WL//WH Interview COSMOPAARK
By now familiar with WL//WH, Cosmopaark, the French Shoegaze three piece from Bordeaux, are closely approaching their new EP “Backyard”, due out tomorrow, October 18th, via fellow French independent labels Stellar Frequencies and Howlin’ Banana Records. A more refined and imaginative follow-up to the 2023 acclaimed debut album, “And I Can’t Breathe Enough”, the new 5-tracker unrolls a finely concocted intoxicating bouquet of vibrant Shoegaze and introspective Dream Pop fragrances, sprinkled with subtle threads of Psychedelic gllimmers.
Let’s talk with Clément Pélofy (vocals, guitar), Wanda Meha (bass, synth, vocals) and Baptiste Sauvion (drums, percussion), to get to know something more about the band’s path and the incoming release.
Thanks so much for the interview. What is the genesis story of Cosmopaark? How did you all meet and what is the inspiration behind the name?
Clément: Hi! Baptiste (our drummer) and I met while studying at a music school. We played in several bands before Cosmopaark, but we felt we could create something new together. So, we tried to write a few songs, which led to our first EP, “Sunflower”. We had two bass players before we began working with Wanda, who played in another Bordeaux-based band called Colision.
The name of the band is inspired by imagery related to space and cosmonauts, which we associate with dreamy and atmospheric vibes. I think we liked the surreal idea of a cosmonaut sitting on a bench in the middle of a park. “Paark” also comes from the Gus Van Sant movie “Paranoid Park”, which is one of our favorites.
How old are each of you? What piqued your interest in playing music?
Clément: We’re between 27 and 30 years old, and I think playing music means a lot to us. It’s a powerful way to express ourselves, and it can be really cathartic. It’s not only a personal purpose but also a way to share intimate emotions that don’t have a place to exist collectively in society, except through art. When it comes to expressing deep feelings and ideas, I can’t think of any other form that allows us to share them collectively the way art does.
Wanda: I’ve been playing music since I was a teenager, but I really feel like we all got the same feeling about playing together and trying to create a cathartic space for all of us.
Which bands are your biggest influences? Who would be your dream headliner?
Clément: There are so many bands that inspire us! These days, we’re really into bands that try to create something different and unique. We think of julie, Wednesday, Sword II, or DIIV because they represent “crossovers” in the Shoegaze scene. We also listen to a lot of Folk, IDM, and Pop, as well as indie pop bands like Slow Pulp, Soccer Mommy, and Ulrika Spacek.
Wanda: Actually, I think we really connect when it comes to pop-structured tracks. We share the same taste for it, and it really defines how we want to write Cosmopaark’s songs.
Clément: We don’t have a dream headliner, but we opened for Ride in 2020, so maybe My Bloody Valentine next time!
Wanda: I agree with Clément, but I’m very hyped about Drop Nineteens‘ reunion shows, so my heart is kind of torn between those two.
How would you describe your sound?
Clément: I would describe our sound as dreamy and sweet, but also sonic and abrasive, which draws you into introspection.
Walk us through the creation process of an album. Who does what and in which order? Any important changes on the new EP “Backyard.”
Clément: Usually, I produce drafts and show them to the band. After that, we play them a lot in rehearsals and live to improve them and add everyone’s soul. Something changed with this EP; it is really “recording-oriented,” as we’ve never really tried these songs live. We kind of rushed into the pre-production and recording steps, which we really focused on. We also worked with two amazing people: Pierre Loustaunau (Petit Fantôme – artistic director) and Johannes Buff (recording engineer), who has worked with Sonic Youth. Their work really enhanced the sound quality of the tracks.
Wanda: Pierre and Johannes were really important in the making of this EP. You can hear their touch here and there. If you listen to the last part of “Pure Intention” you can hear a robotic “beep beep” sound, which was Pierre’s idea. They really gave us some tools to make this EP special for us.
The lyrics on ‘Backyard are very relatable and soul-stirring. Is there a personal story behind them? Perhaps a string that ties them all together?
Clément: I think the key word for Backyard is “resilience”; it’s about the idea of moving forward despite everything. To be honest, when I stepped back to check my writing, I felt that it was too fatalistic and I wanted to present another side of my stories.
Tell us about the music scene in Bordeaux and in France in general. What bands do you recommend?
Clément: There really is a cool indie scene in Bordeaux. I’m thinking of bands like Opinion, yyellow, Th Da Freak, and SIZ. More generally, Trainfantome released a great album this year. Healees from Paris is also a very cool shoegaze band. There are so many great bands; you should check out the releases from Howlin’ Banana Records, Stellar Frequencies, and Flippin Freaks.
Do you enjoy playing live and touring? What is your most memorable live show moment so far?
Clément: We love to play live; it really is a way for us to connect with people and celebrate together. We have so many great memories, but our last show in Vienna for the Waves Festival was really special. I mean, there weren’t any familiar faces in front of us, but the audience was really into it. That was a great show!
Wanda: Our two release parties for our first album were amazing as well. The connection with the audience was so intense; I’ve never felt anything like that before.
“Mr.BigYellowSun” from your first EP “Sunflower” brought you into the spotlight with over one million streams on Spotify. How did this make each of you feel? Did it change anything or influence your live shows?
Clément: It was definitely great to see that our music could have such a reach, especially since, at the time of this EP, we did everything DIY. This gave us so much energy for the next steps! But, it didn’t change anything about the way we played live or our artistic vision.
What are you listening to right now?
Clément: I’ve listened a lot to Porches’ latest album, Shirt. I discovered Cat Power, whom I had never heard of before, and it’s fantastic. I’m also starting to listen to Oneohtrix Point Never; super-wide creations and unbelievable sound production.
Wanda: I’m really into Chat Pile these days and can’t wait for their upcoming album. julie’s latest album is a banger as well. Oh, and our friends from Mondaze just dropped a new single, “Linger”. They’re so talented, and I’m really hyped about their upcoming album.
Are there any key records or live gigs that have indelibly changed your perception of music?
Clément: There are so many! I remember the first time I ever saw Mogwai live. They played “Rano Pano” and the superposition of layers of guitars and synths, along with the density of the sound and the emotion it conveyed, was a real turning point for how I wanted to make music. I also remember a Deerhunter show, where I found a perfect balance between the comfort and satisfaction of a good pop song and the experimentations that can be more uncomfortable but way more stimulating. I always thought this balance was important, and Deerhunter does it perfectly.
Wanda: For live shows, I’d say Solids at Chicho. It really gave me a vibe that was both melancholic and full of pure energy, convincing me that music was my way of living. Slowdive at La Cigale was unbelievable too; I even felt guilty for crying while listening to “Dagger”. Oh, and Outbreak Festival 2022 was like … one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Nothing, Superheaven, Vein.fm, Fiddlehead—there were so many great hardcore-adjacent bands that made me feel like I was part of something special. That’s a classic, but “Loveless” by My Bloody Valentine really changed my perception of music. I remember spending time with my brother, being high af while that record and Nico’s “Chelsea Girls” played all day. It really changed something in me, like an open door or a switch.
Baptiste: I saw The Cure in 2019 at Rock En Scène. It was the first time I saw them, and it was incredible.
Make a list of your all-time favorite five albums.
Clément: This is so hard; I’m not into making lists of my favorite albums, but here are five great albums that have stayed with me for a long time:
♦ Nothing – “Tired Of Tomorrow”
♦ Mogwai – “Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will”
♦ Speedy Ortiz – “Major Arcana”
♦ Daughter – “Not To Disappear” –
♦ Alvvays – “Alvvays”
Wanda: Ok, I’ll try something eclectic:
♦ Drop Nineteens – “Delaware”
♦ Nico – “Chelsea Girls”
♦ Eliott Smith – “Self-titled” –
♦ Vein.fm – “Errorzone”
♦ Dntel – “Life is Full of Possibilities”
Baptiste:
♦ DIIV – “Deceiver”
♦ The Cure – “Wish”
♦ Blink 182 – “Enema Of The State”
Are there any big plans in the foreseeable future?
Clément: I don’t know when this interview will air, but our new EP, “Backyard“, will be released on October 18th!
Any parting words?
Thank you so much for the talk and thank you for shining a spotlight on bands like ours. It’s really important, and it means a lot to us.
Cosmopaark‘s EP “Backyard”, will be available tomorrow October 18th, on a special deluxe limited edition Cassette in a screen-printed box & Digital, co-released by Howlin’ Banana Records & Stellar Frequencies.
Keep up with Cosmopaark: