The American and French-speaking singer unveiled 5 bonus tracks on her latest album, “Songs From Other Places”. As his tour will soon begin, meet.
How did you come to jazz? What music have you been rocked by?
Child jlistened to a lot of music, without having any idea what type of kind c‘was. These are not questions one asks oneself when one is young, not me at least. I alternated between genres, I was moved by classical music as much as by jazz, or what I heard at the cinema, on the radio… For me, the priority has always been the lyrics, the melodies, the sensitivity, the universe. So good sure Iadore jazz, but I never said to myself that I wanted to be part of this category, it’s the world that categorises.
For you, what is the main purpose of music?
There were a lot of tensions in me when I was young, so music was an escape, transported me to other worlds. After’school, iI was locked in my room with the radio, my records and those of my brothers and sisters older than me.
Although American, you have a strong link with France, especially through your grandfather, who passed on to you a culture of French song very early on?
Absolutely. He had this desire to return to france but because of family and work it never could. He traded something he loved for a country he loved less. And for him, the way to keep his relationship and his passion, his need even, for France, it was to share it with me at home. He made me listen to a lot of things, which I really liked influenced. at thetime, I I didn’t know this culture at all, I was too young, but I listened to Michel Legrand, Léo Ferré… The latter particularly marked me, there was a passion and a sadness in him. I think it was this pain that attracted my grandfather.
In 2010 you sang in French on an entire album, “Recount-me”, where did this desire come from?
I had always known that I would make an album in French. I have always sung in this language, since the beginning of my career. We make records from time to time time but there were also many pieces that I have interpreter on stage, which were not on the albums, in French. With the side “LAmerican who sings in French», I could have chosen very known but it was not what I wanted, I had the chance to be surrounded by composers who created the songs for me tailor-made.
How did you select the bonus tracks for the album?
The list was very long, and continues to grow, but we had to choose! Which is on Care we going to release a “Songs From other Seats Share II»because we have so many songs and desires. We decided to release the album first and then add them during the tour, it made sense.
What causes this return to the scene after the Covid?
It’s huge, the intensity of being on stage again! Getting together with the musicians, the public, there is an enormous strength. I am even more aware of this since the pandemic. All the songs talk about the human condition, whether in the lyrics, in the harmonies…
What impact has the pandemic had on your music production?
It was wonderful, I was very lucky. There was a lot of suffering around the world, we were aware of that every hour of every day. Global pain has us very much affected but we were also lucky to be spared. Already, we live in the countryside, so finally we are already a little confined in our daily bubble. We live in the middle of nothing, just us, the mountains and Mother Nature. So I would say that we were built for that! During these days of confinement, we had plenty of moments to play our music, create, reflect, a lot of things happened. We weren’t interrupted by breaks from touring, even though we love the exercise.
You have released many studio albums, do you impose a rhythm or do you do what you want?
I have a schedule, but I’m much freer than before. At the beginning of my career, I was younger and I was more influenced by the record companies who asked me to redo albums and tours. I worked too much, and I didn’t have enough time to give everything to each album, I was a little disappointed. And finally, when I got older and more confident, I say that I needed time. I was supposed to release the next one in 2006, but I asked to move it to 2007. I was able to put a lot more energy into it and I was very proud. It was the “turning period” for me. Now I take my time with each album. I have one planning car I have ideas, but I’ll release them when I’m ready.
I read in an interview that you didn’t want to write and that you considered yourself an interpreter. Did you ever feel like writing?
Always not ! We can’t explain why we’re going to like something or not like another, it’s very complicated. I know that I am a performer, I like the spoken word and I like the fact of making songs live and dance in the air. Sharing a word is something very strong. I love this role. You know when friends come over to visit, you’re going to tell them “come with me I going to show you this superb street, these trees”, well me I want to present these trees, these streets, these stories, these characters. I’ve always been like that. When I read at home, I read aloud. I also like to be read aloud to me, it works both ways!
What would be the best compliment you could receive from someone who listened to your album?
I love it when people say to me “Stacey, you made me forget the real world”. I like to make people travel, and travel with them. We are strangers, but the music will bring us together and we will share a moment, forget the daily things, the pain that we can experience. I’m moved by that.