JAZZ TRIP HOP NEO SOUL POP PUNK EXOTICA
For Nicole Laurenne there is much more deep inside her soul when it comes to her amazing talents as a musician. This comes out in her personal side adventure Black Viiolet with a debut Ep released in the summer of 2024 Kill Me Now and her new full length LP After You released in February this year. Yes, this sound and music comes from Nicole’s alter ego as it departs from her previous styles of music in the Darts of energetic and fierce garage rock, but does so with a display of her versatility and classical training in music growing up. She coined the name Black Viiolet from her stage name from her previous band Motobunny where she was known as Violet.
“Black Viiolet comes from the other side of my brain – the classically-trained pianist who loves jazz and soul and triphop, instead of the garage rocker. I wrote songs that sound like vintage torch songs and then added triphop beats underneath. It is a lush, cinematic, heartfelt sound that plays live with a horn section, upright bass, live drums plus triphop beats, and me front and center with vocals and Rhodes piano. The result is kind of like Nina Simone meets Portishead, with a little Amy Winehouse sprinkled in.”
Nicole follows her passion about music and writes new things all the time. She said, “I have always written a lot of styles of music – I am always writing, and I do a lot of session work for others also. But during COVID when we weren’t touring much, I got inspired to write this stuff. I started with a version of “Why Don’t You Do Right” (thanks to Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit ) and added triphop beats to hit, and the concept took off from there. My Darts/Love Me Nots producer Bob Hoag added real horns to the first six tracks and then my Darts agent in France heard the demos and convinced me to try it out live.”
The jazz-triphop pop neo-soul sound shows the unique versatility behind Nicole’s talent as a musician. “None of us are one-dimensional! In fact, a lot of Darts fans have really supported this project once they discover it. I usually listen to jazz and triphop and more chilled-out stuff when I am on my own actually. This is just an outgrowth of what I really like to listen to. I love garage-punk and The Darts of course, and have no intention of stopping that at all – in fact we are going harder than ever right now – but Black Viiolet is a deeper thing for me. The songs are quite personal and I take the time to explain them when I play them live. The connection with the audience is different; people come to me at the end and thank me for writing these songs, it is pretty incredible. I have been so honored and amazed at the response to it. But it reminds me that we all listen to music to feel connected to something, to tap into a feeling and let it ring.”
I released an EP, Kill Me Now, in 2024. It is now in its second pressing already. The title song was inspired by James Bond movie themes, hence the name, with a little nod toward the bad romances of my past. I then released the first full-length record, After You, in February 2025. Both records were manufactured in France and whenever I bring back copies to the USA they sell out almost instantly. We are working on US distribution now for Black Viiolet records so they can be more accessible here. The upcoming album has not been officially titled yet, and is halfway completed. We recorded the first half in France in March while we were there on tour and will complete it during our August France tour. These albums always feature musicians from lots of locations around the world – just like the live shows – to continue a fresh new sound each time you hear a Black Viiolet track. We are hoping for an early 2026 release.
The new album is a little more energetic and hopeful maybe, although always retaining a quiet aspect. We are recording at the fabulous famed Black Box Studio in the Loire Valley and the gorgeous sounds they get there are one of a kind. Gregg Ziemba comes in on drums for these recordings, and he is a true perfect fit for this project – a hip hop player who also masters the jazz feels, with the perfect blend of strength and nuance. I cannot say enough about him and Evan Strauss, my bassist, who has been with me for every show since the beginning. These two together make up a rhythm section that is a dream to play with. The horn players on the record are the same as for much of the first LP, all from France and each is a top-tier jazz musician. I also have guest appearances from Tom Hagerman (Devotchka) and Blag Dahlia (The Dwarves) plus more in the works. This album is coming together so easily and beautifully.”
Black Viiolet takes on her deeper side head first opening herself to a different reflection of her inner self and life. “I always write about my real life, as I think that brings out the most honest and relatable lyrics. This music allows me to be really vulnerable, which is both scary and liberating at the same time. It has been a blind plunge into the deep end to bring this project to life and I never would have had the courage to do it without people like my agent Ludo believing in it. When I play to new crowds and the response is rich and immediate, I feel like this is what I was meant to do. I just love it. My personal life – especially romantically – is always up and down, and right now it is on the up. So you get to hear a little of that joy in this new record. But I always have a little blue behind the everything – musically and emotionally – and that keeps me grounded I think. I always remind myself that nothing good lasts forever.”
“After You is one of the best things I have ever created, in my opinion. I am so proud of it, no matter what happens next. The video for “Yin Yang” was shot and edited entirely by me. This whole project is really a personal thing for me; maybe a way to explore what I am capable of myself, and see what boundaries I can push on my own. I have always lacked self-confidence and, in the past, relied on my bandmates to kind of decide what I show the world. I am finally coming out of that shell and taking a deep breath and doing it myself.”
After You” is the spy-noir-torch-jazz-lounge soundtrack for your late-night, post-club, candle-lit hours, whether you are nursing a broken heart or trying to light new fires.
Looking ahead, Nicole said there will be “Lots of mini-tours coming up in Europe and USA, plus a new LP that will be finished recording in August in France.”
After You is 14 tracks of pure soul soaked jazz drenched passion and intensity produced by Bob Hoag on Adreneline Fix Records with Nicole showing her talents as a vocalist with a new edge. I could not stop listening to this work of art that is spellbinding and hypnotic that it will lure you in and hold you over to the last track and ready to play over again and again. Track after track each will grab you in a special way and pull you in to its groove. Do not miss out on this record and yeah its already in my collection. This shows the depth and deep emotions that are inside Nicole’s soul her alter ego ignited and take her music to a whole new level and it’s amazing!
credits
released February 1, 2025
All songs written and arranged by Nicole Laurenne (BMI)
except “My Baby Cares For Me” by Walter Donaldson / Gus Kahn (1930).
Musicians:
Nicole Laurenne: vocals, keys, beats
Danny Torgerson: trumpet
Gael Petetin: drums
Stef Barral: bass
Basile Conand: trombone
Sylvain Roudier: sax
Jean-Gatien Pasquier: trumpet
Conrad Real: drums
Evan Strauss: bass
Jerome Smith: trumpet
Sam Morrison: sax
Marissa Kall: trumpet
Production:
Bob Hoag, Flying Blanket Recordings, Mesa, Arizona USA
Jason Livermore, The Blasting Room, Fort Collins, Colorado USA
Gabriel Bouillon. Soul Nurse Records, Tours France
Max Statham, Ruby Room Recordings, Seattle, Washington USA
Nima Abassi, Ruby Room Recordings, Seattle Washington USA
Kevin Gardner, Seattle Washington USA
Stephane Teynie, AD Mastering Studio, Merignac France
Label: Adrenalin Fix Music, 2025
license
all rights reserved
After You (LP)
by Black Viiolet
