A jacket with fringes on the shoulders, a pair of cowboy boots on the feet and a cowboy hat screwed on the head… On her social networks, Adé – former singer of the French pop group Thérapie Taxi – reveals a new universe that is away from the rhinestones, sequins and gold chains that marked the start of her musical career. She is releasing her first solo album tomorrow, So what ?. For this flight, she turned to popular sounds from the other side of the Atlantic: folk and country. Shared last April, his single Know everything has already been a hit: programmed all summer on dozens of radio stations, it has also over 2.5 million views on YouTube.
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But it is impossible to talk about the young singer without mentioning her former group, whose success was as dazzling as it was brief. After two sold-out tours, Thérapie Taxi broke up in October 2021, leaving behind a farewell album, titled Breakup 2 fuck. Titles like Dirty Hit, Candid Crush or Summer 90, with their catchy tunes and raw lyrics, had won over ever-growing fans, album after album. Since this separation, the two singers of the group – Raphaël Zaoui and Adé – have wasted no time in embarking on a new solo adventure. On June 17, the former released their EP, bad demon, and announced a tour throughout France. For her part, Adé was heard in the latest album by Benjamin Biolay, with whom she sang in duet in the song Parc Fermé. She also participated in the composition of several pieces, including some for Nolwenn Leroy, in her disc The mare, released in November 2021.
Adé, who has more than one talent up her sleeve, is now releasing her own album, made up of thirteen songs she wrote and composed. In this disc, we find, of course, the slender and crystalline voice of the singer, who contributed so much to the glory of Thérapie Taxi. To the sound of guitars and banjos, Adé offers hybrid pieces, both pop and folk, both soft and dancing. The lyrics are catchy, the subject is direct. A promising first creation for this young artist who is bubbling with ideas. We asked him a few questions.
Franceinfo: have you always wanted to make a solo album, even before joining the group Thérapie Taxi?
Ade: I hadn’t given it too much thought, actually. It all got a bit messy. With the group, we were lucky that our music quickly met with success. When I started the concerts, I hadn’t even finished my bachelor’s degree yet… So, I don’t change pace, I advance step by step. When the band ended, I didn’t have any songs in stock. It was the perfect opportunity to pause for a second and ask myself “What do I want to do now? What’s my music?”
And precisely, what is your music? What is this first album about?
This album is a state of mind, summed up by its title: So what ?. It’s a phrase that I say often and that allows me to move forward. For me songs are like characters. Some are full of confidence and say to themselves “So what ? What can happen to us? Let’s go !”. Others, conversely, need motivation, need this “So what ?”. The pieces discuss with each other. In the title side by sideit’s the story of a young girl stuck in a complicated romantic relationship, with a boyfriend not phew … From the intro of the disc, the lyrics answer him: “What’s the point of kissing her again? If you don’t want to anymore, don’t waste your time.” Everything is like that in this album.
And it’s a work of more than a year and a half. There are impulsive songs, written on the spot of an event but also several which were composed afterwards, with more hindsight. My career dream is to build over time. I don’t want to do Bercy at all in two years! I really want to take my time.
Your style is very folk, even country. Why this unusual and very American choice, especially when you come out of a French pop group?
When I asked myself to ask myself what I was going to do after the band, I quickly realized that what touched me the most was the folk music and its very American instruments. But Thérapie Taxi brought me a pop momentum and an energy on stage that I didn’t want to lose. I didn’t at all want to make an album where everyone would remain seated during the concert… I looked for an in-between.
This album is a good start and it’s only a start. If afterwards, I want to do something a little more rock, I just have to plug in the guitars that we already use in this album (laughs). Doing a 100% acoustic project, playing jazz… I have lots of ideas and desires! But I move at my own pace. The only thing I will never do is rap. I don’t have the skills at all.
On the other hand, it is very important for me to write my texts in French. I can’t conceive of it differently. If I sing in English, it will be for a duet. In truth, what I like most about country music are its instruments. We don’t know them in France! And we have a very stereotypical vision of country, we almost don’t care. While in the USA, it’s not a joke at all, it’s a music market equivalent to that of pop. It’s not just guys dressed as cowboys with spurs on their boots (laughs).
Who are the artists who inspired you for this album?
Unsurprisingly, American artists. I was especially interested in singers who had dared somewhat hybrid projects like Angus & Julia Stone. They do pop and folk at the same time, exactly what I wanted to do. The singer Lord also influenced me a lot, especially with her first albums and her “fear of nothing” side. She tries voice effects, atmospheres and observes what it gives without formatting herself. But I also have very folk inspirations like Joni Mitchell, Neil Young or even Johnny Cash.
To make this album, you and your team went on a road trip to the United States… Was this trip compulsory?
Downright. I composed all my songs in my room, during this long period of curfews and confinements. I kept a big notebook where I stuck, drew and wrote everything I wanted for this first album. I had even already imagined the clips, the merchandising… and the roadtrip in the United States. When I felt ready, I went to see several labels with my fifteen songs and my desires. And it worked.
I had never been to the United States whereas American music is the main inspiration for my album. It couldn’t do it. I wanted this record to tell a story, to be like a travel diary. We also wanted banjos and very country instruments, which are harder to find in France. So I told my team “Might as well pick them up directly in Nashville!”. Everyone was excited about the idea and it was an absolutely amazing trip.
I wanted this record to appeal to the public, to discover my universe and my personality, but also to create lots of memories for me. Successful bet, it is really close to what I have in my heart.
With the group Thérapie Taxi, you participated in fiery concerts, overflowing with energy. Your partner on stage, Raphaël Zaoui, liked to put on a show. You, on the other hand, were more discreet. How do you apprehend being alone on stage?
What I love the most in the world is being on stage. Everything I’ve been doing for months – the creation of the album, its promotion – is to prepare for this moment in front of the public. It’s the last link in the chain because it lets you know if people really liked the record or not.
Thérapie Taxi was a group, a message, an energy carried by Raphaël. He’s the one who wrote almost all the songs. From our first concerts, he knew how to set the mood, make the public dance. I’m more shy. For the group, I also played a character on stage, in connection with the lyrics of our songs. I love doing this! Having a scenic alter ego gives strength. I will have to find a new one for the singer Adé.
Now that I am alone on stage, I will have to listen to the message of my own album: “So what? What do you have to lose? Come on, let’s go!”. If I’m uncomfortable the first few times, I’ll say so. I don’t want to pretend, to learn a text to the letter. I want to be myself.