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June 5, 2023 Interview with ‘Shades Of Blue’ singer-songwriter Lilith Merlot

Interview with ‘Shades Of Blue’ singer-songwriter Lilith Merlot

Image credit: Rona Lane Photography

Lilith Merlot makes music to connect with herself and others, plumping the depths of her creative being and coming out the other side with something soulful to share with her listeners. Recently, she shared a new work, a 5-track EP titled Shades Of Blue, a composition that stretches across the gap, the rift, that has formed between two lovers. The project represents a process, a cathartic unpacking that helps Lilith process personal challenges, a process that she hopes will also help listeners find solace in her music.

RCRD LBL introduces Lilith Merlot:

Stream / Download: Lilith Merlot – Shades Of Blue EP

Growing up, who was your biggest musical role model and why?

Alicia Keys, because I thought she was such a great singer, and I loved that she also played the piano. My favorite albums are her first two albums. The songs on there are such a great mix of groovy, uplifting tracks and ballads about heartbreak and other difficulties. I spent so many hours singing and playing her songs and trying to copy her ad libs! It definitely shaped me in a way. 

Your new EP touches on themes of heartbreak. How do you think music has helped you to process life’s difficulties?

Music has always helped me to feel comforted and not alone, and also it helped me to dream and drift off. When I feel a little sad and I listen to music that comes from the same emotion, I feel understood and connected. It is such a relief. And music can also be so uplifting and energizing, when I need a little badass energy I will play ‘Truth Hurts’ by Lizzo, and I feel like I can do anything. Great way to start the day!

What are some of your earliest memories of music?

My earliest musical memories are of my mom (who was a classical violinist) playing with the orchestra. I was 4/5 years old and I would listen to their rehearsal in an empty concert hall. I just remember how big everything was: the stage, the hall, the massive sound that came from all those instruments. It felt so exciting!

Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when putting music together?

When I get inspired I usually feel a bit restless, as though I have to get something off my chest. So when I recognize that feeling I will sit behind my grand piano at home and start playing around with some chord progressions, and I improvise vocally until I find a melody that sticks with me. First, it’s all gibberish, and then slowly the right words come. When I start writing, I often have no idea yet what I want to write about, but those first few words that come intuitively will set the tone for the song and what it’s about. The first verse and chorus are always quite easy to write, but I find the second verse and chorus the hardest part – that sometimes takes months! When I am writing all I need is my phone to record my ideas, and my green leather notebook to write it all down.

Studio work and music creation or performing and interacting with a live audience, which do you prefer?

Both are so good! I loved creating all the songs in the studio with my producer Serge Dusault. Playing around with a song and trying different things until it all finally comes together is magic. But so is performing in front of a live audience. I initially write all these songs to help me navigate through feelings and just life basically, but I don’t want it to end there. I want these songs to help and maybe comfort others as well! Hopefully, these songs will let people know they are not alone in whatever it is they are going through, and there is no better way to connect with an audience than performing live for them. To me, studio work and performing live have one thing in common: if you are doing it right, you lose the sense of space and time for a moment, and that’s when the magic happens.

What is the most memorable response you have had to your music?

It was not so much a response to my music, but a response to my voice at a time when I really needed it. I was studying Jazz vocals at the Rotterdam Conservatory when I was 19 years old, and I felt very insecure at the time. About my voice and my capabilities. Because of all the studying and the pressure, I had lost my joy in singing and it even changed my tone. Then one day, we had a masterclass by American singer Renée Neufville (who worked with the RH Factor, Roy Hargrove) and all the vocal students had to perform a song in front of her: In A Sentimental Mood. I sang, and for the first time in a long time, I enjoyed it. Afterwards, her feedback was that I sounded just like a Merlot, she thought my voice was so warm, deep and round. That gave me back my confidence, and years later I decided to use Merlot as my stage name.

If you could put together a radio show, what kind of music would you play?

Anything that moves me! It would be a lot of different genres, like Classical music, some soul and Neo-soul, Pop and Jazz and definitely some RnB.

Name five artists and their albums who would appear on your radio show

Nina Simone – ‘Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood’

Yebba – ‘Dawn’

Amy Winehouse – ‘Frank’ 

Jeff Buckley – ‘Grace’ 

Lizz Wright – ‘Salt’

What would you like to achieve with your music? What does success look like to you?

If I could just spend my days creating music in the studio and making albums and playing it live on tour to connect with people that would make me very happy. As long as I love what I create, and there are people out there who resonate with it and get something out of listening to it, that is a huge success to me. Also, I would love to play through Europe, and it would be wild to play in the States and Asia for example. Of course, I want to reach as many people as possible!

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May 5, 2023 CHAiLD unveils new Urgent Care EP

CHAiLD unveils new Urgent Care EP

Image via publicist

CHAiLD is a young rising pop artist born in Luxembourg and currently based in Brussels. His unique, soothing, yet intense voice grabs you by the gut and takes you into his melancholic universe. Inspired by artists like Troye Sivan, Sam Smith, Julia Michaels or Mø, the artist comes up with his very own pleasing style of Pop, in which he integrates his own Italian roots. CHAiLD is a generational voice for the queer youth in need of self-expression.

At only 25 years old, the artist has already added many remarkable achievements to his tally since kicking off his career in Luxembourg in 2019, such as his opening slots for his musical idols like Dean Lewis and Mahmood or his various performances at numerous festivals like Sonic Vision Festival (LUX) or Dockville (DE).

The young artist is ready to return with a new EP, Urgent Care, written at a time when he felt helpless and used songwriting as a way to cope with anxiety. The EP is a powerful and vulnerable exploration of the artist’s journey towards self-acceptance and healing. Through honest lyrics and soulful melodies, CHAiLD shares his realization that vulnerability is not a weakness but rather a way to connect with others and with oneself.

The title track “Urgent Care” sets the tone for the album, with CHAiLD laying bare his struggles and acknowledging his need for help. This theme is woven throughout the album, as the artist delves into his past traumas and the pain he has been carrying for too long.

Overall, “Urgent Care” is a raw and emotional EP that invites listeners to join CHAiLD on his journey towards self-discovery and healing. Through his music, the singer reminds us that it is okay to not be okay, and that asking for help is a brave and necessary act of self-care.

“‘Urgent care’ is my way of opening up to myself and to others. Throughout my life, I thought vulnerability was a flaw and that showing weakness resulted in an open invitation for people to hurt me. However now, I know I am allowed to tell people I’m not ok. It is ok to break down and to accept the fact that the world feels just a bit too much to handle from time to time. So, from now on, I will try to heal from the hurt I’ve been carrying within me. And most importantly, instead of dealing with it alone, I will ask for help. Yes, I am in urgent need for care.” – CHAiLD

LIVE DATES

15/04 EP release CHAiLD, Kulturfabrik (Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg)

13/05 Tallinn Music Week (TBD, Estonia)

17/06 Fête de la Musique Kopstal (Kopstal, Luxembourg)

29/07 festival congés annulés, Rotondes (Luxembourg, Luxembourg)

11/08 E-Lake festival (Eschternach, Luxembourg)

29/01 Double Show with Llucid (TBD, Belgium)

& more to come

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November 29, 2022 Alt-pop artist PRIESTESS releases debut EP, unveils ‘Hooks’ video

Alt-pop artist PRIESTESS releases debut EP, unveils ‘Hooks’ video

Image credit: Ana Trindade

On November 25th, PRIESTESS, the alt-pop artist hailing from London, releases her three-track debut EP Landscapes. The EP includes previous releases ‘Landscapes’ and ‘Holy Flesh’, alongside brand-new single ‘Hooks’. A music video for ‘Hooks’ lands the same day, co-directed with the artist Ana Lemos. The video concept was to centre the visuals around a choreographed performance by Kate to create visuals that reflect the primal feelings within the track.

The ‘Landscapes’ EP pieces together an emotive narrative. PRIESTESS’ haunting, crystalline vocal wraps around swirling electronica and plunging basslines to describe silent rages, against harassment, toxic relationships and the environmental damage we are inflicting on our planet. The artistry and power behind each track is reinforced by three evocative music videos which beautifully express the energy and passion of the music.

Kate said about the ‘Landscapes’ EP “This debut EP came from many different spaces and angles emotionally. The name of the title track became an embodiment for the Landscapes of feeling that it was written within. Stitching together a mix of moments in time, whilst I was going through different experiences. It is also representative of how my work has an intrinsic connection to nature and the mirroring of ourselves within its cycles of death and rebirth.”

She continued to talk about the Lead single ‘Hooks’ “This track was written about my experience within an abusive relationship and the relatability I felt about people that ‘go back’ to their partners even when they know it’s unhealthy and bad for them. This experience was one that was very hard for me to extricate myself from and I felt it was like an intoxicating monster that had its hooks in me making it very hard to leave.”

PRIESTESS was formed in London by Kate Fleur Young. Priestess conjures up images of Nature’s ancient esoteric energy fused into an Alt-Pop world. Kate – at the creative helm and heart teams with producers James Mottershead and Oli Kilpatrick. Haunting melodies, sibylline harmonies and visceral lyrics are woven together by threads of hope. Illuminating them against a backdrop of dark beats, bass and lush electronic landscapes. Celebrating transformation and self-expression through the ritual of music their collective sound has influences such as FKA Twigs, Fever Ray, Massive Attack and Little Dragon. The result is an arresting electronic sound filled with deep sensuality and intuition.  

Support for PRIESTESS continues to gather pace. With plaudits coming in from the likes of Wonderland, CLASH, CMU, Get In Her Ears and M Magazine to name but a few, it’s clear that PRIESTESS is ready to stake her claim on the music scene with her powerful representation of dark electronic pop.

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November 1, 2022 Interview with skilful jazz-funk musician Rose Noir

Interview with skilful jazz-funk musician Rose Noir

Image credit: Diane Sagnier

Masterly producer Rose Noir shared his brand new radiant EP Bloom and the mesmerising track ‘Hope’ via Halfeti Records on the 28th of October. The musician extracts his inspiration from the ‘70s motion pictures and obscure music libraries to produce fascinating musical sounds that demand attention. 

Stream / Buy on BandcampSpotify

‘Hope’ excites the ears with its powerful philharmonic delivery, its dancing bass guitar strings and its gentle drum beats. Should you close your eyes whilst listening to the song, it guarantees that you would see yourself walking the streets in the 1971 Shaft movie. Continue reading below for the interview.

Hope is a powerful emotion. Why did you choose this word for the title of the focus track?

We just got out of a very complicated pandemic period, even though it continues today, and we are now entering what looks to be a long recession. The world is going through so much right now that it’s essential that we stay unified and positive because it will eventually improve. The power of music is its ability to make people feel better and free themselves emotionally for a moment. All of those things are in ‘Hope’, a track that is a little intriguing, builds tension and gives you hope that a better ending is on the way.

How would you like the listeners to be impacted by the EP Bloom?

Taking a breather from the real world, you experience different states of mind, such as happiness, sadness, tension, stress, relief; all of these sensations make you feel alive. I would love the listener to take their time and get absorbed in the music for a moment. Music is meant to be appreciated, not consumed and digested immediately. You should be able to discover new flavours as you go back to it, as it ages like wine. 

What are some of your earliest memories of music?

Music was introduced to me at an early age. On my portable turntable, I played 7” vinyl records of anime soundtracks repeatedly. I started skateboarding at the age of 9 years old, and I’d practice with an older guy who introduced me to Public Enemy’s Fear of a Black Planet, which was a game changer for me. As this was my first encounter with hip-hop and rap, I was very intrigued by it. Both of my brothers were DJs, one in the ‘70s and one in the ‘90s, which exposed me to amazing music like funk, soul, disco, or early house and dance.

Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when putting music together?

In 2020, I started working on the project during the first Covid lockdown. Recently, I moved back to France after living in LA for the past six years and had access to a great studio filled with musical instruments and analog gear. At that time, I was making electronic music, but I needed a breath of fresh air. I remember hearing a track in my dream, and it was so good that I recorded the melody on my phone in the hope of recreating it in the studio the next day, which I did. The music was just pouring out of me, and I was writing track after track for months. The process was very simple and without any pressure or stress. I would usually learn a few chords and record some melodies with the Rhodes or the Yamaha CP70 and build around it, tracking drum elements one by one and recording percussion sounds, adding a good amount of computer magic. It’s just really a big experiment that turned out very well in my opinion. Me having fun and learning things as I go is a big part of the project.

Studio work and music creation or performing and interacting with a live audience, which do you prefer?

Since the project is at a very early stage and having only released my debut EP so far, I have not been able to play live shows yet. I am building a band of very talented musicians from different horizons, and we’re planning on playing shows sometime next year. This will be totally new for me as I’ve never played with anyone before. I have been playing shows for the past 20 years with different aliases but always alone, so I am really looking forward to that new experience. Right now I’d say I feel more comfortable making music in the studio by myself, but I also love to DJ.

What is the most memorable response you have had to your music?

I don’t personally consider myself a good “live” musician, but I know how to use a computer. The best feeling is when I play my music to experienced musicians and jazz men, and they ask me who’s playing this or that instrument, and I tell them I wrote all the music by myself and that sometimes no one is playing the instruments. Definitely tells me I am doing something right with the project, my main goal being to make music that sounds like a live band recorded in a studio.

If you could put together a radio show, what kind of music would you play?

Rose Noir is a 2 parts project. So far I only released the Jazz-Funk Library side, but the next EP will be a collection of instrumental beats a la maniere de Madlib or Jaydee which were some of my biggest influences since the beginning of my musical journey. With Rose Noir, I really wanted to showcase my roots, and If I had to put together a radio show, I would play a mix of Jazz-Funk, Jazz-Rock, obscure library music, 90s hip-hop, original sampled songs, all the music that has shaped me musically and inspires me to this day.

Name five artists and their albums who would appear on your radio show

– David Axelrod – The Edge (amazing record released in 2005 compiling music he produced between 1966-1970).

– Marc Moulin/Placebo – any early album (Belgium jazz musician, I’m in love with his music).

– Brian Bennett – Voyage (one of my all-time classics).

– Quasimoto – The Unseen (This was an eye-opener record for me, changed my life).

– Jaylib – Champion Sound (nothing to say about this album, 2 genii together).

Those aren’t rare records but really some of my all-time favorites off the top of my head right now.

What would you like to achieve with your music? What does success look like to you?

The only thing I would like to achieve with my music is to touch as many souls as I can, leaving a mark on their musical journey. Not just being “one more record” between the now over 70.000 tracks released a day on Spotify. That’s also why I decided to press it on vinyl: I want Rose Noir’s music to be fixed on a medium that’s going to be here for a long time. A record that could be found by a crate digger/producer, be sampled even, recycled in a way. I want the music to be timeless, to bring back memories, to inspire people. Showcase the music live, bring people together and appreciate it. That would be success to me nowadays. The project is not driven by money or fame, I achieved both these things earlier in my carriers, and they don’t make you happy.

One last thought to leave your fans with?

We’re building this project together from scratch right now, and I’m hoping to bring something great to the listeners. I’m having fun and all I want is for them to have as much fun as me.

Follow Rose Noir:

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