La Nouvelle Musique

With the amount of emerging talent currently bursting onto the scene, it can be hard to keep up with the hottest new acts.

So here at Hot Vox we’re slowing things down and really taking the time to check out one of our favourite new acts.

Today we do a Deep Dive into the mystique of La Nouvelle Musique…

The inaugural record, aptly titled Premonitions, was released on the 12th January, 2024. It’s the sound of the record that has us, here at Hot Vox, perplexed by the unique creativity and excited to discuss the magical journey the record embarks on. With subtle influences from psychedelic artists like David Bowie, Japanese Breakfast and French sensation La Femme it has been very hard to pinpoint any direct correlation to the clever songwriting of Joanna Beck. La Nouvelle Musique, as a whole, encompasses the namesake in every sense: not only is it an invigorating 11-song listen from top-to-bottom, it also truly defines the ideology of “new music”.

Joanna has a previous history scoring for theatre and film, which is evident in the very first listen, ‘Goodbye Berlin’. The approach is ominous, dissonant against the ear and tempting to seek auditory resolution. I can picture the scene: a futuristic yet dystopian depiction of Europe; blood red skies hovering over a deserted land, that eventually clear and present “maybe one, maybe two” golden fantasies as hooked in ‘New Gold Dream’. The use of the synth deciphers the atmosphere as a critical point throughout the record. In contrast, ‘Goodbye Berlin’ showcases less harmony on the synthesizer as compared to ‘New Gold Dream’ in which it is the backbone of the entire composition.

The next track, ‘Still Born’, changes the style to a “Fleetwood Mac”-esque tone while introducing an acoustic guitar that blends perfectly with the phaser effect layered underneath and structured around the orchestral undertones. Like ground control to Major Tom, the chorus comes in heavy and alludes to the eponymous Premonitions by transposing said chorus towards the end of the track. A gorgeous transition brightening Joanna’s operatic voice to her most-comfortable range, the epic moment is enhanced by the sound design in the production and not overshadowed by additional synthetic instrumentation. Definitely a sleeper track to give attention to when listening to this fantastic album.

Just like any cinematic film, the hero’s journey will at some point progress softly towards a vital plot for the climax. ‘The Mirror’ is the perfect catalyst for ‘Ballad Of a Broken Wing’, as it inferences a minimalistic attitude towards self-reflection leading to the build-up in the latter track. As a personal connotation, a “broken wing” is hyperbole for the exaggeration of emotions during the introspection process. The acoustic guitar works in tandem with the piano in ‘The Mirror’ like a conversation was being held between two different perspectives within one’s own being. Outlined in the build-up of ‘Ballad Of a Broken Wing’, the “silver screen” is outstanding imagery to create the monochromatic ‘Casanova’ character we hear following. ‘Casanova’ is a classic take on the indie pop genre idolised by the aforementioned artistic influences, designed for commercial success.

The change has arrived! From the eyes of a musician, how could an artist NOT be impressed with the title track ‘Premonitions’ for its eccentric use of the Locrian modal scale for 240 seconds straight? Great music theory deserves proper credit where it is due, as this scale offers a specific quality to the composition that keeps the investment. Bouncing between the tonic and dominant chord increases the intensity of its darkness, giving the sudden shift coming up in the subsequent namesake track a sense of urgency. ‘La Nouvelle Musique’ is undoubtedly the most-energetic song of the album, separate from the rest. It genuinely makes the listener feel like we’re experiencing the climax of a silver screen film. What a wonderful transformation of the self-analysis from the beginning of the record and an empowering moment in the ultimate story.

The final trilogy of Premonitions practically acts as a bundle of bonus tracks of the record. ‘New Blood’ is like the aftermath, as if the hero was currently experiencing a daily adventure following the events in ‘La Nouvelle Musique’. ‘Signature Tune’ can be compared to the song you hear during the roll of credits at the end of film, with utter joy and happiness everywhere. An easter egg: when that ‘Signature Tune’ finishes, the roll of credits is unfinished, and a soft embellishment closes out the remainder of acknowledgements – that is ‘Polestar’ in a nutshell. This trilogy provides a satisfactory conclusion to carefully crafted, cinematic, auricular masterpiece!

Sometimes we get urges for other mediums like podcasts and audiobooks. La Nouvelle Musique is a true pioneer for the modernistic medium of cinematic music. Premonitions has many tracks worthy of a spot in your favourite playlists. We bet that with one listen you will find your next ‘Signature Tune’.