Emilie Simon: Pop Goes the Electronic Chanteuse

Emilie Simon is a French singer, songwriter and composer who draws unavoidable comparisons to Bjork and Kate Bush for her enigmatic music videos and avant-garde musical style.

Simon boasts an impressive resume of music study, with 7 years at a Montpelier conservatory, university-level music education, and even a post-graduate degree in music. The 3-time Victoire de la Musique (French Grammy) winner laces dense electronic soundscapes with orchestral sounds and Pop songwriting, delivered in her dreamy, childlike voice.

Her music seems to become more accessible with each successive album, so now’s a great time to dive in.

Desert

With a unique, intoxicating sound, Émilie Simon was impressive right out of the gate. While other French Electronic acts (Justice, Daft Punk, etc.) chose the French House / Nu Disco / French Touch end of the spectrum, Simon went in the opposite direction, making downtempo, “chillout” music. Her 2003 debut self-titled album won her a Victoire de la Musique for Best Electronica / Dance /Groove album. Watch the her perform her first and biggest hit, the very Portishead-ish “Desert.”

La Marche de l’empereur

In 2005, Simon was tapped by filmmaker Luc Jacquet to create the soundtrack to the documentary La Marche de l’empereur (aka “March of the Empress”). We know it in English as March of the Penguins, famously narrated by Morgan Freeman.

The album, composed by Simon, contains only 5 vocal tracks. The rest is made up of twinkly, ambient instrumentals composed via eclectic means (crystal organ, glass harmonica, etc.). It’s puzzling that Simon’s music was replaced on the American / British release. Her music was deemed too alienating to English-speaking audiences — even though she sang in English.

The icy, ethereal backdrop of Simon’s original music was perfectly suited for a nature film set in Antarctica. The French agreed and awarded her Victoire de la Musique for Best Soundtrack in 2006.

Later that year, the singer released her 3rd album, the floral- and plant-themed Vegetal. Once again, her knob-twiddling atmospherics won her the Victoire de la Musique for Best Electronic Album. This release is not available digitally in the U.S. or the UK, so you’ll either have to buy the physical CD, or get her compilation album.

The Flower Book

The Flower Book is a compilation of Simon’s best songs from her first 3 albums (above), designed specifically to introduce her to fans in North America. As if she was worried about putting off English speakers, only half the songs are in French. The other half (including “Desert”) is sung in English. However, this compilation is the best way to get your hands on digital versions of songs like “Le Vieil Amant” from the Vegetal album:

Franky Knight

Today, Simon is making a broader range of music in English and French, but the Electronica flourishes are still there. In 2011 she released Franky Knight, an album that doubles as the soundtrack to the French romantic comedy La Délicatesse. The track “Les amants du meme jour” is quite “Desert”-like and gives longtime fans a taste of what we know and expect from her.

Here’s a single from the album, “Jetaimejetaimejetaime.”

Mue

In 2014, Simon released her 6th album, and it’s mostly a French affair with Pop appeal as she continues her foray outside the confines of the Electronic genre. There are only 2 English songs, and one of those, interestingly, is a remake of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game.” I would classify Mue as smart Indie Pop of the “Morning Becomes Eclectic” variety. It’s an album you’ll really like.

Here’s the first single, “Menteur.”

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