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.
In The Lake
Émilie Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I had no pain
Would you stay close to me
When it starts to rain
Would you be my lover
Would you be my lover
We are always a little bit far but never late
In the lake
If the sky grows darker
If I go insane
Would you still care for me
When it starts to rain
Would you be my lover
Would you be my lover
We are always a little bit far but never late
We are always a little bit far
In the lake
Happy girl
I want to be the happy girl
I want to be the happy girl
I want to be the happy girl
Would you be my lover
Would you be my lover
We are always a little bit far but never late
We are always a little bit far
In the lake
The song "In the Lake" by Émilie Simon is a heartfelt and poignant ballad that expresses a deep longing for emotional connection and companionship. The first verse speaks of a desire for a carefree life, without worries or pain. The singer wonders if someone would stay close to her even when the rain comes, a metaphor for hardships in life. The second verse continues with a hypothetical situation of darkness and insanity, questioning whether someone would still care for her. The chorus repeats a plea to find a lover who will always be there, despite distance and challenges. The bridge then takes a turn into a more assertive expression of the singer's own desire to be a happy girl, with an implication that finding someone to love and be loved by is a key component of that happiness.
The lyrics of "In the Lake" can be interpreted as an expression of vulnerability and a search for intimacy. The song touches on universal themes of loneliness, the fear of not being loved, and the human need for emotional connection. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the yearning for a deep and lasting bond, despite challenges and obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
If I had no worries
If I didn't have any troubles or problems
If I had no pain
If I wasn't experiencing physical or emotional discomfort
Would you stay close to me
Would you remain by my side and support me
When it starts to rain
During times of hardship or struggle
Would you be my lover
Would you be my romantic partner
We are always a little bit far but never late
We may not always be physically close, but we are never too late to support each other
In the lake
Symbolizing a place of peace and tranquility
If the sky grows darker
If things become more challenging or difficult
If I go insane
If I become mentally unstable or lose control
Would you still care for me
Would you still show concern and affection towards me
Happy girl
Desiring to be content and joyful
I want to be the happy girl
Expressing a desire for happiness and positivity
Contributed by Madelyn W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.