Laurence-Anne is an architect of the intangible; she sculpts musical landscapes composed of haunting melodies, lush synthesizers, synthetic rhythms and hazy textures, all coated with her voice capable of instilling both comfort and anxiety. Her new album Oniromancie, dives deep into the nocturnal world, moving seamlessly between sweet dreams and paralysing nightmares. The new album sees Laurence-Anne explore the many facets of the night, dreams and the imagination through hypnotic dream pop, coldwave and synth pop sung in English, French and Spanish.
Laurence-Anne first burst onto the Montreal music scene with great impact in 2019, with her critically acclaimed debut album Première apparition, securing a coveted spot on the Polaris Prize long list. She followed up with her Accident EP that showcased her expanding musical horizons, setting the stage for her second album, Musivision, co-produced by Félix Petit, which solidified her creative identity. Now, in September 2023, Laurence-Anne is poised to unveil Oniromancie, her most conceptual and evocative work to date.
FACTS
1. Love is a highway.
2. Sweet dreams are made of this.
3. I feel like a woman.
QUESTIONS
1. What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
My dreams are an infinite source of inspiration. You know, this intangible and mysterious space where we spend the 1/3 of our life. The Nature and The Universe, The Sun and The Moon, Love and Attraction.
2. How and when did you get into making music?
I always loved music. Baby I would swing on my rocking chair until it fell on its back every time there was music in the house. I did my first singing concert at 7. Never stopped performing since then. I started writing my own songs at 15 and then moved to Montreal a few years later to meet other musicians and form a band.
3. What are 5 of your favourite albums of all time?
Cocteau Twins – Heaven or Las Vegas
Beach House – Teen Dream
Feist – Metals
Dina Ogon – Dina Ogon
Mulatu Astatke – Ethio Jazz
4. What do you associate with Berlin?
Never had the chance to visit yet. From the idea I have of it, I would say, musically and fashionably, it’s an effervescent underground scene. Wild stuff.
5. What’s your favourite place in your town?
Baldwin Park, near my apartment. Love to sit in front of the fountain under the trees on summer nights.
6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
I have a hard time imagining this. That would mean a silent world. There’s music in every sound. I guess I would be dancing in the dark ;)
Or well, you know, writing poetry.
7. What was the last record/music you bought?
Group Listening – Clarinet & Piano: Selected works, Vol.2
It’s a duo from Wales I recently discovered while on tour in the UK. Bernie, our host in Manchester, put this record on during our evening gathering and we just kept playing it over and over again. The night after, we realized the group was playing in London at Café Otto, but it was sold out. We waited till the end of the show and got to meet them after and buy the record. Still plays on repeat back home. Magically comforting.
8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
I’ve been wanting to collaborate with Meg Remy (U.S. Girls) for a while now. We exchanged some emails about it but life and a pandemic happened. I should get back on this project!
9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
Last spring I toured in the USA with the Korean band SE SO NEON. All the shows were sold out. The night in Brooklyn at The Monarch was the most memorable one, because it was the first. I mean, no one knew my music, but they were so happy to discover it and gave us so much energy and love. It really was overwhelming.
10. How important is technology to your creative process?
I’d say I’m still D.I.Y. in my creative process. I use the free basic software Audacity to compose and record my demos, a USB microphone my parents gave me in 2008 and 80′ synth toys (Casios and Yamahas) I bought in some garage sale. I sometimes record directly on my phone or laptop. So not really up to date with technology.
11. Do you have siblings and how do they feel about your career/art?
I have an older sister, she’s never seen my show. But I think she’s happy I’m doing what I love.
