LIBERATION FREQUENCY
A Taller Us Synth-pop is the most common label tacked to the work of Marie-Helene Delorme, aka Foxtrott. But when it comes to her debut record, A Taller Us, it’s a bit of a misnomer. Delorme identifies everything from reggae and dancehall to alt-rock as an influence, though such things aren’t always distinguishable within the record’s compositions. Its strength lies in how she has brought them together in unique, experimental fashion on her first full-length. Delorme’s primary goal was to find a perfect balance between “rhythm and frequencies,” one which she has largely met. Programmed drums range from blunt and stomping to flirting with world beat and reggae, never overpowering the straightforward melodies they’re paired with. Though predominantly electronic, a French horn blasts its way to the forefront on “Shaky Hands” in a welcome moment of diversity. This lessis-more approach has left ample space for her own voice, which bears a smooth yet commanding tone, pushing its way to the forefront of the mix. Whether more tuneful or tenacious, her style is a true antithesis of the airy, flighty vocal style that has come to dominate the more conventional synth-pop sphere, effectively making A Taller Us anything but. (One Little Indian, indian.co.uk)
YOU WANTED TO ACHIEVE “THE PERFECT BALANCE BETWEEN RHYTHMS AND FREQUENCIES.” WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT?
There was a balance I was looking to strike between songwriting and production. I hear a lot of producer-driven music in which the songwriting or vocals are more of an add-on, and vice-versa. Treating both with the same level of importance was the challenge I set for myself. I wanted to focus on the quality of each individual element and keep things simple — the cheesy “less is more” approach!
WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR SINGING STYLE?
I have always been attracted to singers that sing with their full body. Not the light, eerie type of vocals, but more soulful, singing from your chest and your stomach. From Lauryn Hill to PJ Harvey for example, I’ve always been drawn to strong female vocalists. Personally, I’m not a big fan of vocals that are more like decorations or ornaments. I’ve found that in electronic music these past few years, there’s a lot of that airy style, and I was missing the intensity. CALUM SLINGERLAND