Etyl is above all Eglantine's project. From a classical background, she fir… Read Full Bio ↴Etyl is above all Eglantine's project. From a classical background, she first learned piano before taking an interest in singing. She soon decided to create her own musical universe composed of unusual instruments. Influenced by minimalistic electronica and ethereal trip-hop, Etyl took form with her voice and warm bass that smoothly led her to more jazzy ambiances.

Her first solo presentation at the Voutes des Frigo in December 2002 as well as the creation of a six title demo with Antoine Gaillet in 2003 allowed her to meet Christelle Lassort who soon joined the band. Christelle's violin and her voice brought a new harmonic impulse and strengthened the project. She also introduced Christophe Beaudriard (Bass / Double Bass) and Bertrand Perrin (Drums) to the band. They joined as well and smoothly adapted their sound to the rhythms imposed by the machines. Then, with the arrival of Antoine & Nicolas, from fellow band Narrow Terence, Etyl is finally complete.

Somewhere between organic acoustic and hypnotic machines, Etyl lays her doubts and hopes down in words and sounds. Like a question mark, Etyl's name ("Is it?"/"Is he?" in French) stands up to the questions raised in her lyrics.

For independence's sake, the album "La Tortue" was co-produced at the Microbe Studio by Julien Trimoreau and Eglantine herself for Lady Blue (her own label). However, Etyl recently signed with Recall Group and re-released her first album.

Je savais
Etyl Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

J'ai envie d'être grise
C'est l'heure du chien-loup
Ces p'tits moments glissent
Sur moi marquent mes joues

Je savais que tu n'viendrais pas
Mais j'ai aimé faire semblant
D'attendre

Si tu savais, combien j'ai vu
D'autres comme toi mentir
Tu comprendrais peut-être un peu plus
Le plaisir que j'éprouve à savoir te lire

Je savais que tu n'viendrais pas
Mais j'ai aimé faire semblant
d'attendre

J'n'ai pas besoin, de te maudire
Mais plus rien à dire
Contente toi de mes sourires
Tu y verras tout le mépris que tu m'inspires

Je savais que tu n'viendrais pas
Mais j'ai aimé faire semblant

D'attendre
(x2)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Etyl's song "Je savais" describe a moment of realization and acceptance towards an unfulfilling relationship. The singer longs to feel numb and indifferent as "gray," symbolizing a lack of emotional investment in the situation. It's "l'heure du chien-loup," or the hour of the wolf, which represents the time of day when most people die and when sleep is the most restless. This could imply that the singer has been anticipating the same fate for their relationship, or that they are restless and unable to find peace.

The singer acknowledges that they knew the other person would not come, but still pretended to wait for them. This highlights the internal conflict between their desire for detachment and their attachment to the other person. They find pleasure in the power of being able to read and understand the other person's behavior, even if it's disappointing. The final lines of the chorus suggest that the singer has exhausted all avenues of communication with the other person and can only convey their feelings through their facial expressions.

Line by Line Meaning

J'ai envie d'être grise
I feel like being gray

C'est l'heure du chien-loup
It's time for the wolf-dog

Ces p'tits moments glissent
These brief moments slip away

Sur moi marquent mes joues
They leave their mark on my cheeks

Je savais que tu n'viendrais pas
I knew you wouldn't come

Mais j'ai aimé faire semblant
But I liked pretending

D'attendre
To wait

Si tu savais, combien j'ai vu
If you knew how many I've seen

D'autres comme toi mentir
Others like you to lie

Tu comprendrais peut-être un peu plus
You might understand a little more

Le plaisir que j'éprouve à savoir te lire
The pleasure I feel in knowing how to read you