“Smile” and “Like a feather”: LiLi Roquelin with new song and video

It has been a busy winter for singer-songwriter LiLi Roquelin! In December she released her most recent video – a pretty dreamy animation created by the animation studio Indie Venture, that I personally expect to soon grab an award from a short movies festival. Well it won’t be the first time for LiLi and her work: during the summer of 2014 her Music Video “The Only One” screened at several Film Festivals: Rahway International Short Film Festival, Art All Night Trenton International Film Festival, 7th Annual Hamilton Music and Film Festival in Toronto Canada (Sept 28th), and at the 19th International Indie Gathering Festival where it was awarded “Best Pop Music Video. Right now only a trailer is available though to abide the film festival rules, but we expect the full video of “Like a feather” released soon!

Just few days ago she presented a new tune in collaboration with guitarist Peter Lobo – “Smile”. The indie-pop track is catchy, mellodic and positive – perfect to greet the upcoming spring with the right attitude to the world!

Here is what else she revealed in an interview for Flowers In A Gun:

Hi LiLi, tell us something more about “Like a feather”? Where did the inspiration came from?

“Like a Feather” comes from an awakening on the subject of forgiveness. I think that many people live without even knowing that they are holding onto a thousand things small or big and it just stacks up inside your mind and your heart. The hardest things to let go are actions or words from our loved ones and that caused us pain. It’s hard to let go of the pain, we think if we hold onto it that it will protect us…. As in reality letting go of the pain heals and free us up and opens up our hearts. It’s only when we’re open that love can pour back in. Musically I wanted to write something Light and refreshing because this is exactly the message that’s in the lyrics, so I composed a mid-tempo ballad. I’m very happy of how it came out.

How did you decide to work with Indie Venture?

I’ve wanted to have an Animation done for a music video since “The Only One”. The video for that song came out awesome and I am glad I worked with Kyle Lavore on this.
Then when it was time to do another video I thought “THAT’S IT I’M DOING THIS!”. I didn’t know what style I was looking for so I looked at a lot of animations videos. At first I tried to look for animation artists in the New York area but I didn’t know how to find them, I contacted art schools and nobody would reply so I moved on. I looked through the Aniboom animation platform’s Youtube channel and found Indie Venture’s works that way. I really loved her unique style right away. She lives in Scotland in the UK so we worked over the internet. I was happy to work with a fellow European as well. The intro and outro footage of the video was filmed here in NY by a filmmaker/photographer Patrick Jung.

How important do you think is the visual part to the music today?

Personally I love it and for my music it’s super important. Music comes to life with Image and Image is brought to life thanks to Music. I just love when another artist from a different field is inspired by my songs and comes up with his/her ideas and creation, and stuff that I wouldn’t have imagined. I now have 5 Music videos out there, all different. For Two of them (“Should you get mad”, “Thank you”) I came up with the main idea and the last two I let the Directors do their thing and that was just as fun and interesting.
I think in the mainstream visuals are often used to shock and sell – I honestly feel this is an easy way for them to be lazy and not take the time to look for and hire creative minds to come up with something that really stands out artistically.

What are your favorite music videos of all time?

Michael Jackson “Thriller”, Coldplay “The Scientist” – the Reverse technique is awesome, and all the Gotye animated Videos (“Giving me a Chance”, “Hearts a Mess”).

What are you working on next?

I am writing new songs, currently working on a song project for a global organization which focuses on ending children-trafficking. I have some more radio interviews coming soon and am working on some special events for the summer. I’ll be traveling in the spring.

All details at http://www.liliroquelin.com

Craving for more music? Find more from LiLi Roquelin’s album “Beautiful Sun” on iTunes.