St. Vincent is on the bill at the Montreal International Jazz Festival and will perform there on June 28. In the meantime, here is the latest interview she gave to the editorial staff.
Don't miss St. Vincent, accompanied by an orchestra, on June 28 at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, as part of the Montreal International Jazz Festival. More information on the official website.
The last time we spoke, you told me you wanted to remain an apprentice, a student of music, all your life. You haven't changed your mind?
Absolutely not. A few years ago I gave a masterclass on songwriting and studio creativity, among other things. Looking back, I wished I could go back because I know so much more about production! However, in music, we always learn more, every day, we are constantly questioned, stimulated, and this is undoubtedly why many artists only retire when they die.
This time, you produced your album yourself… to continue learning?
Yes, and it's difficult because you have to sharpen your instinct, know what works or doesn't work deep inside you, while you evolve in the most total subjectivity. Because no one else in the room is going to come and pat you on the head and say: that's good, that's the way to do it.
But the Electric Lady studios must have been a great source of inspiration…
I did a lot of vocal takes at Electric Lady's Studio B. You might hear Jimi Hendrix, or some strange swirls, vibrations, because there's this river, Minetta Creek, which the Native Americans call Devil's Water, flowing just below. But if I love working there, it's because the atmosphere is great. My friends come to see me, and I take the time at night to sing “Broken Man”, “Violent Times” or “Reckless”. These songs are mysterious, you have to let yourself go to fully embody them. They will only reveal themselves to us if we present ourselves to them with a hat in our hands… and our ego humiliated as it should be.
Listening to a song like “Violent Times”, it feels like James Bond. As cinematic as ever, your music… And electric, too!
My main goal in making this album was that everything should be born from chaos and electricity. As if I were playing with modular synths, the electricity was running through circuits, wild and chaotic circuits… And I was turning the knobs until I found something that looked like lightning in the mist. But you can only really get this sound once. To get it back again, you have to start from scratch. Because we capture something tactile. You have to know how to play with fire.
Find this interview with St. Vincent in full in WECB Hebdo n°158. Discover our subscription plans.
