French-Canadian comic artist/folk songstress GENEVIÈVE CASTRÉE is WOELV, soon to become Ô PAON. MICHAEL PINCOTT finds out about the dynamics of language and what peacocks have to do with anything.

Castrée happens to be married to Mount Eerie’s Phil Elvrum, and similarities between their styles do exist, but Woelv is exclusively her own realm. This year saw the release of Tout Seul Dans La Forêt En Plein Jour, Avez-Vous Peur? which translates to ‘In the forest in the middle of the day, are you scared?’. It’s a record that is in equal measures timid and angry, sometimes sparse and minimalistic but at other times deep, dense and dark. Castrée explains her approach to this ambivalent style of song writing.

“I believe in the power of negative thinking and in darkness and embracing darkness, but I also believe you can be dark without making yourself and everybody around you feel terrible about it. I really enjoy using all the anger and frustration that I have to try and make something as beautiful as possible. Something can be soft and angry at the same time.”

Tout Seul Dans… is in many ways a bleak record. There are streaks of life and light throughout but themes of war and rape and anger pervade in the lyrics. But these themes are cloaked for English-speaking listeners because it is sung entirely in French, Castrée’s native language. Castrée has previously described the thought of her singing in English as dishonest, and I sought to delve deeper into this personal philosophy.

“I’ve tried singing in English a couple of times but it just doesn’t feel like me, this is not the person I’ve been my whole life. When I have something personal that’s truly my own to say it comes out in French. If I’m singing in English I feel like I’d just be trying to please all the people out there that think music can only be made in English, the people that think any music in a foreign language is classified as world music.”

To an extent the language barrier splits those who hear the album. Should the listener place more value on understanding the lyrics or should they neglect the song’s meaning in order to focus on the music itself? Castrée sees these ‘options’ as a benefit.

“Some people have listened to my records and they don’t care what it’s about. They’re having their own private experience and enjoyment of it, but there are other people who like to know what I’m saying. It’s exciting to me; it’s like two different possibilities, two different albums.”

Woelv’s upcoming Australian tour will be among her last appearances live before she undergoes the name change to Ô Paon.

“I’m sick of writing songs in a certain way. I want to try something different and I’ve been working on a different way to make music. To absorb darkness, put it into words and into songs. It’s the type of change that to me means a lot but the music might only appear slightly different to others.”

And what do peacocks have to do with anything?

“Ô Paon means O Peacock … but it’s not like I like peacocks a lot or something. The idea behind it is the vanity of one person on stage, flashing all their colours for everyone to admire you. It’s ironic, because I don’t want to be the peacock on the stage and yet I am: I am on the stage, I am asking for people’s attention. I thought I’d use that name because I’m always reminded of it.”

WOELV will be playing at The Step Inn on Thursday Nov 20, accompanied by Lloyd & Michael. TOUT SEUL DANS LA FORÊT EN PLEIN JOUR, AVEZ-VOUS PEUR? is out now through K Records. Find out more on www.opaon.ca

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