Interview: Frances Ruffelle On LES MIS And Her New Album!

Tell us a bit about the idea behind your new album.

So often, people think I am French. I have played many French roles - Piaf in Piaf, Angelique in Songs from a Hotel Bedroom, and Eponine in Les Mis is the role that started it all - I even sang a French song by Piaf for my audition. Alongside all that, a song I wrote in English became a big hit in France, with lyrics re-written in French and recorded by Etienne Daho.

I love to listen to French music, I think the language is so beautiful. Inspired by listening to Juliette Greco, Francoise Hardy and Brigitte Bardot and French yeh-yeh music I decided to make a French/English album. I chose songs which took me from heartbreak to empowerment which echoed how I was feeling at the time. I asked Gwyneth Herbert to produce it for me as I loved her quirky cleverness and i somehow knew she would totally get me and my vision. She more than got it!

Did you know Gwyneth before The A-Z of Mrs P?

No, I didn't know Gwyneth before. I am so grateful for doing that wild and wonderful show because Gwyneth has now become so much part of my life and her creativeness is beyond anyone I have ever met before.

And tell us about the single - and how you met Rowan John...

It's funny, I just heard Paris Summer on Spotify and knew I wanted to record it. The lyrics are so edgy and real.
Rowan is from Wales. He worked in my local hairdresser's. He rented my spare room and as I knew he could sing I asked him to record the demo or me just for fun. His vocal was so amazing, I decided to stick with the demo. I hope this album gives Rowan a chance to get his beautiful voice heard.

Will your forthcoming Crazy Coqs run focus mostly on the album, or will you draw on earlier repertoire as well?

The new show at Crazy Coqs will be based around the album. It's a story of a woman's time in Paris and her story of heartbreak to empowerment...does that sound familiar? If I need an encore, I will certainly draw on something earlier too... although, there is a new arrangement of On My Own on the album, sung as a woman 30 years after the girl I was sang it originally.

What's next for you?

I am touring the USA in March, starting with the Barbara Cook Spotlight at the Kennedy Centre Washington and then I am touring the UK in May 2016.

Frances Ruffelle plays the Crazy Coqs between October 13 and 17 inclusive. Her new album 'I Say Yeh-Yeh' comes out next week.

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