laetitia sadier + pink shabab

Laetitia Sadier

the musical arrangements help to embody the layers of the issue, as with “who + what”’s combination of organ, synths, guitar, bass, trombone, drum programming, vibraphone and zither, all working along intricate paths of chord and tempo changes. Leading from the inside is the implacable presence of lætitia sadier, herself interacting with a vocal assembly of men and women billed as the choir. the regular reappearance of the choir throughout Rooting for love is a reminder of this music being one of a people in critical mass, in addition to an evolution that continues to deepen the rich harmonic fields in which lætitia plays.

past wounds are addressed again and again in the libretto, as the music provides a transformational balm to aid the healing process. the melodic funk of bassist xavi muñoz leads a chic-adjacent slink to the occasional dance floor vibes and no-wave rockouts, while hannes plattemier and emma mario take turns in mixing the tracks and informing the far reaches of the material, with vibes, additional drum programming and synths alongside a talented cast of players and singers from lætita’s source ensemble and beyond.

whether drawing inspiration from zen shiastu training, or the lyrics of véronique vincent, (lyricist and singer for aksak maboul, and once upon a time, lead singer of the french honeymoon killers), lætitia faces the truth without flinching. the shadows, whatever stuff they are made of — individual and collective, present and ancestral — need to be recognized and acknowledged, because the more we heal within ourselves, the more undivided we become in the face of looming neofascist/ neoliberal narratives polluting the inner and outer landscapes.

love findslLætitia back in the world, once again urging all our grounded inner alignment and heart power to make us better equipped for creating what’s to come

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Pink Shabab

Pink Shabab is the heartbreak disco-pop project of London based musician Joseph Carvell. After years as a trusted bass player for the likes of Batsch, Laetitia Sadier, Marker Starling, Baby Dee, Malphino and many more bands, Pink Shabab was created as an outlet for Carvell's solo music. A few demos and concerts later, an invitation came from Emma 'Astrobal' Mario to the South of France to record a debut album. 2019's 'Ema by the Sea' released on Berlin label Karaoke Kalk.
'Groovy and laid-back, danceable and intimate, the minimalist structures of Carvell’s songwriting open up a lot of space and make room for plenty of surprises along the way. ' - Forced Exposure

Since then Pink Shabab has performed in UK, France, Switzerland, Belgium, toured in Taiwan and Japan and recorded three more albums with the same producer. 'Never Stopped Loving You' released in February 2022,

'It's a feel-good album in the tradition of the best sad disco songs, balancing upbeat rhythms with matters of burden and loss.' - The Letter

'Do You Remember?' was released in Spring 2023 and a fourth album is due for release in Winter 2024.

Bandcamp: https://pinkshabab.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/pinkshabab