The apparent separation between Algerian roots, American modernism and French chanson finds a common ground in Ourida’s avant-garde songwriting – urban songs mixing folk rock, art pop melodies, world beat and jazz groove.
Ourida is a French-Algerian songwriter, singer, pianist, ukulele player, and a Brooklyn resident with multiple uprootings and a unique sound, presence and sultry voice.
On June 24th, she released her new album ‘Wings’, we wanted to find out more about what went into the making of the record and more about this fine musician who deserves to be heard by all…..
Ourida, your music touches on many musical genres including (but not limited to) avant-garde, urban, folk rock, art pop, world music and jazz, is there one particular style that you enjoy playing more than others?
I’m actually never thinking ‘oh I’m gonna play this style or this style…’: it all starts with an emotion. If I’m thinking about a musical genre in advance, the song is like a two years old playing with me and giggling: ‘no no no, you won’t catch me!’ but if I focus on the story, then it can work. For instance, ‘l’émeute’ (track 10 on ’wings’) can become pretty wild and freestyle when played live on stage, and the musicians have a tendency to call it the ‘punk song’ to get more inspired - but to me, it’s the story of an accident, everything falls apart and it’s intense but it’s the lyrics that I’m focusing on, and this overwhelming feeling of irreversibility in reference to life accidents. The idea of a definite and purposeful genre in advance can kill the vibe if the song’s DNA did not call for it!
You have lived in many interesting countries including France, Canada, Brazil before settling in America, which country holds the best memories for you as a musician?
Brazil - I did not live there for real but stayed several months several times and the relationship to music there is truly inspiring. If you know the lyrics of the song, come on stage and sing it! The line between professional or not professional is way more blurry than in France... When they’re doing this percussion sessions in a small bar, everybody starts beating on a pot with a fork or whatever, but man what a rhythm!
Music is such a part of the daily life - in some small villages, there are percussions everyday at the same time, at some point you don't even notice it anymore but your body is dancing, and the grooves, even the language in itself is incredibly musical, indeed! And so many people know so many songs: it rains a bit and the old guy in the street starts humming ‘Chove chuva’, another doesn’t want to go to work and starts singing ‘Izaura’, music popular brasileira is no joke, people need songs to survive, I’ve been very impressed as a musician by brazilian people.
How did you cope during the pandemic and not being allowed to perform live shows, I’m guessing that was a very frustrating time for you?
It never happened to me in decades to not perform for more than a couple of months, so I did not think about it but it felt like you’re not breathing fully anymore. I did some live streamed shows and found other ways to connect, but there’s nothing that compares with real live performances.
You’re based in Brooklyn, I’m guessing that the competition there is pretty fierce with other musicians?
If I’m thinking in terms of competition, it’s overwhelming here! But if I think in terms of numerous incredible musicians I can play with and learn from and being inspired by, then it’s super motivating.
Let’s pretend that you have been asked to provide 3 bands or artists (dead or alive) to appear as headline acts at your very own 3 day music festival, who would you have as the 3 headliners and why?
Björk
Nina Simone
PJ Harvey
Do these three require an explanation? Come on…..
You have played and collaborated with many musicians over the years, who would you say you learned the most from and what was it that you learned?
I learned from each and every musician I ever played and collaborated with but Jonathan Levy on bass and Joe Hertenstein on drums who are at the heart of this album taught me a lot because of that continuity from the stage to the studio, and since they are from different scenes, I had to permanently refine what I was hearing in my head to have them translate it instrumentally.
You released an album in 2010 titled ‘Monkeys’, then a single in 2022 called ‘Bees’ and your new album ‘Wings’ was released on 24th June 2022, do I detect a theme around animals/wildlife here?
You’re right but I did not do it on purpose, thanks for pointing that out, now I’m noticing...
‘Monkeys’ actually referred to what is called in buddhism the ‘monkey mind’ that jumps from thought to thought as a monkey jumps from tree to tree as the songs jump from one emotional state to another.
‘BeeS’ is a play of word with the french ‘bises’ that means kisses and the fertility symbol underlying the theme of sensuality in the lyrics.
On the first album ‘Monkeys', there is a quote from ‘Conversations with Billy Wilder’: “he flew high, and his wings melted… then what, Kubrick asked, is the moral of Icarus? Is it ‘don’t fly too close to the sun’ or is it, as Kubrick said he chooses to believe, ‘Build better wings’?
Tell me about the subject matter for the tracks on ‘Wings’, is there a theme running throughout it or are tracks very much standalone?
Referring to your previous question, I’ve been obsessed for years with this idea of building better wings, which can only exist in the full attention to the emotion in the now, the present moment, and that quest is the theme running throughout the album, in parallel with the life experience of immigration.
Are you planning on releasing your music on physical formats in the future? CD’s, vinyl, maybe even a cassette tape for the hipsters amongst us?
CDs are currently available on Bandcamp and soon in some selected stores. Vinyl? It’s a good idea!
How did you celebrate the release of ‘Wings’?
We did the album release show but there are intimate after party shows planned at Barbès on June 30 and at Lunatico on July 20, for the Brooklynites who missed the first celebration.
Where is the best place to keep up to date with your musical movements?
Instagram @ouridasongs
Lastly, I just spent 2 days at a music festival and things got messy, I’m keen to hear your survival tips…..
The way out is through! (I assume she means through the copious amounts of mud that has amassed due to the 96 hours of constant rain that fell during the entire festival!)
We’d like to thank Ourida for sparing her time to chat to us about the release of her new album ‘Wings’ which, as she said, is available on CD via her Bandcamp page and digitally through all the usual channels. To keep up to date with her musical happenings, please head to her socials listed below.
