Fast Facts:
Pursuit: Singer/songwriter
Definition of success: “Reaching as broad an audience as possible.”
It was only a year ago that, if you’d Googled the de Botton family name, your most likely return would have been TV presenter, writer and philosopher Alain. Lately, though, there’s been a shift of balance within the family’s celebrity status that’s tilting towards Alain’s younger sister. Not surprising – given that everyone from the Daily Mail and The Standard to The Telegraph and Tatler are either talking about her or to her. And that’s because she has achieved two things: embarked on a musical career in her mid-forties and, more significantly, if previews of her debut album Magnetic – due for release in March 2015 – are to be employed as a yardstick, she’s set to be a stand-out writer/performer in an ever more populous industry. So it gives me great pleasure to introduce the original, talented, potential-laden lady herself: Miel de Botton.
Miel’s music is different. Not wildly disparate or eccentric, but subtly, charmingly elevated from the majority of popular music currently occupying the charts. Oh it’ll fit in – take a look at her single Bad Men on YouTube and you’ll soon see that it has a place – but there’s a difference in style that, in this age where originality stands out from the massing crowd (I give you Ed Sheeran), looks likely to propel her to the head of the pack. As you all know by now though, I’m no expert (remember: I just ask the questions, right?) So over to Miel for more on her influences and inspirations.
“I write lyrical ballads in English and French about love and its joys and sorrows,” Miel responds when I ask her to describe her musical leanings. “And I perform these alongside traditional French chansons, many of which were sung to me as a child by my father. The French chansons have been arranged in innovative ways to give them a freshness and I hope that this will inspire French audiences who know them well as well as introduce them to English speaking audiences.”
With so many performers hitting superstar status in their teens and early twenties, I have to ask Miel what inspired her to start singing in her forties. I’ve no doubt it’s a question she’s growing tired of, but then again given that freshness to her music, perhaps it’s her selling point. In any case, a brave step surely?
“I was following my passion really. It didn’t take much courage at first – I didn’t know how youth centred it was! However, I am hoping that it is the music that matters and not the age of the performer. Hopefully my maturity is an advantage in song writing and will inspire people to see that being young is not all that matters.”
Listening to her sing, I have to agree. And perhaps it’s that maturity that led to Miel’s rather dynamic approach to genre selection.
“It was a journey where I initially wanted to make an album of French chansons, but in an innovative way in order to appeal to broader audiences. My own song writing happened through the encouragement of my producer and was a very organic thing – so not a conscious decision.”
By the way, said producer happens to be Andy Wright. Now if you’re not a music aficionado you could be forgiven for asking, ‘Who’s that?’ But if you know the business you’ll be aware that Andy has worked with Bon Jovi, Simply Red, Eurythmics, Tom Jones and Sinead O’Connor to name but a few. Suffice to say the fact that he’s on board with Miel suggests serious potential. So what does it take to get to work with the music industry’s bigwigs? And yes, I want details: what does a day-in-the-life of a singer/songwriter consist of?
“Goodness!” Miel exclaims. “They are all quite different. However, a typical day starts with the kids – I get up at 7am to be with them before they go to school. I will then do some exercises and get ready for the day. I may then have admin to catch up on and if I am rehearsing I will have a vocal warm up at home before heading off to the studio around midday where I will rehearse or work on the album, Magnetic, with Andy Wright. I typically get home around 6:30pm and hang out with my kids. Not very rock and roll!”
She might not live the rock and roll lifestyle, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t sacrifices to be made.
“It is pretty full on right now and occupies the majority of every day. I see much less of my friends, although I think they understand. And I see less of my children, of course. I used to be at home when they came home from school and now I am usually home much later. Luckily they are very supportive. It is all a whirlwind and the challenges are staying on top of it all and keeping my feet on the ground.”
A challenge, I imagine, that will become stiffer in the coming months. Even so, when I ask Miel what her proudest achievement is, it’s clear that her values, at least, remain grounded.
“Of course, my debut album Magnetic due out early next year is my proudest achievement, but giving a relaxed and fun performance to a packed out audience at the Pheasantry recently – a real music connoisseur’s venue, was exhilarating. I would like to add one more thing, which was performing with the Jerusalem Youth Chorus at the Aldwych Theatre. This is a peace initiative that I have supported for a couple of years now and it felt really important and lovely to sing with these inspiring Palestinian and Israeli teenagers.”
With such salubrious motivators, it’s not surprising that Miel’s new life gives her scant reason to envy those who’ve stayed in the routine set.
“No,” Miel agrees. “I have studied law and practiced psychology and find that this route is much more for me. But to each their own!”
When I ask Miel to define success, she responds simply:
“Selling my album!”
But there’s more to it than that, as I soon discover.
“I would like to reach as broad an audience as possible and touch them with my music. I remember Michael Bublé coming into the audience at the O2 and hugging everybody. I like that and would love to reach people in that way.”
That contact with society, and the need for shared enthusiasm, is reflected in Miel’s advice when I ask her for a few words of wisdom.
“Keep extremely positive, visualise success, have lots of ambition, faith and perseverance. Be enthusiastic and your enthusiasm will reach other people who want to help you. Be magnetic – positivity attracts positivity.”
My thanks to Miel de Botton for her time and for her infectious enthusiasm, and also to Sara French of Republic Media for arranging this interview. To keep up to date with Miel’s latest news, including the launch of her Album Magnetic on March 1st, head to www.mielmusic.co.uk. You can follow Miel on Twitter @Miel_Music or facebook.com/MielMusicUK. If that’s not enough though and you find yourself in town you can see the lady herself in performance at London’s Southbank Centre on January 27th. Tickets available here
1 Comment
Sally Cronin
Looks and sounds like a stunning artist in a musical age where it seems that performances have to be wildly eccentric and OTT – refreshingly elegant and effective.