, epic, « folktronic »
Tell us a few things about “Partout”. What is the main idea behind it?
“Partout” is a song that talks about the way that the person you love can take over your whole world, every inch in your body and spirit, even more so when they are gone. It’s a reflection of the place and time I wrote it: sitting on the balcony, looking at the sea, smelling the apricot tree full of fruit, and haunted by the incessant cries of the seagulls.
How do you approach integrating personal stories with larger societal or global issues in your music?
I have to say it’s something I don’t really think about in advance, it sort of comes naturally. I let my pen go with the flow of my thoughts, and most of the time it simply appears like that — I talk about what’s hiding inside of me, and set it against the outside world. I use poetic images to describe my inner feelings, and they are often naturally related to something bigger.
Your most honest and personal lyric?
It’s hard to pick one, but today I will say: “j’ai toujours aussi peur du noir” (from “La maison” ) which means “I’m still just as scared of the dark”— in this song I explore my childhood and how I feel now about it, with a soft and deep nostalgia, related to how I see life and the world in general.
How did the environment and collaboration with Mike Lindsay influence the sonic direction of this album?
Recording in Margate was amazing: because it’s by the sea, I went to swim every morning before going to the studio, and also took the opportunity to record the waves and the birds.. so the landscape, the vastness of the sea and what lies beyond, as well as the actual sounds of the coast are really present on the album. The lyrics mention the sea a lot, and there’s even a song called « Falaise » (« Cliff »). And then, working with Mike was really special, he has such an instinct for machines, rhythms and sounds, and I think you can really feel his touch on the record.
Why was it important for you to focus on analogue instruments?
Analogue instruments feel more alive to me than digital ones, tactile and warm. I don’t want them to disappear, I love their sound so much. I also love the small accidents they can sometimes create; the sound of an old tape makes me feel really emotional..
If the music of Laura Cahen was a film, which film would that be?
I guess it depends on the song, but I can say that this record was inspired by the images of The Piano (Jane Campion), the story of Thelma & Louise (Ridley Scott), the intensity of Melancholia (Lars Von Trier) and the simple poetry of Licorice Pizza (Paul Thomas Anderson).
Something not many people know about you?
I love horse riding, and used to be really good at it as a teenager, taking part in show jumping competitions and all of that!
Thank you!
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