Chloé Thevenin, better known under the pseudonym of Chloé, signed here her first soundtrack for the director Lidia Leber Terki’s feature film, Paris La Blanche.
This soundtrack was recorded with Algerian Kabyle musicians who play traditional instruments (Oud, Mandole, Zorna, Darbuka)
Paris La Blanche is the first film score by Chloé Thevenin, better known by the mononym Chloé. This is far from being her first collaboration with Lidia Leber Terki, however, having contributed music to all of the filmmaker’s shorts, while she returned the by directing all of her videos.
In her first feature film, Paris la Blanche, Lidia tells the story of a sexagenarian who lives in Algeria with her family. She sets out to France to find – and bring back – her husband, who immigrated there all too long ago to earn a better living, leaving nothing but bank transfers as a connection with his family.
The traditional Algerian music remains unfettered at times, while elsewhere, the electronic aspects take over. In yet other passages, the two come together in perfect, necessary harmony, the contrast underlining the bond between husband and wife, and in the larger sense, building bridges between the two countries and cultures all throughout the film. The electronic instrumentation serves to bind Baazi Mohamed (mandole and oud,) Hadj Khalfa (zurna) & Medjoubi Khireddine (percussions and vocals)’s traditional Algerian textures.
The theme of Paris la Blanche was inspired by a piece that Lidia’s father played on the oud when she was a child. It served at a starting point that allowed Chloé to develop an orchestration evoking various themes like nostalgia, memories, underscoring Rekia’s emotional quest.
Chloé also drew inspiration from traditional Kabylian Achewiq chanting, which was formerly the exclusive territory of women. The hypnotic wavelengths of the melodic acapella chants are spread throughout the soundtrack (see track Le voyage de Rekia,) reflecting her internal dialogue, her journey – her quest. Medjoubi Khireddine’s male vocals on the Paris la Blanche track resonates like an echo to the voyage Rekia sets on.
The same finesse that can be picked up from the dialogues, the body language, and the silent exchanges between Rekia and her husband is reflected in the score, which comes in to support and punctuate the script.
credits
released March 31, 2017
Composed by Chloé Thévenin
Interpreted by Chloé Thévenin, Baazi Mohamed (mandole & oud), Hadj Khalfa (zorna) & Medjoubi Khireddine (drums & voice).
Produced by Chloé Thévenin
Mixed by Chloé Thévenin Recorded at Lumiere Noire Studio Mastered by Benjamin Joubert.
Artwork designed by Dune Lunel
Picture by Dalia Benais taken from the movie « Paris La Blanche » by Lidia Leber Terki
Under exclusive licence of Lumière Noire Records. All rights reserved