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.
The Cycle
Émilie Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's no one to blame I dig my hole
and fall and rise and fall and rise and fall
You know I do my best, maybe too much
Sometimes you try so hard you loose your touch
Now that I know I won't fall anymore
Break the cycle
Another day in my life
Another day
Break the cycle
Another day in my life
Just break the cycle for me
Slow down you don't have to run
We will find our places in the sun
Now that I know I won't fall anymore
Another day
Break the cycle
Another day in my life
Another day
Break the cycle
Another day in my life
Just break the cycle for me
No one came to me and took my soul
In this song, Emilie Simon is taking responsibility for her own actions and the state of her life. She begins by stating that no one has taken her soul, meaning that she is not experiencing some external force or entity that is controlling her life. Instead, she acknowledges that she has dug her own hole and has been constantly falling and rising. She admits that she tries her best, but sometimes she tries so hard that she loses her touch. Yet, she also expresses that she now knows that she won't fall anymore, indicating that she has reached a point of clarity where she can break the cycle of her repetitive behavior.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of breaking the cycle, with Emilie Simon singing that every new day is an opportunity to do so. The song seems to suggest that this breaking of the cycle can be achieved with the help of others, as she asks someone to break the cycle "for me". The final verse of the song serves as a reminder to slow down and take things at a more leisurely pace, as there is no need to rush towards a particular goal. In this way, Emilie Simon's song The Cycle encourages listeners to take responsibility for their lives and break the negative patterns that hold them back.
Line by Line Meaning
No one came to me and took my soul
No external forces have had control over my life, my soul and my decisions.
There's no one to blame I dig my hole and fall and rise and fall and rise and fall
I am responsible for my own mistakes and successes, which are inevitable as part of a larger journey.
You know I do my best, maybe too much. Sometimes you try so hard you lose your touch. Now that I know I won't fall anymore
I have finally learned that it's okay to try your best and make mistakes, as long as you keep moving forward and do not give up.
Slow down you don't have to run. We will find our places in the sun. Now that I know I won't fall anymore
There is no need to rush through life, as everyone will eventually find their own path and succeed in their own way.
Another day, Break the cycle. Another day in my life
Each day is a new opportunity to break free from the cycle of mistakes and setbacks, and to move forward towards success and happiness.
Just break the cycle for me
I am calling out for help and asking for support to break free from the cycle of negativity and struggles that I have been facing.
Contributed by Layla T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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