XXIM Records – Sony Music Masterworks
Uèle Lamore – The First Tree feat. Gracy Hopkins
Out Now
Franco-American composer, conductor and artist Uèle Lamore announces her forthcoming album LOOM, set for release in early 2022 on XXIM Records, the newest imprint from Sony Music Masterworks. Her first single The First Tree and accompanying video are available now. Combining with rapper and singer-songwriter Gracy Hopkins on The First Tree, Uèle Lamore launches here her debut album and leans on her fascination with musical textures and deep knowledge of intricate composition.
“The First Tree is the first song I wrote for the album LOOM. I wanted to make something that would represent all the aspects of the record: very focused on sound design and production, yet very narrative. But beyond that, I wanted a perfect environment for Gracy’s voice. I wanted him to instantly understand the track and its meaning when he would first hear it, and to want to be a part of it. For the longest time I wanted to work with him, and I’m super proud of what we achieved with The First Tree.” – Uèle Lamore
Uèle Lamore has always explored music’s infinite possibilities. From an adolescence spent studying jazz, rock and classical music to recent work experimenting with A.I.-generated sounds, the 27-year-old Franco-American artist has always followed her curiosity. Experimentation with modular, electronic and synthetic elements followed, as did composing and arranging with electro, new wave, rock, techno, minimal and ambient styles. Since 2019, she has served as an associate conductor, orchestrator and arranger for the London Contemporary Orchestra (LCO) and has collaborated with a number of highly acclaimed artists such as Alfa Mist, Max Cooper, Etienne Daho, Silly Boy Blue and Hugo Lx.
Having worked on a variety of projects across various disciplines, including scoring several soundtracks for films, ballets, animations, a number remixes and several orchestral works for festivals, Lamore has recently began to write and record more personal solo music. 2020 saw the release of her debut EP, Tracks, which was followed in 2021 by Heqet’s Shadow: Return Of Glycon, her first release for XXIM Records, the new Sony Music Masterworks imprint and a collaborative effort between Lamore and the ‘Music and Artificial Intelligence Team’ at Sony Computer Science Laboratories. In the process, she has picked up support from key tastemaker outlets such as the Financial Times, NTS Radio, Future Music & Vanity Fair.
Her upcoming debut album, LOOM, is a record that melds elements of indie pop and alternative music to what Lamore calls a “model of a symphonic poem”, which features performances from Thomas Hugenel and the LCO alongside guest vocals from artists such as Silly Boy Blue, Gracy Hopkins and Cherise. The first single, The First Tree, with vocals from Gracy Hopkins, was designed by to be a cinematic narrative exploration focused on Hopkins’ voice.
“I met Uèle in 2019. On our first studio session, she played The First Tree, which stroke straight to my heart. I instantly knew what I was supposed to say. I see my lyrics as a spoken translation of what the very cinematic composition illustrates. The story is about the core of humanity, the fate of an innovator and the evolution of a human being becoming a leader. Leader of his/her own life and leader of a generation.” – Gracy Hopkins
The cultural offspring of three continents, with roots stretching from Angola to Brazil and deep into Parisian banlieues, Gracy Hopkins represents a new chapter in global hip-hop, transcending musical and linguistic boundaries with a slick mix of Anglophone rhymes and French expressions over international beats. Much like Lamore, the pair signify a changing of the guard within their respective genres and combine on this first single from the album to provide a statement of intent for the coming project. This is completed by a striking & powerful video that complements the package.
Uèle Lamore’s LOOM LP is entirely self-produced and showcases her expansive style. In addition, it will be completed with a worldwide tour from early 2022. Featuring a five-piece band, the show will also feature a visual dynamic from Japanese artist Akiko Nakayama who will supply colourful, psychedelic video syncs for each track.
Uèle Lamore’s ‘The First Tree’ feat. Gracy Hopkins is available now via XXIM Records.
