By 13 it was clear to Nicolas Michaux what life was going to have in store for him. Well, not every facet of his life was laid out ahead of him, but by that age, he’d started his first band. So if there was one thing he was sure of, it was music was going to be a key character in his narrative. A story that has led us to the fall of 2024 and the release of his third album, ‘Vitalisme.’ We talked about what led to 13-year-old Nicolas starting a band, the new album that drops October 18th, and more like freedom and femininity.
Kendra: This isn’t your first rodeo. You’re on your third album with 2024’s ‘Vitalisme.’ How did you feel this time around when it came to writing and recording? Did you feel like you had your footing in terms of production, or do you think there’s always room to learn with each album?
Nicolas Michaux: Every album is like a new venture for me for sure. There are always two phases in the process though; a first phase where I just create and record music without thinking too much about any possible outcome, and then a second phase where I listen to all those little bits of words and music and where I try to organize the material, complete and refine the songs that seem to weave something interesting together. I like to analyze with a bit of distance what I spontaneously did previously.
This new album is a collection of songs really. There is no concept or whatever. It’s as messy and contradictory as life itself. And that’s what my work is about I think, I always try to stick to things that are real. Listening to those songs it occurred to me that they were all celebrating the ups and downs of life and that they were full of vitality. That’s why I called the record ‘Vitalisme.’
Kendra: “Chaleur Humaine” is one of the dozen songs found on the new album. Translating to “Human Warmth,” would love to know what was the first song or album that warmed your heart so much that you thought, “I would like to make music like this one day?”
Nicolas Michaux: I won’t be very original, but I think “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan was a very important song for me as a teenager. I had heard it first in the movie ‘In The Name of The Father’ with Daniel Day-Lewis and loved it immediately, but I didn’t have the record at home. And so, for a few months, each time I would hear this song by chance somewhere, I was frantic.
I finally bought a Bob Dylan ‘Best Of’ at the local record store and life changed forever.
I could feel so much strength and so much freedom in this song that as a teenager It was like a calling. Like Rimbaud wrote « True Life is somewhere else » And the teenager I was could feel that this song was a manifestation of the “true life” I became obsessed with songs, songwriting, and music production from then on. The Beatles Anthology series released in ‘95 with “Free As A Bird” had a big impact on me as well.
Kendra: You have a great deal of originals on ‘Vitalisme,’ but you also tossed in a cover of “She’s an Easy Rider.” Inspired by the women in your life, you are a man in this world who realizes and respects girl power. However, with so many girl power anthems out there, what made you want to put your spin on this one in particular?
Nicolas Michaux: I wouldn’t describe this song of Tucker Zimmerman as a girl power anthem. For me, It’s more a song about femininity and the feeling of freedom. The cover is my humble homage to the women of my life and women in general, to their strength and their beauty.
I am convinced of the profound necessity for them to live freely now, as they have lived in a straitjacket for so long and their bodies have been controlled by the opposite sex. “Father don’t deny your daughter her own highway” is a phrase that resonates deeply with me; it’s almost like a mantra that I try to keep as a guiding principle in my role as a father of two girls.
Kendra: You have two shows booked for October, around when the album drops. Are you someone who likes to play every new song live as soon as you can, or do you like to hold onto some and spread them out over live shows?
Nicolas Michaux: I definitely like to play new material in front of an audience. It’s always a thrilling moment to play a new song live for the first time and see the song stand in front of people. When I play live, my songs are my friends, they’re on my side. I’m pretty private and shy, and once on stage, my songs help me to hold on and transmit energy.
That being said, I’m also a bit nostalgic, so I’m never against singing an old song. I like all the songs I’ve released in my solo project so far, even the oldest ones.
Kendra: Time for a side note – With us entering the fall months, I’d love for you to share a song that puts you in an Autumn state of mind…
Nicolas Michaux: I like to listen to Vashti Bunyan, “Another Diamond Day” when the season of apples and pumpkins comes.
Kendra: Lastly, with ‘Vitalisme’ out on October 18th, and a couple of shows already booked – what can fans be on the lookout for as we inch closer to 2025?
Nicolas Michaux: In 2025 I definitely hope to tour with this album but I know I’ll also be pretty busy in the studio. Alongside my solo career, I collaborate with other artists as a music producer and next year a few projects I’ve collaborated with will be releasing new material: Turner Cody, Irma Thomas, Lisa Li-Lund, Ben Chace…
I also want to take the necessary time to record my first real album with my backing band The Soldiers of Love. So far, 2024 was great, notably in springtime when we were in New Orleans to cut a record with Irma Thomas. I hope next year will be full of high notes as well.
