Gal Musette - Plateau

Elves can sing, can't they?

My latest music discovery from the category 'Why do I only know her now?' is called Gal Musette, who seems a bit like a style diva and composes modern indie folk that brings French flair to LA. Maybe it's her red lipstick that makes the musician look like an icon, but probably it's the combination of passion, dreaminess and talent.

Gal's real name is Grace and she's from San Juan Capistrano, Orange County. Music runs in her family. She has been playing piano and writing her own songs since she was ten. Her father and grandfather - also pianists - taught her everything she needed to know about the black and white keys. Exposed to the musical tastes of her mother, a French teacher, she grew up listening to the sounds of Fréhel and Édith Piaf and fell in love with French musical culture. So Gal fuses indie folk sounds with French chanson charm to create a modern, cinematic sea. Long live three-quarter time!

Gal's stage name, by the way, comes from the bal-musette, a French instrumental waltz style from 1880, which - after it replaced the bagpipes - was played on accordion.

‘‘ I can’t help writing waltzes even when I try not to! ’’

Her career began when, inspired by the album '69 Lovesongs' by the band The Magnetic Fields, she wrote a collection of seventy lovesongs and thus got the attention of that very band and became the opener of their concerts. She has also opened for Macy Gray before.

Looking at her box of inspiration, big names like Joni Mitchell, Björk and Regina Spektor come to mind. Not to mention her idol Rufus Wainwright. Because life rewards the brave, she managed to immortalize him on her debut album 'Backwards Lullaby' (absolutely recommended listening). In the song Oliver he took the part of Oliver. The album is a collection of songs she had written over the course of many years. Producer Jon O'Brien helped select the right gems.

Musette's music is very bright, creating a French street flair despite its dreaminess. Almost as if we were in a café on the Seine watching the world go by. My favorite song of the album is the single Julia. Here Video you can find the video to this gem.

Gal is now continuing her triumphant march with her new single Plateau. Originating in the LA traffic madness, the song develops into a multi-layered cinematic body of work. Content-wise, it's about boredom and monotony. Sound-wise, this gem is far from it.

Plateau begins with a crackle like in one of those old movies. An eternally circling keynote draws us under its spell. Always the same, Gal laments in the lyrics. The circle of life is predictable. I follow her soft and melodic voice, which I immediately fell in love with. Fairies can sing, can't they? Dense and multi-layered, this pearl circles up to an incredible sea of sound and I would love to keep dancing with her forever. And with all the density and complexity, her singing is like a beacon that hovers over everything.

Enchanted by her music, her essence and oh, actually this total package of concentrated art, I asked Gal Musette for a few interview questions.

Interview

Is there a message that you want to share with your upcoming album?

This was a very cathartic record to create and now to release, as it predominantly explores the battle of overcoming anxiety and numbness. As it is widely known, the pandemic was not only tragic to the physical health of so many- but to our mental health as well. I personally lost my grip during these last few years and making this record helped me find myself again, as it gave me the chance to process unspoken cognitive distortions and fears I had tucked under the rug. 

What does your new Single Plateau mean personally to you?

“Plateau” is a hopeless lyric, indulging into the mental space where you have surpassed sadness and have lost all sense of inspiration and feeling. 

How is this new album different from the last one? How is your sound/ way of making music evolving?

Lyrically and musically the first record “Backwards Lullaby” was plenty more idealistic and naive- mostly made up of songs about lovesickness. It was the first time working with my producer Jon O’Brien and we remained minimalistic instrumentally, which served the songs well. With this new album, we took more risks and explored denser production to reflect the themes I mentioned above, surrounding struggles with mental health, mania, and ambiguity. 

Your style is a mix between indie folk and French Chanson. What do you adore in these two genres?

I do love these genres, but I feel like they are more what comes out of my music than what inspires me if that makes sense? I grew up listening to french chanson 24/7 as my mom is a french professor, so it was basically nurtured into my style… It seems that I can’t help writing waltzes even when I try not to!

Have you been in France? What is your favorite place there?

Yes! I adored Nice, France and my time there has to be one of the most magical weeks of my life. 

On the last album, you put together songs from a whole decade. What about this one, is it the same pattern?

No, these songs are much more recent, all written in the last few years apart from one tune. 

Are you a perfectionist?

I’m not a perfectionist I’d say, but I’m certainly hard on myself. 

I read about your passion for Rufus Wainwright, any chance he is on the new album as well?

I wish! But I am truly grateful we got a chance to work together in any capacity, I’m still on cloud 9! 

How much art is in your music? Your videos are quite artificially put together and I adore the cinematic view. It fits well with your music. Do you see your music as artificial as well?

Thank you! Maria Garcia directed the last music video I made for “Je vois le ciel” as well as the video for a previous single from the last record, “Julia.” She conceptualized 100% of the visual/storyline aspects of these works. We have a mutual understanding and trust of each other's craft and I feel it really comes through in our collaborations; I feel truly lucky to have crossed paths with such a talented artist.

How is a song born? Do you start with the lyrics or the melody?

Although I normally start with the melody, I find the most natural-feeling songs are the ones where the lyrics and melody appear somewhat simultaneously. When I’m singing some words in the shower or the car and the melody/lyrics sort of find themselves, guide each other along. 

Do you remember the very first song you ever wrote?

Yes, it was a song called “Fairytale” and it was the sassiest song I ever wrote. 

How many instruments do you play?

Play is one thing, play well is another… I’d comfortably say I can play 3-4 instruments. 

What is your favorite color?

Pink! 

If you were an animal, what would you be?

Probably a cat.