Caloé is a French singer-songwriter whose jazz-infused new album Le Voyageur is already captivating listeners worldwide. Blending jazz, folk, and maritime influences, Caloé invites us on a profound musical journey alongside her imaginary protagonist, “The Traveler”. With poetic depth, multilingual storytelling, and her signature violin performances, Le Voyageur is a testament to her artistry and boundless creativity. Let’s delve into the stories and inspirations behind this extraordinary project!
– Your musical background includes classical training as well as jazz. How have these two worlds influenced your current style and approach to songwriting?
My classical background is actually very useful on stage, especially when it comes to improvising and using my full voice range. But to write, I think I’m rather influenced by French Chanson and Jazz. It often starts with a melody, something stuck in my head!
– Le Voyageur is your second album after the success of Saisons. How do you feel you’ve evolved as a singer and songwriter between these two releases?
– Le Voyageur is your second album after the success of Saisons. How do you feel you’ve evolved as a singer and songwriter between these two releases?
« Saisons » was my first time ever writing lyrics, and it was sometimes a struggle. I think that it’s like any skill, the more you train, the easier it becomes. And that became easier when writing Le Voyageur.
My voice has evolved too, and thanks to the various lockdowns due to covid these past years, I’ve had plenty of time to work on my voice again. I can hear the little changes, but I’d be interested in knowing if the listeners hear it too.
– Le Voyageur blends jazz, folk, and maritime themes. What inspired you to explore these specific musical elements in this album?
My voice has evolved too, and thanks to the various lockdowns due to covid these past years, I’ve had plenty of time to work on my voice again. I can hear the little changes, but I’d be interested in knowing if the listeners hear it too.
– Le Voyageur blends jazz, folk, and maritime themes. What inspired you to explore these specific musical elements in this album?
This album reflects all the types of jazz I love to hear, to sing, and even to dance to. It’s my tiny jazz world. The sea is part of the Voyageur (traveler)’s journey.
– The album centers around an imaginary character, “The Traveler”. Could you share more about how you conceptualized this character and what it symbolizes for you?
– The album centers around an imaginary character, “The Traveler”. Could you share more about how you conceptualized this character and what it symbolizes for you?
This character can be anyone. He is you or me on our vacation trip when discovering new landscapes, he can be a teenager on a road trip having his first experience of travel on his own, he also is the guy struggling to escape a country at war. This traveler is all of us, all kinds of experiences human kind may have of travelling. And I hope that this symbol brings a message of peace and acceptance to the listener.
– What’s your favorite song from the album and why?
– What’s your favorite song from the album and why?
I love them all! But if I had to choose one, it’s « Reste un peu ». I wrote it along with Monsieur Teddy, my partner in life. The mix of French pop and jazz is well balanced to me, and it brings back good memories as well.
– Your album feels very cinematic, almost like it’s telling a visual story. Do you imagine specific scenes or places when you compose, or is your process more abstract?
– Your album feels very cinematic, almost like it’s telling a visual story. Do you imagine specific scenes or places when you compose, or is your process more abstract?
I’m surprised and pleased to know it seems cinematic to you!
There is almost always one specific place per song : I wrote « The Road » remembering a 3 month road trip in Brasil I did years ago. For « The Flower », I definitely imagined it to happen in New Orleans (one of my favorite cities in the world!) , « Vagues » was written while thinking of Saint-Malo (a fortified city near the sea in North West of France. I will let you imagine your own place for the rest of the album…
– What artists or experiences inspired you during the creation of Le Voyageur? Are there any influences that might surprise your listeners?
There is almost always one specific place per song : I wrote « The Road » remembering a 3 month road trip in Brasil I did years ago. For « The Flower », I definitely imagined it to happen in New Orleans (one of my favorite cities in the world!) , « Vagues » was written while thinking of Saint-Malo (a fortified city near the sea in North West of France. I will let you imagine your own place for the rest of the album…
– What artists or experiences inspired you during the creation of Le Voyageur? Are there any influences that might surprise your listeners?
The orchestral dimension of this new album might surprise the listeners. It surprised me! (Laugh) It also was an occasion of playing violin again -my first instrument, and I couldn’t have done it without the trust and talent of the arranger Clément Simon, who is also the pianist of the band.
– If you could take Le Voyageur on a journey to any part of the world, where would you perform it and why?
– If you could take Le Voyageur on a journey to any part of the world, where would you perform it and why?
I would love to return to Mexico, and touring there with Le Voyageur would be a wonderful experience. But there are many countries I would love to take this music to, England is on my list!