Emilie Zoé: an icy stare that left no one indifferent

Emilie Zoé, from Neuchâtel by adoption, took to the Club Tent stage on Thursday July 25 at the Paléo Festival. The singer-songwriter arrived accompanied only by Nicolas Pittet, his drummer. Together, the two young musicians delivered a performance live worthy of the greatest.

Emilie Zoé took the stage at the Paléo Festival, and it was an hour of pure enjoyment. The mysterious young woman began by sweeping the audience with her deep blue gaze before launching into her three best-known songs to kick off her concert. It was a risky move. But one that seems to have paid off: after one or two more songs, she shifted from an indie rock style to a much harder rock sound.

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Even though the show hasn’t started yet—it’s only 4:45 p.m.—and despite the stifling heat, the young rocker’s dark charm has the audience in its grip: this is clearly what they came for! The crowd goes wild as the lights turn red, highlighting the singer-guitarist’s chilling eyes. Her mesmerizing gaze stands out perfectly amid the red smoke that has engulfed the stage. The result is a strange impression that Emilie Zoé is possessed, so completely absorbed is she in her music. Throughout the concert, she maintains this connection with her audience— eye contact translucent, as if filled with dread.

A powerful, crystal-clear voice

But the centerpiece of her captivating concert is, of course, her voice—surprisingly powerful yet crystalline—which seems to come straight from beyond the grave. At times it sounds deep, compelling, and almost guttural; at other times, it’s higher-pitched and clear. For the singer’s vocal range offers a delightful back-and-forth between slow, deep music—dominated by low notes that resonate deep within our chests—and significantly faster passages embellished with very melodious chords. Set against lyrics inspired by English poetry (she sings exclusively in the language of Shakespeare, which she considers «the language of emotion»), she has crafted a microcosm all her own that, to me, fits perfectly within the gothic universe.

Thanks to this unique musical journey she takes us on, it doesn’t feel jarring when certain choruses reappear several times: each time, we’re treated to a truly distinctive, melancholic interpretation. We gladly let ourselves be swept away with her into her world. Throughout her concert, she took care to build a bridge between her music and us, allowing us to feel included. It was a journey I found utterly captivating, led by someone who also loves to travel to other worlds. Just before the concert ended, she explained once more that when she needs to escape, she opens a book on astrophysics «to understand what was happening at the beginning—if there was a beginning».

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Right at the end, a dramatic twist: after this very calm and reasonable statement, she tosses aside her microphone and starts singing without it. Her eyes seem more piercing than ever, her gaze devoid of any logic. She screams on stage, seemingly in the grip of genuine distress, before going to sit next to her drummer and finishing her show singing into his microphone. She thanked the crowd, then left the stage after this climactic finale. It was a gripping and authentic concert: Emilie Zoé clearly demonstrated that there was no need for a bigger stage or more flashy effects to surprise the audience and move them to the core.

Write to the author: lauriane.pipoz@leregardlibre.com

Photo credits: © Paléo / Nicolas Patault

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