“My way of speaking is to make songs”

Julie de Oliveira chose her middle name, Philomène, to carry her artistic identity. The singer based in Saint-Savinien weaves sensitive stories with a clear voice, broadcast by François David and Yankos Daubigné. The project is embodied in a record to be released on November 4.

“I am queen”, proclaims your new album. What does Philomena rule over?

Already, in my own little world! It starts from a sentence by the actress Anne Danais, who said, during a clown training course in which I participated: “When all women are queens, all men will be kings, and there will be peace in the world. » This sentence resonated for me, I proclaimed myself queen! It speaks of emancipation, of getting off the beaten track to arrive in areas that we had not thought of. Becoming an artist was not planned.

For what ?

In my family, there wasn’t really any interest in culture, it didn’t really exist. What led me to do what I do now was a great sensitivity that took up a lot of space, meetings. My way of speaking is to make songs, poems, using words as a material.

You had an EP on the clock in 2020. Is this record a big step forward?

Yes. In any case, it’s the continuity of things. A first album allows you to make yourself known, it’s a great business card. This is the first time that I have worked with a pulling thread on the theme of emancipation. This will lead to a show which will be presented in 2025-2026 at the Gallia in Saintes, at L’Eden in Saint-Jean-d’Angély and at Effres, in 79. Things are happening little by little.

Is Philomène Julie, or also a bit of François and Yankos?

It’s a bit of both. It’s my artist name, I use it when I do readings. I write poems. It’s also the group. The songs incorporate a large part of the musicians’ arrangements. The mix of our three universes worked from the start. François works more on the harmonies, Yankos looks for the theme that will be grafted onto it. They inject nuance, silence. Arriving with my raw material and seeing it transform with them is my favorite part.

The group now includes a drummer, Mélaine Lemaître. What touch did you want to add?

We invited him on the album. We missed him a lot when we started playing with three again. I think it gives a bit more of a rock feel. Mélaine also has a subtle game, he uses percussion to serve words. It also highlights songs that had this rock vein. I like it, I would have dreamed of being a rocker!

“A first album allows you to make yourself known, it’s a great business card”

You launched a pre-order campaign before the release on November 4, what did it achieve?

This was more in support of the project. People have given more than asked, it’s nice, it feels good! The campaign is over. People will be able to order the disc starting November 4. He will be found at concert outings and in a few identified cultural venues.

In June, you released a rather offbeat music video for the song “Bon riddance”, shot by Benoît Gibertaud. You hardly move throughout the entire song, in a Deschiens-style setting. Did you need a lot of takes?

Not so much! Four or five, maybe. Our choreography is still very minimalist! We had the outside perspective of the actress Élise Gautier for the direction, that changes everything. It was done simply enough that it was enjoyable.

What are your next stage projects in the region?

No concert for the moment, but I am doing a reading of my texts at the Montguyon media library on November 12, and I am playing the show “Grandes Dames” with the harpist Camille Heim on November 19 at the Surgères media library and on the 22nd. November to that of Saint-Georges-des-Coteaux.

Site internet : www.philomenemusique.fr.