Purepeople: Why did you choose a cover for your big comeback, and why a song by Gilbert Montagné?
Clémence: It happened very spontaneously. I hadn’t decided to come back with a cover at all, I even started composing and writing my own songs. But The sunlights of the tropics by Gilbert Montagné, I know it by heart. I didn’t even need to repeat it. I had been asked, for a party, to play piano titles that everyone knows and by imagining a melancholic version, I fell in love with it. Besides, Gilbert really liked it, he told me so and I was super flattered!
What have you been doing since 2008, which corresponds to the release of your album “Mes jours”?
I started very young. I was 12 when I first met Johnny Hallyday. So I needed to take a step back to find myself. I needed to take stock. I took time for myself, I lived in London, I always sang, wrote and I was able to think about what I wanted to do. When I felt ready, I was able to actively resume music. For 8 years, I performed in great places, accompanying myself on the piano, it was really a good experience.
Do people still recognize you on the street?
Yes ! People always recognize me, it’s crazy, I’m super happy. It means that I haven’t changed too much despite the passage of time. I was a little girl, after a teenager, but I am recognized and it is super flattering. And the people are super nice. They call me, they tell me”Ha it’s you who sang with Johnny, you’re Clémence“. They remember my first name, it’s adorable.