Christine and the Queens performs at 9:30 Club on Nov. 4, 2018. (Photo by Paivi)
Christine and the Queens released Chris, the band’s second studio album, via Because Music in September. Héloïse Letissier dropped by to break out some dance moves in a sold-out concert at 9:30 Club on Sunday, and Paivi shot the show.
In a press release, Héloïse, who performs under the stagename Christine and the Queens, discussed the inspiration for the new album, and compared it to the band’s first record, Chaleur Humaine.
“Chaleur Humaine was about teenage years, most of it,” she says. “Loneliness, really true feelings, and there is a softness in the way I wrote as well, because I was properly introducing myself.”
“It gets to be a bit more exhilarating, because I get to say, okay, I’ve been introduced now. I get to be more confident, and it matches what happened in my life as a woman,” Héloïse said of Chris.
The first record turned her from a bookish young woman writing for herself into “an athlete performer, which is something I always wanted to live, but it happened. Then suddenly I’m out in the open and I’m having more experiences, meeting people, having relationships, and stories are happening to me. All of a sudden, you’re a real grown-ass woman,” Héloïse added.
“The second album could have been me finding a fancy producer in LA and doing the pop shit,” she said, “but actually, no. I wanted to make it even more personal, if it’s possible.”
Stream Chris by Christine and the Queens on Spotify:
At 9:30 Club, the setlist drew heavily from Chris with several songs from Chaleur Humaine. While the funky Europop of Christine and the Queens is enticing, we think the real reason to go see her show is to see her dance. To see Héloïse dance is to see a woman come alive — and an audience to live in the moment! An “athlete performer” indeed! If you missed her on this US tour, make plans to witness her return, which surely will sell out as well.
Here are some photos of Christine and the Queens performing at 9:30 Club on Nov. 4, 2018. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Paivi Salonen.
