Emilie Simon :: new country, new outlook
French singer-songwriter-composer Emilie Simon - sometimes described as her home country’s Bjork - is a woman who doesn’t much like explaining herself. But with music as ethereally beautiful, yet compositionally complex, as the 31-year-old produces, her music does more than enough speaking on its own.
The internationally-acclaimed musician and three-time Victoires de la musique (French Grammy equivalent) winner first broke onto the music scene with the release of her self-titled debut album in 2003. She followed that with the French soundtrack of "March of the Penguins" and the flora-centric "Vegetal" before the 2007 release of her first U.S. album - "The Flower Book" - and expanding her live shows overseas. And she’s even covered Bowie - her take on "Space Oddity" on the 2007 "Bowiemania" compilation is incredible.
The release of her latest work - "The Big Machine" - last month marks the beginning of a new era of sorts for the musician. Recorded following her move to New York, away from her homeland, and some time away from creating music, it is her first album recorded entirely in English. It reflects a new global reach for her electronically-driven, naturally-based music.
In preparation for Simon’s appearance - her Chicago debut and the second-last on her U.S. tour - at the Decibelle Music & Culture Festival’s kickoff party at Berlin Nightclub Thursday, EDGE got a chance to gain a rare glimpse into the songstress’s creations.
Move to NYC
EDGE: Hello Emilie! How are you? Back in New York, I hear? What prompted your decision to move to New York from France?
Emilie Simon: I’m well, it’s great to be back because I’ve been away for some months. I first decided to move here because I wanted to have some vacation. I didn’t originally plan to move to New York, but I felt very good here. I started getting back to writing songs and I think in New York it’s a great energy for me.
Watch Emilie Simon perform "Desert."
First English CD
EDGE: Tell me more about that energy and what appeals to you about it.
ES: It’s difficult to explain, I feel like in New York there are so many bands and it’s very active with lots of creativity happening. People are always creating new and interesting bands and it seems like you have this possibility to create something new. You can feel it in the air in the people you meet and the energy people put into their projects. You can feel it and it can feel you.
EDGE: Tell me more about the differences you’ve noticed in creating songs in New York compared to in France.
ES: I don’t know, I don’t really go out and see a lot of shows, so the music I discover most of the time is from what my friends are talking about or playing for me. I’m not ever listening to a lot of music. I spend a lot of time writing music and sometimes I can’t do both listening and creating at the same time. I try to do my own thing.
EDGE: You’ve previously described both the music on your new record, and yourself, as being somewhat dualistic, having both "black and white" qualities. Can you tell me more about that?
ES: With the music on this album, I really wanted to build the a strong spine of the album with basic grounded elements. For me, that’s the black. The white is something plastic, reliable and basic, too. Overall, very strong, like a good bone structure. I then added a colorful touch. When I say that, I’m thinking about very specific bright electronic sounds. It somehow reminded me of New York, this very strong and rough side on the other hand, but it’s very bright and shiny with lights everywhere, on the other.
EDGE: And you also chose to release this album entirely in English, which is a first for you. Tell me about that.
ES: It was something that just happened because I was living here surrounded by English. I was just digging into this culture and what I feel here. I just let things happen naturally. It wasn’t a produced decision. The songs decide.
EDGE: Many people have compared your music to Kate Bush. One reviewer even described you as "Kate Bush’s daughter." What are your thoughts on that comparison?
ES: Well, I think everyone is compared to someone else. We are all a part of it - growing up, listening to different music, but also contributing to that ourselves. I listened to Kate Bush’s albums when I was a child and I always loved this freedom she had, with her melody and production. She’s a very strong woman and I have a lot of respect for her. There’s a lot of older musicians I listen to, and you can’t really explain how the influences come with one and not another. It’s more of a digestive process, I suppose.
Watch Emilie Simon’s video of "Flowers."
Autobiographical element?
EDGE: Bush’s music always felt like it had a very literary quality, based on a lot of characters and obscure references, and some of your music has that feel too. Would you describe your music more as autobiographical or telling a story?
ES: It’s not about other people or characters, it’s more about the feelings I have in my life, like a book of that year in my life. It’s never in a very literal way of something happening in my life, but it’s more a mixture of colors, feelings and visions I have and what my reaction was to the things happening in my life more than what specifically happened.
EDGE: So tell me about the feelings behind "Dreamland," the lead single from the album.
ES: I don’t really explain my songs. I can’t do that. It’s not very simple to explain a song.
EDGE: Are you planning on staying in New York for some time?
ES: I’m going to stay in New York but also spend time in France because I’ll be touring there very soon. Next year, I’ll be back and forth with Europe, also playing in Japan and other travels.
EDGE: Where do you see yourself in five years?
ESv I don’t picture myself in five years, that’s too far away. I see myself today, tomorrow and then then we’ll see. Life is sometimes full of surprises so I can’t look too far ahead.
EDGE: You’ll be coming to Chicago for Decibelle, and this is your first time in the city, correct? The festival is certainly political in nature, would you describe your music as political?
ES: Yes, it’s going to be the first time. I don’t know if I can say it’s political because it’s always different, but you can give different meanings to political. I’m a very independent artist in how I produce and express my songs on stage. Maybe it’s a bit feminist. I’m getting stronger and becoming the most independent person I can. I want to grow in my life and make beautiful music the best way I can.
Watch Emilie Simon’s video of "Dreamland."
Emilie Simon plays Berlin, 954 W. Berlin, Chicago, Illinois on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009 at 10 p.m. For tickets or more information, log on to www.decibelle.org. She also plays Oct. 28 at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn.
Her CDs are available at Amazon.com.
