It would take a significant amount of time to properly introduce Cécile McLorin Salvant.
Salvant is a composer, singer, and visual artist, a historian and collector of forgotten stories, a three-time Grammy winner, and she also has a French law degree because why not.Salvant is a musical chameleon, adapting seamlessly through vaudeville, blues, folk, theatre, jazz and baroque, yet maintaining her undeniable voice, a voice that moves you so truly that you will never forget the first time you heard Cécile McLorin Salvant.
Born and raised in Miami, Florida, of a French mother and a Haitian father, Salvant began classical piano studies at age five, began singing in choir at age eight, and commenced classical voice lessons as a teenager.
Thus began a lifelong pursuit of expressing the deepest elements of what it means to be human through story and song, culminating in a live performance unlike any other.
Cécile, congratulations on an amazing career and your most recent body of work 'Ogresse'. I'll start with something I find intriguing. You sing in multiple languages: French, Occitan, English, Haitian Kreyol. How do you decide which language to sing a certain song in, and how powerful is it to incorporate your native languages in your art?
Thank you! For covers, the songs are already written in those languages, meaning that I don't translate them into another language, or decide on a language for a song.
For my originals, that's a super intuitive process. To me, singing in French was first and foremost about connecting with French-speaking audiences. It then became about discovering this breathtaking repertoire that I am so excited to sing and that I love so much.
You collect forgotten songs, I believe you're quite the collector. Are there specific elements of the human story you consistently resonate with?
Fear, lies, vulnerability, self-doubt, love, hope, power, anger.
'Ogresse' is an expansive musical fable. Tell us why an orchestra was imperative to the production of this album?
It's not going to be an album, it will be a feature-length film! I was just hearing an orchestra in my head when I wrote the piece and wanted to have Darcy James Argue arrange it.
'Ogresse' is described as exploring fetishism, hunger and diaspora. It seems to tap into a sense of deep longing. Would you agree?
I do agree!
I'm sure you love your bodies of work for different reasons. What do you love most about 'Ogresse'?
I love telling one story over the course of a show. Sticking with the characters, watching them grow and change.
It has been said 'Ogresse' will become an animated feature-length film directed by none other than yourself. What advantages do you see to incorporating visual media to the tale?
I no longer see it as incorporating visual media to the story; we've been working on the film for so many years that I just see it as a film with characters that I've become attached to.
There doesn't seem to be much you can't do; one interesting fact is you have a law degree. What is the best thing you learnt in law school?
To read between the lines, to look for meaning behind phrases, to bring forth hidden meanings.
What artist consistently moves your spirit and why?
Louise Bourgeois for her longevity, her relentlessness, her creativity, the honesty, the farce.
Have you been to Australia before, and if so what did you love most?
I have but it was short lived! I just loved walking around, everyone was really sweet, and the coffee was delicious.
If you only had one day left to live, how would you spend it?
Walking, embroidering, playing music, surrounded with friends that make me laugh.
Cécile McLorin Salvant 2023 Tour Dates
Tue 24 Oct - QPAC (Brisbane)Sun 29 Oct - Melbourne International Jazz Festival @ Hamer Hall
Tue 31 Oct - Sydney International Women's Jazz Festival @ City Recital Hall
Thu 2 Nov - Perth International Jazz Festival @ Octagon Theatre
