rockyourlyricsHow do you usually write the lyrics of your songs?
Usually once we have a structure for a song I start writing lyrics. We jam on ideas, record them, and sometimes some words pop out from those jams, they can bring me somewhere and develop into a text. Sometimes a song title comes before and decides what the song will be about.
In your opinion, what is the most important thing in songwriting?
I think once you consider lyrics as important as the music, which is our case, then you work hard to write good stuff.
I’ve always liked double meaning lyrics, the ones you have to approach several times. They remain timeless.
Are you ever scared of revealing aspects of your personal life/experience to strangers through your music?
Not really to strangers, but to people that I know yes.
Especially in Disaster Serenades, because it’s a very personal album.
But it felt necessary and spontaneous.
What is the best lyric that you ever wrote (the most meaningful for you)?
I would say the lyrics of this album are the most accomplished so far.
I like « Delicate Creatures » lyrics very much.
I also like « Serpent » lyrics, our first song in French, my native language.
What inspired “Mark’s Bolan Fifth Dream”, part of your latest album “Disaster Serenades”?
Close friends of mine became parents, and I felt very protective with their child. It’s a cradle song, but of that in fairy tales that go wrong. Peter came out with this beautiful and mysterious title after, that made sense to me.
And “Wonderland”?
I had this space kind of dream, starring a friend couple I had at the time. They were both a bit crazy and living in their own world. She had this inner explosive light. While he was lost in his life. Funny weird people.
Do you remember the day you wrote “Delicate Creatures”?
It’s very rare for me to write a song from the beginning to the end in one day. It usually takes more time, to maturate. I need to find the perfect words to describe what I want to say or what I want to hide. Those lyrics came pretty fast though. I had strong images, shots, in my head. And once again Peter found the title.
Is there a link/a common theme among the songs of the new album?
There is a darker side to this album, than the previous ones. The songs pretty much all refer to the end of a cycle. The end of a certain idea of Love.
What is the best suggestion your producer gave you?
We recorded the album with a young sound engineer who is also a musician, Etienne Meunier, who had a lots of ideas. Some were good and we kept them, some were not fitting us, but it was refreshing to try them all in a spontaneous way.
What are your plans for 2019?
Releasing the album on October 4th, then start touring. We love touring.
To conclude the interview a short Q/A session, please answer the first thing that comes to your mind:
- Define in one word your album “Disaster Serenades”: The title sums it up perfectly. But that’s 2 words! In one word « End ».
- The best show you ever played: I remember very well the worst one that ended in a fight, but the best show… Probably the last one we played in Brittany last month. I broke a little piece of my front teeth, we had a great energy! We also have awesome memories of the shows we played with The Jim Jones Revue, as their opener on their 2012 European tour.
- The one thing that you must have in your backstage: Beers.
- The soundtrack of your childhood: « Desperatly seeking Susan ».
- Your favorite song lyrically speaking, but not written by you: « Heroes » David Bowie and anything written by Jarvis Cocker.
- Last question is “unusual”, we want to know your best relationship advice: Don’t let anybody waste your time!
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