CHRISTINE AND THE QUEENS
On Chaleur Humaine , Christine and the Queens marked herself as an artist of unusual ambition. From bookish lyrical references to intricately choreographed live performances, Christine, real name Héloïse Letissier, was dreaming big on her debut album. The intention seemed clear: to emulate the pop auteurs of the 1980s.
Chris, her sophomore record, would seem to confirm that theory, advertising itself with a grand reinvention of the kind David Bowie or Madonna were known for. Abandoning the persona which made her an international star, Letissier has found a character, the macho Chris, to allow her to explore a complex relationship with gender stereotypes.
With her alter-ego, Christine and the Queens is now more vulnerable and more aggressive, more pop but more personal. If the album has one clear stylistic theme, it is excess. These songs are brighter and glossier than their predecessors, while their lyrics are weighty and more uncomfortable. In this sense, Chris sees Letissier take a step closer to the superstars she references; those who believed pop music was a suitable venue for grand philosophical ideas.
In our conversation, we touched on the musical and cinematic influences for Chris, the inspiration behind her new alter-ego, and how to be subversive in modern pop.
Conrad Duncan ( Under the Radar ): The first record [ Chaleur Humaine ] felt like it came from a place of loneliness and feeling out-of-place with the world. With the success of that album, does it feel like you’ve found your place now?
Héloïse Letissier: Well I’m not sure if I
