Between 2015 and 2025, Milk & Bone’s musical style has evolved significantly. Over the years, the duo has developed a rich universe and embraced both more soaring melodies and pop or electro sounds… But, despite five opuses under the belt, Little Mourning has been able to carve out a very special place in their discography with several awards (SOCAN, GAMIQ) and nominations (Polaris Prize, Juno Prize).
For Camille Poliquin and Laurence Lafond-Beaulne, listen again Coconut Water, Pressure and the others, it’s mostly like flipping through a photo album. Nostalgia operates, but the distance of the years cannot be forgotten.
“We have a critical outlook, but also a lot of tenderness [envers Little Mourning]. It’s beautiful to see who we were in our early twenties. There is a certain naivety, lessons that we learned at the time for the first time and that we understand better today,” observes Laurence Lafond-Beaulne, in an interview with Soleil.
According to the latter, the “imperfections” of this first project, its somewhat raw side and the fragility they expressed at the time contributed to marking the public imagination. And this, without forgetting the union of their voices which colored most of the songs.
Lately, the duo has moved away from this distinctive signature with the album Chrysalism (2022). A project where both artists wanted to explore more of a pop sound.
“We are big fans of pop. With Chrysalismwe paid ourselves a trip. [rires] We made the pop album we dreamed of making at that time. […] It’s much more polished, more polished. The structures are more pop. The melodies are really worked to make them catchy,” explains the thirty-year-old, who has no regrets about this album.
With the birthday of Little Mourningit was however an opportunity for the duo to take a step back.
“Ten years later, we want to think about where are we? Where are we going? What have we lost about our original identity?
— Laurence Lafond-Beaulne, member of Milk & Bone and singer-songwriter
Their new EP, Baby Dreameris thus inspired by their first album, but to better look towards the future. Some pieces, including Hands Dirtyshould however delight their early admirers.
-A wind of renewal
If the five songs of Baby Dreamer are inspired directly or indirectly by Little MourningLaurence Lafond-Beaulne would not go so far as to say that it is a return to basics. Because the new songs embody the experience and maturity that Milk & Bone has acquired over the last decade.
«Baby Dreamerthat’s a bit like it: we allow ourselves to dream again, to abandon ourselves to loves, to friendships, to hopes. […] For us, this title had a lot of meaning. We have the right to allow ourselves again this naivety that we had when we were very little,” underlines the multi-instrumentalist.
Milk & Bone features five new songs, including Forgone. (Milk & Bone)
This side, both naive, but assumed and rooted, is observed in particular in the piece Forgone. A very cinematic song, which is reminiscent of Natalie, found on the film’s soundtrack King Dave by Podz, composed by Milk & Bone.
“There is room to imagine lots of things in these songs,” notes Laurence.
Video game fans may have already heard Natalie, at the very end of Life Is Strange 2. Forgone will appear in the highly anticipated game Lost Records : Bloom & Ragecoming February 18.
Baby Dreamer is available on online listening platforms. As part of the ten years of Little MourningMilk & Bone will perform, for one evening only, an anniversary show in Montreal, on March 7.
For more details, you can visit the duo’s website.
