Remix alert!
Welsh-Cornish musician Gwenno and Breton producer QUINQUIS (aka Émilie Quinquis) are currently on tour across the UK and today, QUINQUIS has shared Gwenno’s remix of ‘Morwreg’ from Émilie’s latest album, ‘Eor’, out now on Mute.
With a QUINQUIS mix of a Gwenno track also incoming (from Gwenno’s new album ‘Utopia’, out now on Heavenly Recordings), it seemed like the perfect time to catch the artists in between shows to find out more about their work together, their love of language and the remix process.
How did you come to be on each other’s radar?
Émilie: “When I first wrote a track in the Breton language, I was immediately told there was someone called Gwenno who was spreading Cornish and Welsh everywhere. I had a listen and enjoyed her music. Then we interviewed each other for a podcast, which made us spend a nice hour chatting – and here we are.”
Gwenno: “I’m always excited by radicalism when it comes to music and language, and Émilie’s use of the Breton language in her musicality does that in its essence. Welsh, and Cornish in particular, are sister languages to Breton, so we were naturally on each other’s radars.”
Gwenno, what drew you to remix ‘Morwreg’?
Gwenno: “I was drawn to the intensity in the music and lyrics. I felt I could respond and add to it in remixing the song.”
Were there any particular elements of the original track you wanted to highlight or transform?
Gwenno: “It was the emotion I wanted to explore, and to almost detach the original vocal from its musical context, allowing it to fly through another sonic landscape.”
Émilie, how did you feel hearing Gwenno’s interpretation for the first time?
Émilie: “I thought her interpretation went deeper into the track, just as if we were following the same character all the way through the night.”
What surprised you most about the remix?
Émilie: “I really enjoyed the fact that she picked almost one sentence and made it turn round and round until it stuck in the brain.”
Are there plans for more collaborations or remixes between you in the future?
Émilie: “Yes, I’ve done a remix of one of Gwenno’s tracks that will be released shortly, and I’m sure our paths will cross again many times in the future.”
Gwenno: “I’m excited to see what happens from this tour together… who knows how we’ll feel towards its end!”
Gwenno and QUINQUIS live dates – catch them on tour now!
3 November: Leeds, Belgrave Music Hall
4 November: Glasgow, Nice n Sleazy
7 November: Bethesda, Neuadd Ogwen
8 November: Blackpool, Bootleg Social
9 November: Birmingham, Castle & Falcon
11 November: Cardiff, New Theatre
14 November: Brighton, St Luke’s
15 November: Falmouth, Princess Pavilion
QUINQUIS’ ‘Eor’ is out now on Mute: https://mute.ffm.to/quinquis-eor
Gwenno’s ‘Utopia’ is out now on Heavenly Recordings: https://ffm.to/gwenno-utopia
