Raised in Tiohtià:ke/Montréal, Canadian musician and composer Laurie Torres has lived a life steeped in a multitude of musical styles. One where the Haitian music of her parents commingled with hip hop and Motown, not to mention the searing post-rock of fellow Montrealers Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Childhood classical piano lessons led to drums, and soon Torres was playing in high school bands and jazz ensembles. This diversity of influences and multi-instrumental talents eventually saw Torres grace both the stage and studio with acts like Julia Jacklin, Pomme and Land of Talk, as well as founding indie folk outfit Folly & The Hunter, though it is only in recent years she has carved out the time and space to focus on her own work—the culmination of all those sensibilities and experiences into something uniquely personal.
Following on from what has been described as the precursor EP, Correspondances, Laurie Torres is preparing to release Après coup, the first full-length album under her own name, via Tonal Union. Taking inspiration from artists like Gia Margaret and ML Buch, the record sees Torres pivot towards an instrumental sound built from piano, drums, synths and field recordings. “I had an urge to use creativity as a sort of resting place, a place where things can unfold slowly and take time to reveal themselves,” she explains of the decision. “In other worlds words, I felt the need to make something slower, more elusive.”
Made in the spirit of improvisation yet finely crafted in its execution, the result is a cohesive album which offers a nuanced, authentic picture of its creator. “Being othered and tokenised as a woman who plays music, as well as a queer and black person, takes a toll, while also positively feeding a strong urge to push and be seen,” Torres continues. Après coup is the product of this urge. Careful enough to explore the tensions and contradictions within the experience, yet sufficiently defiant in its determination to exist on its own terms. The full power of the album is only revealed when experienced in its entirety, but Laurie Torres has released latest single ‘Lisière’ to give listeners a flavour of the release before it comes out next February.
Photo by Sara Lorusso, album art by Maria Zahle