Interview with Lead Orphans

Music to lead orphans – by Mel in Toronto

"I believe you can't sing something with your voice that you didn't write with your heart," Seb, lead singer of Lead Orphans, says. This statement translates into their music: heartfelt songwriting and beautiful melodies which suddenly burst into furious ones accompanied by heavy riffs and screaming that eventually lead us back to the beautiful place where it all began. Lead Orphans take the quintessence of their influences like At the Drive-In and Refused and make it into their own, so that we are left with high energetic and versatile songs that take us on a journey challenging our ears and hearts with ample changes in rhythm.

Hailing from Franche-Comte, this energetic five-piece band is our first showcase from France. Lead Orphans are Seb (lead vocal), Mike (lead guitar), Koket (drums), Nico (bass), and Ju (rhythm guitar). All members have played in other punk, metal and hardcore bands before they formed Lead Orphans in 2005.

In writing their music, Mike usually comes up with the initial ideas and then the band takes, transforms and adapts them to their respective instruments and vocals. Seb's inspiration for writing lyrics comes from "feelings we need and can only express in music."

Seb has an evident preference towards writing enigmatic lyrics and using metaphorical elements in his songwriting. He explains that the song NO PANTS MESSAGE "is a false and paradox love song." The band also makes a statement with this punk song to protest pop songs, which are only written for commercial success. SOLEMN INSANITY "is a sad song, full of the pain of a dying man lying in his bed, waiting for death, alone; the only person beside him is the nurse," Seb continues. BACKYARD BIRDING takes a critical look at our society and expresses the band's protest against the loss of liberty: "people are like birds living in cages fairly confused." This song is about crossing boundaries, because like birds, people have to be free to fly outside their circuit in order to find their own way. TRIPWIRE is about the trip of an outsider, condemned by his world, who was forced to leave his country and family.

The indie music scene in France is currently facing challenges. Seb talks especially about his region. Stricter regulations make it very hard for bands to find venues to play in. Small bars are closing and due to disturbance of the peace by night, it is hard to play loud shows past 10pm without getting into trouble with local authorities.

Lead Orphans released their critically acclaimed debut album "One Evening Coming" in 2006. SOLEMN INSANITY is featured on the French indie rock label Red Plane Compilation Vol. 3, and NO PANTS MESSAGE is on the compilation Mighty Worms Strike 2.

To get a taste of Lead Orphans' great energy, make sure to check out their video. It's filmed in a very cool location too!

"In your own words" – ONE on ONE with Mel and Seb

Mel: Who are your influences?

Seb: Our influences are bands with different styles: rock, indie, post-rock, hardcore, punk, metal, emo, etc.. … We've been compared to At the drive-in, Million Dead, Pearl Jam, Refused, and Helmet. Just try to find out yourself by listening to our songs and tell us!

Mel: What does it mean to you to be an indie artist?

Seb: Because we are unsigned, we have to do everything ourselves. It means all communications, finding dates to tour and play, contacting associations, bars, labels, other bands etc. We have to manage ourselves. It is very difficult but if this is the way it's got to be in order to play our music and meet people who are interested and understand our passion, we're going to continue until the end. Maybe we will find an indie label. I think the term "Indie" deals with integrity in this way.

Mel: Which opportunities do you see with indieSolo?

Seb: I hope some people in- and outside of our country will listen to and appreciate our music. Then, it would be great, if we could find some contacts that are interested in helping or eventually manage us. I like meeting people like you from other countries. It's a great experience for indie bands and simple sincere people like us who get to encounter people who, although they are perfect strangers, share a passion through simple words. This is a positive outcome from communicating with indieSolo.

Mel: What do you like best, when you perform live?

Seb: To express ourselves without constraints, just to feel alive with music. And we hope it is contagious, infectious, and thrilling for the audience during our shows.

Mel: Why did you decide to sing in English?

Seb: The first reason of why I decided to sing in English was because of my influences in music. It's a personal choice because of the rhymes, the flow, etc. I've always listened to American or English bands since my youth. Today in France, there are more and more bands who assume singing and writing in English despite of commercial and other attractive opportunities that exist when you choose your own language. I think that people who like our music will try to understand the lyrics. When you like a band you try to learn more about them through the Internet or magazines. The second reason is because the English language is better to spread the word, there are just more people speaking English than French.

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