DATE OF INTERVIEW: 22nd May 2020
LOUISE LEMÓN
METAL DISCOVERY: At times like these, with all the anxiety people are feeling, I think it’s good to have music like yours… it’s so ethereal and beautiful, so it provides a real means of emotional escapism. Do you find your own creativity provides you with a sense of escapism?
LOUISE: Yeah. I mean, it’s a duality because, on the one hand, since I’m writing about my actual life, it’s not. But, in the same time, I create this universe, which, as I said just previously, you get to enter a different realm and things become more beautiful, more important, stronger than just everyday life. So, in one way, yes; in one way, no.
(Louise Lemón on the 'Death Gospel' label)
"For me, it’s like this poetic description of what I do, and of the darkness and the light. But it’s definitely more a poetic description than an actual sound."
Louise Lemón
Photograph copyright © Sophie Winberg Tyrfelt
Interview by Mark Holmes
RELATED LINKS
Official Louise Lemón Facebook:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to Mik Gaffney for arranging the interview
Official Louise Lemón website:
Review of 'Devil':
Official Louise Lemón Instagram:
MD: Both your albums have been released on vinyl, and ‘Devil’ will be, too. So, do you think your music benefits more from the analogue format and the warmer sound that can provide?
LOUISE: Yeah, that’s what I always strive for with my music, for it to be this organic sound, so definitely. And it’s also like a process - when you listen to vinyl, you have to listen in a different way because it’s a process to put it on and to listen to something coherent.
MD: Yeah, I think it gives you a greater appreciation of art, as well… particularly vinyl, which feels almost like treasure. So are you a collector yourself?
LOUISE: Yeah, I am, but I mostly buy older records. I love just going to record stores and finding those golden ones you’ve been looking for.
MD: Marvellous! I’m sure you’ve been asked this many times before, but has the level of interest you’ve had from the metal scene surprised you, or was it always the plan to target rock and metal audiences?
LOUISE: I understand what people that listen to that kind of music hear in my music because there are a lot of influences from… not metal, but rock music. But, in the same time, it’s been very opening for me to see, like if I’m doing this piano ballad, playing in front of this audience, and see that they’re really into it.
MD: So when you play a gig, it must be weird to look out and see a range of band t-shirts in the crowd.
LOUISE: Yeah, exactly.
MD: When I was first sent your debut album for review, I saw the ‘Death Gospel’ tag and immediately presumed it would be some sort of fusion of death metal and gospel music… which I'm sure would've sounded great… as bizarre a fusion as that would be! But is ‘Death Gospel’ best regarded as a way of expressing a range of emotions, rather than an actual genre?
LOUISE: Yeah, definitely. For me, it’s like this poetic description of what I do, and of the darkness and the light. But it’s definitely more a poetic description than an actual sound. But it’s the darkness and the light in the music that portrays, I think.
MD: Have you found people have been jumping on the Death Gospel bandwagon? I’ve heard it mentioned in relation to other artists, so it does seem to be a label that’s catching on.
LOUISE: Yeah, I mean, it’s a beautiful description, so I can understand it.
MD: I’m still waiting for the band that does a fusion of death metal and gospel… I think that would be great, also. But, you know, I can live in hope!
LOUISE: [Laughs]
MD: You’ve obviously had to revise your touring plans for this year, although you have some dates booked for 2021 now, so have you come to terms with not being able to perform live for such a long period of time?
LOUISE: For me, the thing I miss the most is travelling and being on the road because I’m used to travelling a lot. I think that’s the thing I’m dealing mostly with. But, in the same time, you have to just accept the way things are… it’s such a weird time all over the world. I’m taking this time to… I mean, it’s an introspective time where you spend a lot of time by yourself, so I’m taking this time to write and just focussing on that instead. I think, in one way, it’s an important break for the world because there are so many people who are stressed. Stress is like our disease of the world right now… I mean, obviously it’s a horrific situation, but I’m trying to take something positive out of it.
MD: The best way to be… a silver lining. A lot of bands and artists seem to be doing shows that are streamed online, so is that something you’ve considered, maybe?
LOUISE: Hmmm… well, me and my band, we live not so close to each other and, also, I haven’t felt like the setting has been right for me, because I think it’s difficult to portray something with a digital live show in that way. So I haven’t felt the urge for it.
MD: So, basically, people will have to wait until 2021.
LOUISE: Yeah! [Laughs]
MD: I noticed the dates include a show in London, which I gather will be your first ever live performance over here? Excited at the prospect of bringing your live show over to the UK at last?
LOUISE: Yeah, of course, but I’ve played in London before.
MD: Oh, have you?
LOUISE: Yeah, and it was a good show. So I’m really happy and the Lexington is a great place. I’m really happy we added that date.
MD: Excellent. It did say when the dates were announced by your label, it’s your first ever UK date… so a slight miscommunication, I guess. So your second UK date in that case, and happy to be coming back here!
LOUISE: Yeah!
MD: Finally, then, as I said earlier about the much needed escapism your music provides in these difficult times, what records are you currently listening to that give you that sense of escapism?
LOUISE: I saw the new movie about The Band, so I’ve been listening to that live performance they did… over and over and over. And, also, I listen a lot to Donnie Logan and his last album. It’s been with me for quite some time and I keep going back to it.
MD: So, your two recommendations.
LOUISE: Yeah.
MD: Marvellous. Right, thanks, it’s been great speaking with you.
LOUISE: Yeah, thank you.
MD: And hopefully see you over in the UK in 2021, when Covid-19 is but a distant memory!
LOUISE: Yeah! [Laughs]