Words by Art Jefferson
Photography by Cynthia Frebour, Alix de Beer, Loreleï Buser
Margaux Avril is a renaissance woman with the arts radiating from every inch of her being. Whilst making her mark in music with pop singles like ‘L’air de rien’, the Parisian singer, songwriter, musician, photographer and model is a multi-disciplinary powerhouse whose passion for simultaneously creating something meaningful and beautiful is as apparent as the day sky is blue.
Born in Paris, French/American Margaux Avril studied piano and would later go on to study photography. Eventually meeting guitarist Tristan Salvati, who she continues to work with to this day, Avril dropped her single ‘L’air de rien’ in 2012, followed by her 2013 debut album Instantanés which was released via Universal Music/Capitol. A poetically stunning and highly musical array of sophisticated pop, the LP contained the tracks ‘Lunatique’, ‘Encore Une Histoire’ and ‘Toucher Le Soleil’.
Having photographed a number of series ranging from portraits to architecture, Margaux Avril is no stranger to also being in front of a camera. She has appeared in various magazines ranging from Grazia to Marie Claire, on down to online influencers such as Highsnobiety.
With her latest song ‘Soon’, Margaux Avril has delved deeper into the modern side of pop music, stronger and bolder yet no less elegant and graceful, something that has been rooted in her sound from day one.
At what age did you discover your incredible voice?
Margaux Avril – Thanks! I think it’s around 6 or 7. I used to sing all the time. My mother and grandmother told me the same week (but separately) that I had a beautiful voice, asking me if I would consider being a singer. Of course I would consider! So I guess it all started there…
You also studied piano. Growing up were there any particular musicians and artists that inspired you and when did you know that music would be one of your callings in terms of a career?
Margaux Avril – Well…I listened to a lot of musicals when I was little. I was fascinated by the acting and the singing. I was listening to what my parents were listening to: Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, etc. I don’t know if they inspired me, but being surrounded with very personal songs, melodies that stays, stories and voices that moves you certainly played a part in my creation process. I always wanted to be a singer. I knew I had a voice, I was passionate about music, couldn’t spend a day without listening to songs I could sing along. I really think that when you have that under your skin it stays, it has to be, it becomes who you are despite you.
Your song ‘L’air de rien’ was a big hit. After recording it in the studio, did you instantly know that it was going to be a smash?
Margaux Avril – It’s hard to tell. I think, but you can never be that sure. You feel it’s a good song, it stays in mind, it remains. Then you know it’s a song that will be liked…To say and know it’s going to be smash, there’s finally quite a long road!
Another great record of yours was ‘Lunatique’. What was the inspiration behind this specific song?
Margaux Avril – As the song’s title, I am very lunatic. I have a very wavery, moody personality. So when it comes to love, I was confronted to that mood as well. Being always there for someone is hard when you’re already trying to “stay” with yourself. It’s kind of the “you have to love yourself first to be able to love someone else” credo; but as I was a night owl as well, it was hard for me to find the right balances between what I needed, really wanted and give to the other the answers to his prayers…
You are also a photographer. You shoot everything ranging from portraiture to photojournalism, down to architecture. If I’m correct you also studied photography. When did you first fall in love with that art form?
Margaux Avril – My father gave me this passion of photography. He’s an architect but he always took a lot of pictures. One day, I borrowed my father’s Leica and started to shoot what was around me -objects on a table, the view from a window, a shadow… And it became obsessive to capture everything. Maybe to keep track of everything, maybe just to show how poetic I founded the most insignificant thing to everyone else. So, thanks to my father, I dove into photography passionately.
Another thing that has to be pointed out is your amazing eye for fashion. How would you describe your personal style?
Margaux Avril – It really depends on my mood (like writing songs!), but I would say it’s always classic or minimal, with a little twist ! A lot of black… high waists, transparency, and statement pieces.
Your latest song is ‘Soon’. There is a slight shift in sound, making it accessible to many music markets. There is also an uplifting spirit to the track. Can you talk a bit about ‘Soon’?
Margaux Avril – Your question defines its ambiguousness! And that’s what I like about it. I like how this song can follow your mood, your day. It can be dark, melancholic, mysterious, but also luminous and stirring. It depends on how you listen to it.
Paris is a playground for the creative. Are there any particular areas in the city that you go to when seeking inspiration and also what is the best thing about living in Paris as a creative person?
Margaux Avril – I’m not sure Paris is the most inspiring for the creatives, there are a lot of other places that vibrates more than Paris itself – maybe also because I’m a forever Parisian, but travelling and discovering is obviously more inspiring… But of course Paris has a lot of gems and is inspiring in a lot of different ways.
http://www.margauxavril.com/
https://www.facebook.com/margauxavrilmusic
https://www.instagram.com/margauxavril/
https://twitter.com/Margauxavril
https://soundcloud.com/margauxavril
http://www.margauxavrilphotography.com/