PROVOKATOR.ORG
11.10.2005
Interview with Miou Miou:
the Mysterious Pardubice Art-rockers Who Sing en Francais
By Chris Coleman
On Sunday, the 23rd of October, Miou Miou will be opening for the Berlin
five-piece Masha Qrella at 20:00 at A Studio Rubin (Malostranske Nam.
9). I spok with their singer Karolina Dytrtova recently about singing
in French and couchcritics...
Singing in a non-native language can be quite dangerous.
Just ask Christina Aguilera. She received an Alma award in 1999 for
her Spanish album 'Mi Reflejo' and the Hispanic presenter asked a
simple question in Spanish to which she replied with the blankest
“umm” possible. Or you run the risk of singing in a hideous accent
(Czech Superstar has innumerable examples of this). Karolina of Miou
Miou glides by both these mistakes by singing in a language none of
her fans understand: French. And I'm all for it To me music in a foreign
language adds a level of charm and intrigue to it. I envy the Czechs
with no English skills who can perhaps enjoy top 20 radio because
they don't have to endure such things as Avril Lavigne's drivel about
ballet dancers meeting punks.
Musically, Miou Miou place themselves in the quagmire of experimental
pop; pulling at both ends with intriguing tension. Last June they
lost their lead guitarist to a more “successful” band, but I think
they sound better without him. When they were 6 the melodies became
rather muddled in the mix, but now their subtle keyboardist has become
more of a presence. They have been busy on the summer festival circuit
playing at Sazavafest, Trutnov and Mezi Ploty. On top of that they
have completed 8 new songs in the studio for their next release due
out early next year. Their e.p. '6 Chants pour le Chats' is lovely
summer listening and has received regular rotation at Praha Radio
1. I spoke with Karolina last May about the past and future of the
band:
C: How long have you all been together
for?
K: So we have been playing since 2003 when I came from Denmark. Our
first concert I think was May 2003… some birthday party –laughing—
We've known each other for a very long time. I know Aleš from when
he was 12 and we were playing different kinds of music before so,
we just met one day. You know, we are from one region, around Pardubice.
The circuit of musicians is quite tight.
C: Do other members
of the band speak French?
K: No, not at all and me … I'm still teaching myself. I have a teacher
of French and my French pronunciation is really poor, I know I have
to work on it. It's not really understandable for French people. We
sometimes have funny responses because the video we have on TV Ocko
music t.v. It's a Czech independent music channel that is available
on satellite, so you can see it from other parts of Europe. So, some
people from the west write and go ‘You speak in a funny way but we
can't understand it' -laugh- What I meant is most of the French people
… they really like it. They say it sounds cute, yeah.
C: Your music really
has the Stereolab aesthetic.
K: Ha, a lot of people think so…
C: Well, you have to
compare a band to someone
K: We can say that we have nothing against it, ok. We like Stereolab,
but they are not our main idol. Serge Gainsbourg is maybe what we
like more … his style. He was very much provocative and didn't take
himself so serious as an artist. I think it's wonderful to make fun
of ourselves and make the show a little bit absurd … That's why our
music is sometimes too simple for some people because we are using
the repetitive element a lot and delay and playing with words.
C: Can I ask what the
subject matter is for your lyrics?
K: Uh, most of the songs they are very positive. Just about nice mornings
when you get up or you have a good feeling. Or we have one funny song
about Laika. You know, the first dog in space. And we make this mysterious
thing that it's not dog but that's it's a cat. You know, KGB, they
were lying about a 6 kilo tomcat – laugh- put into space. sometimes
most of the text it's not so much about what happens, just imagination.
C: Can you tell me what
the major influences in the band are?
K: I mentioned … Serge Gainsbourg. He's a French artist, originally
from Russia ... really loved France and all around the world. I think
it's many others I can't say there is just one. But one of the interesting
things is each of us in the band are listening to totally different
kinds of music. Like Peta loves jazz and Breta, he's more into blues.
Jarek, he knows a lot about alternative and electronic music. And
Aleš he's used to playing funky. We all have different interests that
when we mix together it works. For me of course it is important to
listen to different female singers because of the expression and my
French. Keren Ann is a big star in France, born in Israel. She also
sings in English but I think her French songs are just great. Or for
example Kahimi Karie, who is a Japanese photographer and model-singer
who lives in Paris, with her cute girlish voice … It is strange, all
the people who I mentioned are not originally French, I didn't think
about it before :-)
C: What's your motive for writing or
singing in French?
K: Ok, it sounds good and I think it's a very playful language. I
don't know, I know of a French singer who lives here who sings in
English. They asked her and she feels it is difficult to sing French
lyrics. So, I do with Czech. I think I love Czech songs, but it's
very hard to create good text and get the same feeling. So the French
is nice for us maybe because we don't feel the language, we just play
with words. If you are not a native speaker maybe you are more open
to the language and you just try and experiment … it even sounds more
funny. If you understand what I mean. If you listen to Czech bands
singing in English, it has to be also so funny for you, isn't it?
C: I think that is part
of the appeal to bands like Björk and even Abba. They sing with a
slight accent that has a certain melody to it that is attractive.
K: Björk, she's my big inspiration, a great artist and also really
experimental. I've loved her from 16. And ABBA … the kings and queens
of Scandinavian pop! I remember Dancing Queen from the age of 5 or
6. I used to listen to it with my parents, from that old type magnetic-tape-recorder
with the big disks:-)
C: So, do you have any
hopes of playing in France?
K: Ahh yeah! Hahaha! Why not? We are very open to playing abroad.
I think it's a very good experience for the band. You know, to experience
a new audience because sometimes in Czech you feel that people sometimes
come to concerts not to enjoy the concert but they are coming to assess
how the band is. Yes, so much critique. We have this saying in Czech
that ‘Every Czech is a musician', but I also think that every Czech
is also a critic of music you know. If you look at it , a lot of people
are criticizing, criticizing and maybe not doing anything themselves.
I think it was great playing in Slovakia. In the east it's far more
warm and they were really into it. We are wishing to tour maybe in
Denmark, Germany I don't know … it depends on coming offers.
C: For instance the
last show here everyone was sitting down but you're a pretty high
energy band. Clearly you're having a good time on stage.
K: Yeah, but I don't think it's necessary that everyone has to dance.
It depends on what the people feel. You can feel from their response
if they didn't like it. I think you can tell after three or four songs
whether the people are working with you or not. If not then it's hard
to finish the show with the same steam, if yes it's giving you more
and more energy.
C: Well, the last show
here you had two encores so I think they were into it.
K: Mm.
Don't forget to see Miou Miou at Studio Rubin October
23rd!!
www.provokator.org
::::::::::::::::::::
© 2005 Miou Miou
All rights reserved
Design by 4004 & Teréz Nývlt
