Plumes to release fourth album “Many Moons Away” 8th November - lead single “Say Sea, Take Me” out now

“Plumes is operating near Sufjan Stevens territory” - Exclaim!

Set for release on November 8th, 2024, Many Moons Away, Plumes’ fourth album is an emotional expression of Charnley’s experience since arriving in France in 2014. Personally and globally a challenging decade, it touches on themes of hypocrisy, isolation, depression but with an underlying danceable resilience and whimsy.

Torontonian rapper/beatmaker More or Les, with whom Charnley originally connected online during the lockdown, provides beats and quirky 90s-esque electronics on tracks 2, 3, 4, 10, & 11.

Aurélien Naffrichoux adds Serge Gainsbourg-esque basslines and rootsy guitar touches

Stan Grimbert, a drummer with a background in classical percussion and jazz improv, adds subtle and groovy beats on the two singles, Jeanne’s Visions and Say Sea, Take Me.

Canadian and French violists Jennifer Thiessen and Aurore Cuvelier create, at times full string sections, at times countermelodies to Charnley’s voice.

On Capsize and First Things First, Manuel Peskine adds his at times Satie-esque, other times minimalist film music-style, piano arrangement.

French sound engineer Ludovic Palabaud brings all of these elements together to create a powerful atmosphere that supports the emotional essence of these songs.

“Say Sea, Take Me” (out Sept 27) is a song about desiring to merge with a lover, as a river does to a sea. It's also an ode to the sea itself. The melodies in the viola during the intro are like random bubbles floating up to the surface until the song kicks in with a 5/4 rhythm, depicting hypnotic waves. It then transitions to a more bluesy section in 3/4 and finishes with the bubble-like melodies ascending in the voice. It’s a simple and complex song all at once: a representation of the dynamics of love.


“Jeanne’s Vision” (out Oct 29) was inspired by the story of how Joan of Arc (Jeanne d’Arc) first perceived voices guiding her to her calling. The story goes that one afternoon in her garden voices came to her, intertwined with ringing church bells. Harmonics in the guitar and viola give that otherworldly sound, alluding to the harmonics heard in church bells. The rhythm in the guitar during the verses is reminiscent of Jeanne’s trotting horse as she heads for battle. The final lines “I’ve been sung and unsung, sung again and undone” alludes to how perceptions of her change over time, yet she remains firm in her convictions. It's a pleasure to embody this powerful woman in this song.

Credits:
Veronica Charnley: singer songwriter, guitarist, arranger
Leslie Seaforth aka More or Les: beat-maker, arranger, rapper
Aurore Cuvelier: violist (1, 4, 6, 7)
Jennifer Thiessen violist (tracks 1, 8, 11)
Stan Grimbert: drummer
Aurélien Naffrichoux: guitarist and bassist
Manu Peskine: pianist
Jean-Charles Versari: recording engineer (track 7)
Ludovic Palabaud: recording and mixing engineer (Except for track 10 mixed by Seaforth)
Alex Finkin: mastering engineer

SOCIAL MEDIA
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/plumes_music
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@plumesensemble
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/plumesensemble

Artist Biography
Veronica Charnley is a Canadian singer/songwriter based in Paris since 2014. Born and raised in Ottawa, she began playing and releasing albums under the pseudonym Plumes in Montreal while studying music, literature and creative writing at Concordia University. Charnley’s studies in classical and jazz voice, the city of Montreal and its vibrant indie music scene (Arcade Fire, Stars, Wolf Parade etc) inspired her greatly.

Plumes’ first eponymous album (2012) was a fresh mix of pop with classical music influences, with arrangements ranging from disco-esque drums and electric guitars to full orchestra. The next album, Folk Songs and Future Loves, (2014) was a mix of songs by Charnley, Béla Bartók and Luciano Berio, with arrangements for strings, harp, percussion, piano, flute and clarinet. The aim with this album especially, was to highlight that it is possible to travel smoothly between folk, pop and classical music.

The third album, Oh Orwell (2019), an homage to the writer, was a decidedly more pop album with a greater emphasis on drums and guitars, though always with strings, winds and horns still appearing.

Say Sea, Take Me: https://youtu.be/y-PDta5KkvY

Live videos filmed in Toronto:
Say Sea, Take Me: youtube.com/watch?v=kdd9lR1AbZs
Where does such tenderness come from?: youtube.com/watch?v=Mi3-0zpZY-I