By Chris Coleman

On Sunday, the 23rd of October, Miou-Miou will be opening for the Berlin five-piece Masha Qrella at 20:00 at A Studio Rubin (Malostranske Nam. 9). I spoke with their singer Karolina Dytrtova recently about singing in French and couch critics...

Singing in a non-native language can be quite dangerous. Just ask Cristina Aguilera. She received an Alma award in 1999 for her Spanish album 'Mi Reflejo' and the Hispanic presenter asked a simple question in Spanish to which she replied with the blankest “umm” possible. Or you run the risk of singing in a hideous accent (Czech Superstar has innumerable examples of this). Karolina of Miou-Miou glides by both these mistakes by singing in a language none of her fans understand: French. And I'm all for it To me music in a foreign language adds a level of charm and intrigue to it. I envy the Czechs with no English skills who can perhaps enjoy top 20 radio because they don't have to endure such things as Avril Lavigne's drivel about ballet dancers meeting punks.


Musically, Miou-Miou place themselves in the quagmire of experimental pop; pulling at both ends with intriguing tension. Last June they lost their lead guitarist to a more “successful” band, but I think they sound better without him. When they were 6 the melodies became rather muddled in the mix, but now their subtle keyboardist has become more of a presence. They have been busy on the summer festival circuit playing at Sazavafest, Trutnov and Mezi Ploty. On top of that they have completed 8 new songs in the studio for their next release due out early next year. Their e.p. '6 Chants pour le Chats' is lovely summer listening and has received regular rotation at Praha Radio 1. I spoke with Karolina last May about the past and future of the band:

C: How long have you all been together for?
K: So we have been playing since 2003 when I came from Denmark. Our first concert I think was May 2003… some birthday party –laughing— We've known each other for a very long time. I know Aleš from when he was 12 and we were playing different kinds of music before so, we just met one day. You know, we are from one region, around Pardubice. The circuit of musicians is quite tight.

C: Do other members of the band speak French?
K: No, not at all and me … I’m still teaching myself. I have a teacher of French and my French pronunciation is really poor, I know I have to work on it. It’s not really understandable for French people. We sometimes have funny responses because the video we have on TV Očko music t.v. It’s a Czech independent music channel that is available on satellite, so you can see it from other parts of Europe. So, some people from the west write and go ‘You speak in a funny way but we can’t understand it’ -laugh- What I meant is most of the French people … they really like it. They say it sounds cute, yeah.

C: Your music really has the Stereolab aesthetic.
K: Ha, a lot of people think so…

C: Well, you have to compare a band to someone
K: We can say that we have nothing against it, ok. We like Stereolab, but they are not our main idol. Serge Gainsbourg is maybe what we like more … his style. He was very much provocative and didn’t take himself so serious as an artist. I think it’s wonderful to make fun of ourselves and make the show a little bit absurd … That’s why our music is sometimes too simple for some people because we are using the repetitive element a lot and delay and playing with words.

C: Can I ask what the subject matter is for your lyrics?
K: Uh, most of the songs they are very positive. Just about nice mornings when you get up or you have a good feeling. Or we have one funny song about Laika. You know, the first dog in space. And we make this mysterious thing that it’s not dog but that’s it’s a cat. You know, KGB, they were lying about a 6 kilo tomcat – laugh- put into space. sometimes most of the text it’s not so much about what happens, just imagination.

C: Can you tell me what the major influences in the band are?
K: I mentioned … Serge Gainsbourg. He’s a French artist, originally from Russia ... really loved France and all around the world. I think it’s many others I can’t say there is just one. But one of the interesting things is each of us in the band are listening to totally different kinds of music. Like Péťa loves jazz and Břéťa, he’s more into blues. Jarek, he knows a lot about alternative and electronic music. And Aleš he’s used to playing funky. We all have different interests that when we mix together it works. For me of course it is important to listen to different female singers because of the expression and my French. Keren Ann is a big star in France, born in Israel. She also sings in English but I think her French songs are just great. Or for example Kahimi Karie, who is a Japanese photographer and model-singer who lives in Paris, with her cute girlish voice … It is strange, all thepeople who I mentioned are not originally French, I didn’t think about it before :-)
C: What’s your motive for writing or singing in French?
K: Ok, it sounds good and I think it’s a very playful language. I don’t know, I know of a French singer who lives here who sings in English. They asked her and she feels it is difficult to sing French lyrics. So, I do with Czech. I think I love Czech songs, but it’s very hard to create good text and get the same feeling. So the French is nice for us maybe because we don’t feel the language, we just play with words. If you are not a native speaker maybe you are more open to the language and you just try and experiment … it even sounds more funny. If you understand what I mean. If you listen to Czech bands singing in English, it has to be also so funny for you, isn’t it?

C: I think that is part of the appeal to bands like Björk and even Abba. They sing with a slight accent that has a certain melody to it that is attractive.
K: Björk, she’s my big inspiration, a great artist and also really experimental. I've loved her from 16. And ABBA … the kings and queens of Scandinavian pop! I remember Dancing Queen from the age of 5 or 6. I used to listen to it with my parents, from that old type magnetic-tape-recorder with the big disks:-)

C: So, do you have any hopes of playing in France?
K: Ahh yeah! Hahaha! Why not? We are very open to playing abroad. I think it’s a very good experience for the band. You know, to experience a new audience because sometimes in Czech you feel that people sometimes come to concerts not to enjoy the concert but they are coming to assess how the band is. Yes, so much critique. We have this saying in Czech that ‘Every Czech is a musician’, but I also think that every Czech is also a critic of music you know. If you look at it , a lot of people are criticizing, criticizing and maybe not doing anything themselves. I think it was great playing in Slovakia. In the east it’s far more warm and they were really into it. We are wishing to tour maybe in Denmark, Germany I don’t know … it depends on coming offers.

C: For instance the last show here everyone was sitting down but you’re a pretty high energy band. Clearly you’re having a good time on stage.
K: Yeah, but I don’t think it’s necessary that everyone has to dance. It depends on what the people feel. You can feel from their response if they didn’t like it. I think you can tell after three or four songs whether the people are working with you or not. If not then it’s hard to finish the show with the same steam, if yes it’s giving you more and more energy.

C: Well, the last show here you had two encores so I think they were into it.
K: Mm.

Don't forget to see Miou-Miou at Studio Rubin October 23rd!!

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