Woodkid Has Nicolas Ghesquière on Speed Dial
The French musician and director deals with mental health and broken
hearts with his new album, “S16.” BY MILES SOCHA
Bald from a young age, Yoann Lemoine, aka Woodkid, figured out that a baseball cap helps visually balance his beard, and it’s become his signature accessory.
As for his clothes, he currently relies on Nicolas Ghesquière, who figured out that jumpsuits and pants with a high waistline, strong shoulders and astronaut vibes are just what he needed for his new album, “S16,” due out on Friday with a world tour in 2021, health conditions allowing.
The two Frenchmen share a taste for clashing disparate inspirations, styles and aesthetics, and Lemoine — known for melding orchestral sweep with electronic clang — credits Ghesquière for pushing him to experiment even further. Woodkid has soundtracked about ten Louis Vuitton shows, and Lemoine relishes the challenge of adding new elements to his sonic palette.
If his debut album, 2013’s “The Golden Age,” was a Hollywood blockbuster, the new one is a sci-fi thriller, he says.
“It’s still very cinematic and emotional,” he says in an interview over Zoom. “It’s definitely a darker album. I think it’s more moody. There’s a bit more of an attitude.”
To be sure, the 11 songs are plaintive and spare, putting a strong focus on Lemoine’s distinctive singing voice — a deep, tremulous croon with built-in reverb.
Lemoine, 37, confesses he runs a bit against the grain of music industry norms, insisting on taking his sweet time between albums and dealing with unhappy subject matter, including mental health.
“It’s something that I’m struggling with a lot. It’s something that has been slowing me down a lot, too,” he admits. “I believe that I needed to make this record to heal a little bit, and I realized that I tend to say things in music earlier than when I verbalize things in my life.
“It’s an album that talks about failed