Paris-based electronic artist Crâne de Poule, real name Louise Engelmann comes back to Integrity Records. First appearing on the label’s ‘The Other Side’ v/a compilation, her latest release ‘The Forest’ EP sees the young producer of French and Dominican descent share her story by performing live, with her keys, analog synths, and drum machines.
Recording live takes of her performance for the EP made sure that each moment she captured is off-the-cuff and in the moment. The artist’s early classical and jazz influences can also be found on the release as she oscillates between afro house, tech-house, and techno. To reiterate, the ‘Yellow’ artist series of releases aims to musically channel hope, clarity, and optimism in these uncertain times.
We caught up with Crâne de Poule to talk about her new release ‘The Forest’ via Integrity Records, plans for the summer, and life after the pandemic.
EG: Hi Louise! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. Where are you based right now? How have you been?
Crâne de Poule: Hello Electronic Groove. Thank you for having me! I am based in Paris; I am doing very fine, handling very hot temperatures as everybody here.
EG: First of all, congratulations on the drop of your new EP, ‘The Forest’! What has the initial reception been like?
Crâne de Poule: Thank you. I am very glad because the initial reception was positive and encouraging. I composed these tracks a moment ago and sometimes, as a producer when you listen to music you composed for a while, you can question yourself and ask yourself if this or that would have been better this or that way. Doubt is the cross artists have to carry with them all the time.
EG: What can you tell us about this particular drop? What was the inspiration for ‘The Forest’?
Crâne de Poule: In this EP, every track has a quite different identity. The piano is always very present, and I am oscillating between techno, house, jazz, and Latin influences. The first track is jazzy, and sunny, with very acoustic sounds and drums, and the music is punctuated with many setbacks. ‘La Ambladura’ means in Spanish ‘amble’; it is a pace from the horse, in between the walk and the gallop, when the horse starts being fast, a little jumping, but not rushing. I had several inspirations for the track ‘The Forest’. There is a track I love by The Cure, A Forest, which describes a walk in a forest. When I recorded the vocals, I was thinking about this kind of atmosphere, a bit mysterious and relaxing at the same time. ‘Air Force Press One’ is a track that was born from a jam – its sounds are rough, as I played it. If you are curious you can find the live version on my Instagram/ Facebook. The hold is composed of two tracks: a piano introduction I recorded for a video, a bit dissonant, and the second part, which is more groovy.
EG: We know that every recording is done in a live, off-the-cuff manner. How do you settle on the final takes? Is it technical prowess over emotion? Or the other way around?
Crâne de Poule: I am more into a technical way of playing, even if there is a part that is improvised. I play my live many times before feeling safe. I have a structure in my live that is defined, known, and then when I know it very well, I can take some freedom and improvise on it.
“In this EP, every track has a quite different identity”
EG: Why did you decide to go with Integrity Records for this EP? What is your relationship with the label like?
Crâne de Poule: I am thrilled and grateful to have this EP released on Integrity Records, and to be part of the label’s roster! Since the beginning of my project, Eddie Niguel has always been very supportive and a very good adviser. He is the kind of label manager that is really able to take a step back on your work, and he sees artists beyond the tracks they can send and builds trustful relations with them.
EG: So, Summer’s here! What are your plans for the season?
Crâne de Poule: I am going to play next weekend at the Amapola Festival near Paris on Saturday the 30th of July; I am very glad about this gig. The Amapola Festival is involved in main actual topics such as ecology, feminism, and gender equality. Also, I am going to lock myself a little bit to use my brand new gear I had for my birthday: a Roland TB 03 (Synthesizers are the best gifts ever lol) – and I will spend a few days in Corsica at the end of summer.
EG: Let’s take this back to your origins. How did you get caught up in electronic dance music? Was there a record or show that pushed you down the rabbit hole?
Crâne de Poule: When I was 14; I remember buying at a disc store in a mall the only Daft Punk album I did not have on my iTunes library: Homework. I was listening to them on repeat.
At the same age, I was playing in a Rock band as a clavierist. I used to spend time playing with my Roland FP3, An electric piano with the first electronic sounds I enjoyed; I still use it a lot. Influenced by Daft Punk and by what I could hear randomly on radio FG, I was playing loops, without knowing yet what was a loop. I recorded my first drums on this Roland FP3.
“I would like to see more producers composing personal music, following their true inspiration”
EG: The pandemic gave us all a chance to slow down and reassess. In the electronic music scene, it even gave us time for some much-needed discussions. What would you like to see more and less of?
Crâne de Poule: During the pandemic, it is true that we spent a lot of time on social media, as it became the only place to express ourselves for a while; and I think algorithms do not serve creativity in general: I would like to see more producers composing personal music, following their true inspiration. I would like to see fewer people influenced by the algorithms in many ways; putting themselves naked all the time for followers, likes, and views, or producers following trends for being pushed by algorithms.
EG: What’s next for Crâne de Poule? What particular milestones are you looking forwards to now?
Crâne de Poule: Releases are planned but I cannot give more details for now 🙂
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Louise! We wish you all the best for the future.
Crâne de Poule: Thank you very much for your time and your kindness, the pleasure is all mine.
Crâne de Poule’s latest release ‘The Forest’ EP is out now via Integrity Records. Grab your copy here.
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