Episode 04: Getting the Song Out with Emilie LeBel

This week we are talking to Dr. Emilie Lebel! We feel so lucky that while we were searching for a composer for our first Women on the Verge commission, composer Jocelyn Morlock recommended Emilie to us. After exploring her music we were moved by her soundscape sensibility. At our initial meeting, we found that we really clicked as humans too and so Emilie agreed to write a piece for us in 2018, that became “Blue of the Distance”. Now we’ve toured it all over the world and are happy to call Emilie a close friend of ours.  

Audio Excerpts:

1. “the place of scraps - the totem pole transported to Toronto” by Emilie LeBel, performed by soprano Phoebe MacRae and pianist Rachel Iwaasa with recorded text of Jordan Abel.
2. “Blue of the Distance” for two sopranos and bowed piano, by Emilie LeBel. Performed by Women on the Verge. 

Artists you should check out:

• Laurie Anderson

Other things we talked about:

• Art Song Lab
• How to make Boulevardier
• Blue of the Distance text by Emilie LeBel

To learn more about Emilie LeBel:

• Visit: https://www.emilielebel.ca/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilieclebel/
• Listen: https://soundcloud.com/emiliececilia