Meet: Ô Lake (French Composer Sylvain Texier)

With the new album out in March and two stunning singles already released, O Lake is set to have a great start to 2023. We caught up with Texier to talk about musical inspirations and how those magical compositions come together.

Give us a potted history of yourself

I started Ô Lake in 2016 but I’m a musician since I was a child. I began studying drums at 8, then I learn guitar, piano and studio techniques by myself. Before playing neoclassical music, I played folk music, electronica and post-rock. But I was always interested in ethereal aesthetics and very melodic music. Now, I try to stand out from the crowd by blending neoclassical music and a more pop aesthetic.

Who inspired you to start making music

I think I always loved music. And always loved playing it. Composing is something I need the most in my life. There is not a specific person who inspired me to start making music (No one played an instrument in my family). I think I always had this inside of me. And it was very strong since my childhood, I can’t explain it.

And the one or maybe two records that inspired you artistically

I remember the first time I heard neoclassical music. I was on tour in Switzerland in 2012 with one of my band, and I was driving in the mountains. Everyone in the tour bus was sleeping and I put Nils Frahm’s album: Felt, without knowing what it was. I don’t really have the words to describe what I felt at this very moment… The calm, the road in the mountain, the snow everywhere, and this musical aesthetic. It was like an epiphany.

What’s it like hearing your music played on such a grand scale with a full orchestra How different is it compared to writing for Fragments

It’s unbelievable. It’s a dream came true. I never imagined that one day my music will be played by a full orchestra. I really thank Ronan Maillard who helped me to write and adapt my pieces for the orchestra and my label « Patchrock » for making this possible!

Writing for Fragments was very different. It was post-rock music, we were working and composing as a band whereas with Ô Lake, I’m in charge of all the decisions. But I think, I prefer to work alone because you work faster and don’t have to debate with yourself!

Tell us about your new single Innocence

‘Innocence’ is one of the first pieces I wrote for my new album. I wanted to compose a very simple piece, direct and a little bit naïve. The melody is the thing I care about the most when I wrote a piano solo piece. I wanted the melody of ‘Innocence’ to be light and delicate, and most importantly, easy to remember.

I wrote and recorded this piece at home, with my own equipment (I use 2 Audix SCX25 on my piano in a Neve 1073 preamp and 2 oktava MK012 for the room in a Sytek preamp). On the album, all the pianos has been recorded at home, every synths too. Only the percussions and the orchestra hasn’t been recorded at home. I like to do things on my own, it allows me to take time, to test, to think. The entire album has been mixed by my dear friend Thomas Ricou at VAKA Studio, who accompany me on gigs too.

Where can we get hold of it
The new single is available on every digital platform. And the album will be available on LP, CD and digital on March 2023.

Tell us how you write How do your compositions take shape

My way to work is not very original. First, I sit behind my piano and I improvise. I record my little ideas on my iPhone. If it’s a piano solo piece, it can take several weeks or months between the moment I record the main idea on my phone, and the moment I finish the song. For the other pieces with more production, I work on my computer to sketch a structure, I add synths or some electronic productions, FX, textures, strings, etc. There is not one only rule but I often work this way. Sometimes, my creative process begins with just a texture, sometimes by a rhythmic.

Tell us about your live show What would be your dream gig

I have different versions of my live show. First of all, a duet with 2 pianos and machines. We propose an intimate version where every person in the audience has a headphone. It’s reserved to a small audience (40 people maximum) and we play most of the time in small venues (like libraries, for example).

The second version is a solo version, more electro, with a lighting scenography (With LEDS). And, at last, a beautiful version with a string quartet.

I think my dream gig would be the Royal Albert Hall, opening for Olafur Arnalds, Nils Frahm or Max Richter! Yes, we can dream! 😉

What can we expect from you in the near future

The new album will out on March. I’m focused on that for the moment. We’re currently working on a videoclip for the next single, which will be out next February. And my booking agency is also working on a tour. Gigs are planned in France for now, but we hope to play some gigs in Europe in 2023.

Tell us your favourite records that’s rocking your headphones/tour bus/stereo

I’d say :
– Nils Frahm: Felt
– Ólafur Arnalds: Broadchurch, Re:member and Some Kind of Peace, – Max Richter: Undercover Soundtrack
– Simon Leoza: Albratross
– Jacob David: Mursejler

Check out the Live version of new single Avalanche, below: