Insects chirp and rustle, birds are calling and chimes are being played, gently and patiently. A soft layer of lo-fi noise covers everything up like a thin and comfortable blanket.
These are the nocturnal sounds that occupy the opening segment of ‘La Maison Forestière’ (The Forester's House). It seems the early dawning of the day, a moment of slowly waking up. The perfect moment for us, the listeners, to join this strangely familiar world of sound. Other percussive instruments are being played or rather rituals are being performed. Rituals where ego seems absent. At some point we hear an airplane fly over in the distance. It feels alien, far removed from current time and place. Welcome to the world of Roxane Métayer.
Roxane is a violinist and musician but above all a multidisciplinary artist who draws her inspiration mainly from nature. Born in France, but currently living in Brussels, she learned to play the violin at a young age. Later in life she developed herself as a visual artist, with drawings, videos and sculptures evoking timeless, slightly psychedelic worlds.
‘Deux Adresses Anciennes’ brings together the soundtracks of two videos, ‘La Maison Forestière’ and ‘6, Via del Partigiano’, made in 2017. Both pieces explore the possibilities of field recordings, audio collages and improvisations using minimal percussion, violin, keyboards and folk-like arrangements and melodies. At times Roxane broadens her sound palette with electronics and unexpected sound effects. The results are sensitive and subtly layered compositions that gradually unfold.
Minorie, 2025