Claire Diterzi Crafts Offbeat French Folk

Claire Diterzi is one of my favorite female French alternative artists. Her music reminds me of Tori Amos, Joanna Newsom, CocoRosie, Björk and fellow offbeat French singer Camille. There’s something downright otherworldly about her sound.

Born Claire Touzi dit Terzi, Diterzi fronted and played guitar in two Alternative Rock bands (Forguette Mi Note and Dit Terzi) before embarking on a solo career.

Her debut album Boucle won critical acclaim and the Grand Prix du disque awarded by l’Académie Charles-Cros. (The song “Infidele” from that album is kinda irresistible.)

After composing music for theater, dance, and film, Diterzi thought composing music for painting and sculpture to be a logical next step. It was quite fitting, given her education in the Arts.

Tableau de Chasse

Her ambitious sophomore album Tableau de Chasse is a musical interpretation of artworks by renowned artists, mostly featuring women. Diterzi either interpreted the scene depicted, or made up stories to go with them. How very “Decemberists” of her!

From the first notes of the hunting horns that open the title track, it’s obvious that this song will be like nothing you’ve ever heard before. By the time the robust chorus kicks in (with a undulating timbre reminiscent of the Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices choir), you’ll be transported to another world.


Here’s the beautiful moving painting-style video for “Tableau de Chasse,” where she humorously recreates La Rêverie and the Rococo masterpiece Le Verrou by the French painter Jean-Honoré Fragonard.

Here are the pieces of artwork that inspired the album, track by track.

1. “L’Odalisque”: Inspired by “L’Odalisque” Jean-Claude Lardrot
2. “Tableau de chasse”: Inspired by “Le Verrou” by Jean-Honoré Fragonard
3. “Retiens-moi”: Inspired by “La Femme Accroupie,” “Je suis Belle,” and “Iris Messagère des dieux” Auguste Rodin
4. “Zubrowka”: Inspired by “Keelmen Heaving in coals by moonlight” J.M.W. Turner and “La Tempête” by Giorgione
5. “À quatre pattes” (Four-legged): Inspired by “Chair” and “Table Structure” by Allen Jones
6. “L’Épave”: Inspired by “Buste de Rodin” Camille Claudel, Portrait de Camille Claudel, and “La Danaïade” Auguste Rodin
7. “Iku”: Inspired by a poster by Michal Batory
8. “Les Repas de famille”: Inspired by “Sans Titre” (aka “Shibboleth”), Doris Salcedo
9. “La Vieille Chanteuse”: Inspired by “Yvette Guilbert” by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
10. “Mes bonnes sœurs”: Inspired by “Les 3 Grâces” by Jean-Baptiste Regnault and “Les Causeuse” by Camille Claudel
11. “Je garde le chien”: Inspired by “Jeune Femme Avec Un Chien Blanc,” Lucian Freud

Claire Diterzi has made a career out of composing music based on works of art. Her latest album, Le Salon des Refusées, is a product of her year-long residency at the prestigious French Academy in Rome — the first for a contemporary music artist.

Le Salon des refusees
Le Salon des Refusees (Hall of the Refused art) is an allegory for creative freedom. Artworks that didn’t make into the fancy salons because they didn’t match snooty critics’ tastes went on to become wildly popular with the public, freeing artists to make art that directly reaches the masses. (Sort of like what the internet does today.)

Like much of her previous work, Diterzi’s latest album evokes a baroque atmosphere. See what I mean in “La Roi de Forets.” WARNING: Those with a fear of insects should hit “play” and then look away. (The haunting audio is worth a listen alone.)

What do you think of this French singer? Leave a comment below.