Post-Paris attacks, L’Officiel spoke to Aurélie Saada (right) one half of French pop-duo, Brigitte, the other half of which is neighbour and bestie Sylive Hoarau. The sultry performers will bring their retro chic sounds to Australia early next year for So Frenchy So Chic.
Aurélie Saada has a pleasingly husky voice, which drops down low as though she’s sharing a secret with a friend. The contemporary art enthusiast hopes to do some gallery hopping when in Australia (for the first time) in January. Instead of reaching for easy answers and exits when questioned, Aurélie opens up more doors inwards much like in her songwriting. “I give a lot of what I live in my life to write the songs,” she says.
Brigitte has just come back from touring Japan straight into performing in front of thousands at Le Zénith for the launch of their new album A bouche que veux-tu (Mouth Of Plenty). The show on the 21st November came just over a week after the terror attacks that shook Paris on Friday 13th November.
A profoundly emotional experience for the local singers/songwriters, Aurélie explains, “to see that people came to the show and tried to let Paris be the city it used to be. I know that everyone was afraid before the show. After a few minutes, we decided to enjoy the moment together.”
While the venue was still darkened, the duo, hidden backstage, sang an a cappella version of ‘Paris en colère’ (Paris Angry), a song made famous by 1966 World War II film Paris brûle-t-il ?(Is Paris Burning?). The words of which no doubt sent shivers through the crowd…
We want to be free
No matter what the cost
We want to live, live, live
Live freely in Paris
“The words,” says Aurélie, “describe what happened in Paris and we shared something with the audience.” That’s not to say that there isn’t palpable shock and disbelief but, “people still want to go out, to live, to see concerts. We are alive, we don’t want to hide in our houses.”
There is a kind of hard-won sanguinity in this Parisian’s voice. With a crackly chuckle Aurélie talks about the unsuccessful projects that Sylvie and herself dabbled in before coming together. “We didn’t think success would come. It was doing something because we liked each other.” Working together was not only easy, but “happy, intense and full of emotion.”
While the world has come to embrace the notion of the bromance, there doesn’t seem to be a comparable word to describe the female experience of intense friendship. The way Aurélie talks about working with Sylvie makes you pine for such a partnership, not only when writing about life experiences together, but sharing the energy onstage in front of thousands.
“We cry in each others’ arms, we laugh so much in each other’s arms. It’s kind of Thelma and Louise.”
Aurélie continues, “We have the same feelings about things. We have different personalities but we love the personality of the other, we really appreciate working together.”
When pressed about their differences, Aurélie seems to lean in closer to the phone, like we’re at the really juicy part of the secret. “Maybe I’m a little more exhibitionist,” she admits, then adds, “in the lyrics. I have a life full of…” she trails off before picking up again, “married, divorced, two kids, desperate… then happy. My life is like a rodeo.” On the other hand, Sylvie’s life is more ‘classic’ with her husband and children.
Having formed in 2008, the pair really found their groove with the platinum 2011 debut album Et vous, tu m’aimes? (Mister, Do You Love Me?), which also featured their cover of “Ma Benz” by the legendary French rap group NTM.
Just don’t ask them what it’s like juggling motherhood and a tour schedule… Aurélie interjects pointedly that men aren’t asked this question. However, she is still generous in discussing the importance of working and being a role model, while being present for her kids.
Bringing Aurélie back to music she concedes that Brigitte’s sound is a mix of many things, not only geographically, but emotionally. French music has traditionally been more lyrically and poetically driven than its English and American counterparts. “When we started Brigitte we wanted to be free to do the things we always wanted to do.” It is essentially about expressing femininity in all its individual, personal and universal complexity.
“What is really important for us in the truth, the reality, the paradox—the many faces that are in every woman. You can be the mother, the bitch, totally deep or à la légère [careless]. Every woman is every woman.”
A bouche que veux-tu (Mouth Of Plenty) (released 20th November 2015, Cartell Music)
See Brigitte at So Frenchy So Chic
Melbourne 10 January 2016
Sydney 16 January 2106