Thomas Baignères is an artist who I first came to know through his work with London-based band Flare Voyant. I was struck by their fantastic 70s-fused sound as well as their poetic lyrics - something that I am happy to say makes its way into Baignères’ own solo music.
On Thursday, May 13, Baignères released the song “Alors? Tu m'aimes?” with an accompanying music video. The video is gorgeously shot even as it captures destruction and heartbreak. Directors Renè Gibson and Lucas Sellier have put together a wonderful music video that brings Baignères’ solo project to life! As a music video, it is intriguing as you watch the story unfold with Baignères’ poetry as the dialogue. I find that strangely enough the video is stunning in the brutality exhibited: it is free to exhibit destruction and distress alike.
And yet, I find myself drawn back again and again to this song. The instrumental is lovely and complements Baignères’ poetic words greatly. As someone who is not too familiar with the French language, musically at first listen, it sounds to be a ‘chill’ piece of music with soft but emotional backing instrumentals. But when you take in the lyrics, the story of the song shifts and it takes on an honest but cynical tone. Still, I enjoy reading Baignères’ poetry and his execution is wonderful! It is an interesting bit of music and poetry, and it remains to be intriguing no matter how many times I hear the track.
Listen to Alors? Tu m'aimes? https://youtu.be/34pKrrr1uds
Earlier this week, I had the chance to chat with Thomas Baignères about “Alors? Tu m'aimes?” and how the song came to be:
How did you get into music?
Baignères: I started playing in a band called leSpark. Then I had a lot of bands (Flare Voyant, Gasoline, Les Darlings...). This is now my solo project. It is a mix of my own poetry and music - something more personal and less rock’n’roll in a way, but closer to my true soul.
Is there a story behind the new song?
Baignères: The song is about people pretending to be in love but they really are not. I think most people convince themselves about being in love, but true love is something harder to find. « Alors? Tu m’aimes? » is definitely not a love or romantic song. It is a cynical approach of how love can exist. It is also the name of my last poetry book; the beginning of the movie clip starts with the last words from the poetry book.
How did you get into poetry?
Baignères: I got into poetry really young; I saw my older sister writing some movies with a black pen ( I liked to write in some notebooks ) and I wanted to write - write no matter what but write. So I started naturally writing poetry. My first book was called « journal de la vie », I was 9 years old.
Tell me about your newest poetry book “Alors? Tu m'aimes?”?
Baignères: Alors? Tu m’aimes is a mix between poetry and aphorisms, as I like to do. It is not a romantic book, but just a little bit more funny sometimes. I didn’t want to write something lyrical or dramatic like the previous one. But laugh always flirts with death. That’s what I like! If you read some theatre writers like Ionesco or Beckett you will find this inspiration! This is what I wanted to do in my poetry book!
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