Yvonne La Nuit is a young French artist from Bordeaux. She tells us about her hidden side,
wilder with true smart words and mesmerizing melodies sung by her pure and powerful
voice, and bring us to a deep and mysterious world.
Our first day recording in the Hotel Les Terrasses D’Essaouira was great with Manouela Menty and Elody Graff.
After the recording session we had the mic’s up and cabled, so we asked if somebody else like to have a record and then it happened: Marius Ashtray and Yvonne La Nuit (Artist name) came over and asked if they can join the project.
What a great match because “Hit The Road Music Studio” is looking exactly for this vibe, spontaneous meetings and recording sessions with artists.
I’m happy to present Yvonne La Nuit with her song “Human” recorded live in Morocco!
Her music is inspired by many different Bands like Agnes Obel, Camille, Bat For Lashes,
Lana Del Rey, Massive Attack, Goldfrapp, Björk and AIR.
Yvonne La Nuit is also known as Guillemette Foucard (her real name) and she was learning
opera singing, when Guillemette started her first pop Band “April Shower” – a Girl band from
Bordeaux.
She is very active and sang with many artists such as AIR, Dionysos, JB Dunkel, Nicolas
Godin, Mustang, Yan Wagner, KIM, Alb, La Grande Sophie, Baptiste W. Hamon, Victorine,
Ashtray… the list is long
On 28th September 2018 she released her first EP « Bright Stars » (La Tebwa) and the video clip for the song
« Bright Stars » is coming soon.
She also recorded a cover of Elliott Smith’s song « Everything Means Nothing to Me » which will be released on the 22nd September in a tribute compilation for the webzine « Équilibre Fragile ».
Let’s get started to meet the artist :
Hey, Guillemette thank you so much for your time to take the interview, how are you doing today?
(YLN): Very good thank you ! Today in Paris it is cold but sunny which makes me in a very good mood.
We recorded this great song “Human” in Morocco and apparently everybody went silent, please let us know since when you are singing and where did you learned to move up so high octaves and simultaneously control your voice and the pitch?
Ahah thank you!
My parents are both musicians and singers, they met in a choral. So i think I’ve always sang ! When I was a teenager I practised high notes in my room with Mariah Carey ahahah ! Later I went to the « conservatoire » (french state music school graduating professionals musicians) to study opera singing.
What was the drive for you to start making music?
I grew up in a musician family, my three brothers were all playing an instrument, and I studied piano.
As long as I can remember, I’ve always dreamt of doing music ! But I’ve wanted to do so many different jobs in my life (dancer, stylist, florist, perfume maker, osteopath, psychologist…) !
I finally studied psychomotricity which is a mix between psychology, physiotherapy and art-therapy.
At the same time I had my band in Bordeaux and I met fantastic musician friends in Paris !
So I finished my studies and I worked a couple of years as a psychomotrician with autistic and aged people while doing music.
But a few years ago, music called harder and clearlier so I decided to do it 100 % of my time, and I don’t regret it.
Please tell us about your musical influence, which music you like to listen at home? Do you listen to different styles? Which artists are your top 3 influences ?
I don’t listen to music often because for me it takes a lot of focus, it’s hard for me to do something else while listening ! But when i do it’s mostly indie-pop, classical, sweet folk songs. But, when I’m in the mood for it, I also listen to trapp music, hip hop, soul, trip-hop and electronic music.
My top 3 would be Björk, Camille and Massive Attack.
You learn classical singing, so we like to know: what’s your favorite classical CD at the moment?
Arvo Pärt : Spiegel im Spiegel
Your main musical instrument is the voice, what is the difference for you between playing an instrument physically and singing? Is it more personal, do you have more control, what feels more natural for you?
Singing is definitely the most natural and personal instrument. I can do anything I want to hear with my voice. I don’t need to think or look at my fingers !
And please tell us, if you play any other instruments?
I play some piano and ukulele but I’m a beginner, I mostly use them to compose.
Your songs are great, and they are very touching, which approach you have to songwriting?
You write one song a day, a week, occasionally?
Thank you so much !
When I write for my own, I really need to be in a special mood, alone, with some time ahead. So since now, I’ve kept it occasional.
I listened to your 5 tracks on Bandcamp and they sound amazing, clear, mysterious and deep! Congratulations!
Who did the background music, friends of yours, hired musicians… ?
Thanks a lot !
My brother is playing the violin, a friend is playing piano, I hired a great cellist, my boyfriend Marius Ashtray made the record and mix. We recorded at a friend’s house in the countryside. Ahah, I guess I somehow need to work with the people I love !
How long was the process to record the album and bring it out?
I mean the time from the first song you wrote to the point it was released online?
I wrote the first song (« Cage en Or ») of this EP on February 2016, with no real purpose. I decided to record it with 4 other new songs in January 2017. We recorded it on June, the same year, and it released last September 28th. So it took almost two years.
Please tell us more about the song “Human”, what is the story behind it and the meaning for you?
First I had these ukulélé arpeggios that I was playing again and again, when a voice melody came.
And that day, I came on a Christine Taubira interview, who was the Minister of Justice of François Hollande’s government (last french president), and who made a law that allows gay people to get married.
That day she was talking about feminism and discrimination, saying it’s one big fight we have to set against racism, homophobia, women discrimination, and all the discriminations that exists.
Because if every fight stays on its own, world will never change.
We need to get closer to each other to fight against all the discriminations at the same time. And the lyrics of « Human » came.
I completely agree! We have to unite and accept each other as we are because diversity is a gift
Let’s listen to your song !
HUMAN
Why would I ever hide
My skin or my thighs
Will they ever truly see
And I can’t do nothing but cry
When they tell me that’s a crime
To look like me
And I
I shout
Just to say I’m a Human
And I
I shout
‘Cause we all are Human
Why would I ever hide
My dreams or my light
Why should I ever fear
And I can’t do nothing but cry
When I hear someone had died
From another blind assassin
And I
I shout
Just to say I’m a Human
And I
I shout
‘Cause we all are Human
The song is fantastic, are you signed by a label and have many concerts?
We will add your Tour dates below the interview!
I work with the label “La Tebwa” for the distribution of the EP, but I auto-produced it.
I have some shows coming but I’m looking for many more !!
Which concert was the last one you visited and which band you would love to see in the future?
The last concert I saw was Camille, and I’d love to see Tom York or The Knife !
What constitutes a good live performance in your opinion? What’s your approach to performing on stage?
I’d say it’s a balance between sincerity, integrity and energy and generosity.
I’m trying to find that balance but it’s not easy.
Sometimes when you want your music to be sincere with yourself, you forget to give it to the public.
And when you try to give them everything you have, you may lose yourself…
How was your experience to record with “Hit The Road Music Studio” ?
Meeting you and doing music in such an easy and natural way was really amazing ! Thank you again for that timeless moment.
Merci ! Where was the first concert that you ever played and how was it? How many people came to see it ?
Ahahah I was 18, it was with my first band, April Shower. We were in the basement of a restaurant in Bordeaux which is called « Chez Le Pépère ».
There was 20 people max, mostly our parents ahah. And I could feel my whole body shaking !
Haha great ! Thank you so much for your time, do you have anything else to add, somebody you want to greet or thank specially?
Thank you Morgan Goethals for letting it happen in the Riad ! Thank you Ady and Kasia for your open hearted way of being ! Thank you Marius for that great trip in Morocco (my birthday gift) !!
It was great to meet ! I like also to say a special thanks to you and Ashtray – it was a great pleasure to hang out and capture this great song, wish you all the best for future and hope to see you soon for a good “Bordeaux”
Get in contact via social media and explore more great songs:
Facebook : https://m.facebook.com/yvonnelanuitmusic
Bandcamp : https://yvonnelanuit.bandcamp.com
YouTube : https://youtu.be/mpEcDH04-0Y
Instagram : @yvonnelanuit #yvonnelanuit #yln
Here are the next shows in 2018:
29/09 – Paris, L’International (FR)
12/10 – Saint-Ouen, Mains d’Oeuvres (FR)
21/11 – Grand Quevilly -Chants d’Elles Festival (FR)
29/11 – Paris – Balades Sonores (FR)