Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch Releases Debut Album

Music

Award-winning French pianist and composer Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch grew up in Bordeaux, studying classical piano throughout her childhood before moving to London. Her debut album, 'Like Water Through The Sand', is informed by her Masters degree in composition at Goldsmiths as well as her three years working at online electronic store Bleep.

Written for piano, string quartet and electronics, the album displays Levienaise-Farrouch's incredible talent for both arrangement and sound design. Fans of Max Richter and Nils Frahm would do well to snap this one up.

The album is out on 130701, a sub-label of Brighton-based imprint FatCat Records. Originally founded in 2001, it went on to become a focus for the now much larger post-classical scene. It's been in hibernation since 2012, but now is re-launching with 'Like Water Through The Sand'.

The album's title is taken from 'L'Amant' – a 1984 novel by cult writer Marguerite Duras – and refers to the construction and evolution of memories. Emilie talks about themes running through the album like "little souvenirs that continuously shift… sometimes nostalgic, sometimes euphoric."

You can stream the entire record below. I'm writing this now with the cold November sun burning away the condensation on my window, and I couldn't imagine a better accompaniment.