Pauline and Florent capture the essence of making touching, impeccable tunes – a mix of vibrant choruses and straight-to-the-point verses. They met in Aix-en-Provence, where they both attended college : seven years later, they’ve paired to create a whole bunch of edgy, fun, catchy melodies they are showing the world with their first album.
Working as a duet was the only tangible option. This is not as much a format as a magical equation : “We’re obsessed with duets”, they explain. “It is the best way to make music – even if additional musicians are required.” And so they wrote Fingers Crossed hand-in-hand – the work of a well-matched team. Listening to the album, one can feel their collaboration and music is not so much a male to female dialogue with different perpsectives and viewpoints but a perfect alchemy between them. Their sensibility and tone are complementary, their voices a perfect balance. They intertwine delicately the way they did back in the days when they enrolled in music showcases and played live in Parisian bars.
They never learnt music the usual way, or had an academic education. Instead, they have a very genuine, intuitive bond to notes and keys, the way harmonies should match or words should rhyme. English language flows naturally for them : “We’ve mostly been influenced by British or American bands,” Florent says. “We never even thought of singing in French. We both play guitar, Pauline also uses keyboards on stage. We may be limited technically but that’s a blessing in a way : we never felt restrained – instead, we have to focus on very sharp melodies and instant patterns. That’s our absolute goal. Our approach to pop music may sound pretty classic, but that’s the way we are.”
Their songs, honest and strong, are also a canvas for their feelings. «They’re little band aids to the soul,” they say, smiling. “Our lyrics are about love, fears, hopes, heartbreaks and scars. All those topics that matter to us have to be expressed in the simplest way… Same thing with our friendship : we have the strongest bond ever, but at times, the most conflicting one. » Just like those bands they worship, from The Libertines to Oasis, they have had ups and downs. Their stage name, Part Time Friends, is also another definition for their tight yet rocky relationship : “Sometimes, we just have to argue. But every time we manage to sort our problems out. At the end of the day, nothing is more important than our band.”
Ask them about their favourite artists, they’ll also name The Smiths, Oasis, Bill Ryder Jones or The Arctic Monkeys and their Submarine soundtrack : is it really a coincidence if Alex Turner’s wonderful influence can be heard on Part Time Friends’ first single, “Home” ? Their love of British craftsmanship is so big they’ve decided to record their album in Monmouth, Wales. Quite a rock city, it seems, as it already had two recording studios (MonoValley, where Pink Floyd, The Coral, the Gallaghers and our French friends set tracks down) when their young producer friend Tom Manning chose to have his own reording space there. Tom, who had previously worked with PJ Havey’s drummer and producer Rob Ellis, has been in charge of the production of this new album. Fingers Crossed was recorded during a five week prolific period : together with Pauline and Florent, they made the perfect team.
Fingers Crossed also features Ben Christophers’ (not only famous for his solo records but also for his work with Bat For Lashes) arrangements, British musician Bill Taylor on bass and Part Time Friends’ long time compañero and multi-instrumentalist Clément Doumic, who all turned those much-anticipated sessions into a happy place for experimentation.
Fingers Crossed is all about commitment, choices made and music dreams. It successively evokes Christopher Owens’ straighforwardness in composing, American dreams and great spaces, surfing the way the Beach Boys used to (on their future hit “Here We Are”), Hollywood fifties era (on “Johnny Johnny”) or the highly addictive and sunny French pop music of Granville, with whom they also recorded a track : “We really like the way they craft their songs,” explain Pauline and Florent. “Their music is simple, yet edgy, deeply human and therefore healing. We really hope this is something we have in common. Our collaboration was a memorable one for us”.
Part Time Friends melodies are also airy (on “Art Counter”), acoustic and abrasive (“Keep On Walking”), heart lifting and exotic (thanks to the Mariachi horns on “The Stain”), or instant and spontaneous (on “Don’t Give Up”, the opening track of the record). Fingers Crossed shows a band already at its best, gifted with many skills, twists and qualities.
Their future definitely holds promise.
Sacrifice
Part-Time Friends Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I’ll walk with you till your fears are none
Follow me
Up to the stairs sit down on the throne
See how we dance
stare into our costumes you are hypnotised
Take a picture
Hope you enjoy the entertainment
When I put you on the ground
Blood / Blood
8 crowns on the floor
Wash the world with all your
Blood blood
Oh, You’re gonna take a ride
You’re gonna see the sun from the darkest side
Oh you’re gonna go blind
You’re gonna cure the world through the wicked eye
You got it right
When the moon turns red you’ll be sacrificed
You scream so loud
I see a ray of truth bursting out of your eyes
Dust is thirsty
let the river reshape into waterfalls
Gods won’t slow me down
When I put you on the ground
Blood / Blood
8 crowns on the floor
Wash the world with all your
Blood blood
Oh,You’re gonna take a ride
You’re gonna see the sun from the darkest side
Oh you’re gonna go blind
You’re gonna cure the world through the wicked eye
The song "Sacrifice" by Part-Time Friends has a dark and mysterious vibe, with lyrics that seem to be describing a ritualistic sacrifice. The opening lines invite the listener to join the singer on a journey that will help to overcome their fears, and to take a seat on a throne that is presumably a symbol of power or authority. The imagery of costumes and dancing adds to the sense of a theatrical performance or ceremony that is taking place.
The chorus contains some of the most ominous lyrics, with references to blood and crowns on the floor. The line "wash the world with all your blood" suggests that this sacrifice is intended to bring about some kind of purification or renewal. The repeated refrain of "you're gonna take a ride" suggests that the listener is being led or coerced into this sacrifice, and that they have no choice or control over what is happening to them.
The final verse includes some hints of redemption or transformation, as the dust is described as "thirsty" and the river is reshaped into waterfalls. However, the sense of foreboding and menace remains throughout the song, with the repeated chorus lines serving as a warning of the impending sacrifice.
Line by Line Meaning
Come with me
Join me on a journey
I’ll walk with you till your fears are none
I'll support you until you're no longer afraid
Follow me
Trust and come after me
Up to the stairs sit down on the throne
Climb with me to the top and take your rightful place
See how we dance
Watch our moves, feel the vibe
stare into our costumes you are hypnotised
Our appearance has entranced you
Take a picture
Capture this moment
Hope you enjoy the entertainment
I hope you're having fun
Gods won’t slow me down
When I put you on the ground
Blood / Blood
8 crowns on the floor
Wash the world with all your
Blood blood
I won't let anyone stop me, even if it means causing injury or death, and the consequences will be widespread
Oh, You’re gonna take a ride
You’re gonna see the sun from the darkest side
Your journey will be difficult, but there will be moments of beauty
Oh you’re gonna go blind
You’re gonna cure the world through the wicked eye
You will lose sight of the usual way of doing things, but it will lead to a new way of healing the world
You got it right
When the moon turns red you’ll be sacrificed
You have realized the truth, and you will pay the ultimate price for it
You scream so loud
I see a ray of truth bursting out of your eyes
Your pain is revealing a deeper truth
Dust is thirsty
let the river reshape into waterfalls
The world is in need of change, and it's time to let it happen
Oh,You’re gonna take a ride
You’re gonna see the sun from the darkest side
Oh you’re gonna go blind
You’re gonna cure the world through the wicked eye
Reiterating the idea that the journey will be difficult, but worth it
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Charles Tallien de Cabarrus, Florent Biolchini, Guillaume L'Hostis, Pauline Lopez De Ayora, Vincent Pedretti
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind