N.P: You started playing the piano at 5 years old, but it was only when you entered the Lille conservatory that you began to enjoy playing this instrument, thanks to one of your teachers. How did he manage to make you like the piano?
Pauline: My parents put me in piano classes at 5 because they never had the chance to explore music themselves, and they really felt that lack in their lives. However, I attended without much conviction. Obviously, at 5 years old, it’s not always what you want to do. And at 12, it was thanks to my brother that I entered the conservatory since he wanted to join. I followed because my parents encouraged me to do the same. But for me, it was all completely abstract. I still took the entrance exam and passed unanimously without much effort. At the conservatory, I met this teacher who immediately sensed that I could achieve things without too much effort. He had complete trust in me, and I’m someone who needs that. I don’t need someone yelling at me or undermining me to work hard or to start enjoying and wanting to do things. He completely succeeded, and I don’t know how. I think he loved the piano as much as I did. He trusted me; I played what I wanted to play. So, I enjoyed it, and I didn’t drag my feet.
N.P: At 15, you wrote your song “Vie de Songes” which is featured on your album. What inspired you to write your own lyrics and especially what sparked that song?
Pauline: I started writing when I was in school. I had a challenging time during my high school years. I was out of place because I was attending the conservatory at the same time, and I was really just waiting for Wednesdays and Saturdays to play the piano. During classes, I would write sentences, quotations on my notebooks; I liked and still like beautiful sentences, words that sound good. And I was feeling so bad that at some point, as both a musician and a pianist, I needed to create. I missed it because I was always performing works by classical artists. So, I thought: “Why not create my own music and use it to accompany the words I was writing?” That’s how this song came about. I think music really is a remedy when you’re feeling bad.
N.P: Wasn’t it too difficult attending the conservatory and high school at the same time?
Pauline: It’s always very difficult to do both at the same time. But I really wanted to get my baccalaureate because you can never be sure with music. I never thought I would end up doing what I do today: being a singer, selling albums, and becoming a gold record artist. I saw myself as a piano teacher, and I knew it was extremely challenging, especially in classical.
N.P: Where does your inspiration for your lyrics generally come from?
Pauline: It comes from my own life in the first place, but also from observing people. If I’m going to put songs on an album, I really look if they can resonate with people, if they can make the songs their own, otherwise, it’s not interesting for me. They’re general life experiences, either beautiful or less so, and I think they are experiences a lot of people undergo. For my part, when I listen to music and realize I’m not the only one living these experiences, it reassures me. I like the fact of reassuring people. It’s almost a bit like being a psychologist, and it also feels good for me to sing. We manage to share a lot through songs.
N.P: You are categorized as playing mainly pop and French variety music. Do you agree with that?
Pauline: Absolutely. I like pop music. The real Anglo-Saxon pop is what touches me the most. But I perform songs like everyone else. We get classified as rock, pop… But pop is so broad. Actually, I don’t really care about the label people give me. I just make songs, music, and everyone can label it however they want.
N.P: Your success was complete thanks to your song “Allô le Monde”. How did you experience this sudden fame?
Pauline: I haven’t really changed my life; I still live in Lille. I received a gold record thanks to the public, and I won’t start acting like I am super famous. It reassures me because I stay grounded. I’d rather have my music recognized. In fact, I’m sure more people know the song “Allô le Monde” than the person who sings it. I prefer that people hear my music that’s why I understand artists like Gorillaz who you don’t see. I’m not at all interested in being recognized and I’d rather have a quiet life. In the street, I’m always very approachable, and people in Lille see me very often.
