She began her musical education at a French conservatory at seven years old. By age 18, she was studying Musicology at the University in Montpellier, France, and then obtained her Master in Musicology at the Sorbonne in Paris. Émilie was intrigued by the idea of combining her traditional musical education with new music technologies and studio experimentations. She developed these interests into unique skills at the cutting edge new technology music school, the IRCAM in Paris, which to this day remains the only center in the world dedicated to contemporary musical research and production, bringing science and art together in order to widen instrumentation and rejuvenate musical language.
Here she met Cyrille Brissot who she still works with today to develop and build specific instruments adapted to Émilie’s needs, both in the studio and on stage, including the “Brissot” - a breathtaking arm controller that allows her to remotely control, modulate and transform her live voice through a series of controlled effects. Émilie uses a variety of other new technology devices including Yamaha’s “Tenori-on” and a variety of other new hardware and software. Émilie uses this technology to give herself a wide range of versatility on stage, including being able to control everything – from beats to multiple instruments to vocal harmonies and modulation simultaneously while alone on stage.
Shortly after Ircam, Émilie Simon signed a record deal with Barclay/Universal France. Since then, she has written, arranged, performed and produced her two records and the original music for the French (original) version of March of the Penguins. There, Émilie used many diverse and inventive techniques including rubbing pieces of ice together to produce beats and sounds, and blended them with her electronic machinery and inviting lyrics.
Despite garnering best album honors in the electronic category at France’s
“Victoires de la Musique” Awards for her debut, and being touted as one of the most promising female artists, the Montpellier-bred chanteuse is quick to champion her independence as an artist over such acclaim. “[Awards] are nice, but it’s like a cherry on top, really,” the singer/songwriter insists. “It’s great when you have the feeling you are doing something important or that you’re understood. But it doesn’t alter the way I work in any way. I’m always thinking back on what I have done, because I don’t want to be redundant. I want to make music without rules, without anybody telling me what I have to do.”
Émilie Simon first made her mark on the U.S. in the fall of 2006 with her debut U.S. release, The Flower Book on Nov. 7, 2006. Her plush, artful soundscapes had already yielded her significant praise and awards in her French homeland, as well as acclaim across the rest of Europe and Japan. Singing in both French and English, Émilie allows her music to flow naturally, rewarding her with devoted fans worldwide. A year and a half after The Flower Book’s release, Émilie is currently residing in New York City and writing her next record. She will be performing shows in NYC this Fall to preview her new material. Having always begun the creative process in the recording studio, and then following with live performances, Émilie is trying a new approach. For the new record, she will let the songs breathe and evolve in a live environment before heading into the studio.
Ice Girl
Émilie Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You found me
You were looking for someone to dry your tears
You found me
You were looking for someone to not be alone
You found me
'Cause I'm the ice girl, freezing you
I'm the ice girl, freezing you
The ice girl
I'm the ice girl, freezing you to the bone
But now I'm gone
You were looking for someone to comfort you
You found me
You were looking for someone to make you smile
You found me
You were looking for someone, for somebody
But not for me
'Cause I'm the ice girl, freezing you
I am the ice girl
I'm the ice girl, freezing you
The ice girl
I'm the ice girl, freezing you to the bone
But now I'm gone
But now I'm gone
I'm the ice girl, freezing you to the bone
But now I'm gone
But now I'm gone
In Émilie Simon's song "Ice Girl," the singer is describing herself as someone whose affection is cold and emotionally distant, like ice. The lyrics describe how the person the singer is addressing was looking for someone to comfort them, make them happy, and keep them from feeling alone. They found the singer, but instead of giving them the warmth and companionship they were seeking, the singer froze them with their coldness. The phrase "freezing you to the bone" emphasizes just how harsh the singer's emotional distance is. Even though they were not the specific person this individual was looking for, they still entered their life and made a lasting impact by hurting them with their own unresolved issues.
The singer seems to be catching up with themselves and acknowledging how they have hurt people in the past. They may have struggled with vulnerability in relationships, causing them to put up walls, and avoid opening themselves up to others. At the same time, they might have also been attracted to people who had suffered their own traumas as it was safer or easier to be closed off, and they could relate to those who had been hurt. However, this behavior has caused them to hurt people in return. The repetitive use of the phrase, "But now I'm gone," seems to indicate the singer's realization that they need to step back and recognize the impact they have on others, perhaps indicating a desire for change.
Line by Line Meaning
You were looking for someone to keep you warm
You searched for solace, but I wasn't the one who could provide it.
You found me
Despite not being what you sought, you discovered me.
You were looking for someone to dry your tears
You desired someone to alleviate your sadness and distress.
You were looking for someone to not be alone
You craved companionship to escape the pain of solitude.
I'm the ice girl, freezing you
I am the source of your emotional detachment and distress.
I'm the ice girl
I'm cold and unresponsive to your attempts to connect with me.
I'm the ice girl, freezing you to the bone
My frigid disposition is having a profound and chilling effect on you.
But now I'm gone
I'm no longer in your life.
You were looking for someone to comfort you
You wanted someone to offer you solace and relief from your troubles.
You were looking for someone to make you smile
You were seeking someone who could bring joy and happiness to your life.
You were looking for someone, for somebody
You were hoping to find the right person to connect with.
But not for me
But I was not the one you needed.
But now I'm gone
I'm no longer a part of your life.
I'm the ice girl, freezing you to the bone
I am the source of your emotional isolation and pain.
But now I'm gone
But I am now gone from the picture.
Contributed by Jayden E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.