KHOBAR: When Quebec-based Margaux Sauve and Louis-Etienne Santais of Ghostly Kisses finished their latest track, they knew that Saudi Arabia would be the first to hear them play it live. This month, the artistic duo traveled across the world to the Eastern Province to release their dream-pop album, “Across the Pond.”
They deliberately chose to do it at Bohemia Records & Cafe in Alkhobar, a venue they have performed in previously.
Arab News spoke to Sauve and Santais ahead of the Saudi leg of their ongoing tour in the region. “We are releasing our new album called ‘Across the Pond’ in Saudi Arabia. It was important for us to be present with the fans while we released this album and this new body of work,” said Sauve. “Every time we come (to Saudi Arabia), fans are so happy. And we were like, well, when we release the album, it would be a nice gesture to be here and to be present and to share that with them.”
Santais said: “Our connection with Saudi fans is like a love story — there’s absolutely nothing hidden about that.
“The only place possible for us to album launch was Saudi and Khobar specifically in Bohemia. It has to do with people. Fawaz Alsulaim, the owner of Bohemia, people like him, they’re like such supporters of the music scene in Saudi,” he added.
Their shows at Bohemia were sold out in two minutes flat.
For the occasion, Bohemia hosted intimate ticketed listening parties, with select songs performed live.
Fans across the Kingdom have been familiar with the French-Canadian band for years now. The band’s name “Ghostly Kisses” was famously inspired by William Faulkner’s poem “Une ballade des dames perdues,” which includes the verse: “And brush my lips with little ghostly kisses.”
Now the Saudi fans can sing along to Ghostly Kisses’ new ethereal melodies and simmer in the cinematic soundscapes designed to be listened to slowly.
This time around, the indie-infused tracks are drenched in even more emotion, further developing their signature sound.
The album contains 10 tracks with a total runtime of 32 minutes and 36 seconds.
“Today, my favorite song is “White Doves,” said Santais.
Sauve selected “Fade from Me,” saying: “I chose ‘Fade from Me’ just because the writing of it is one of my favorites that we’ve done together. As a musician, I’m proud of this one. I think it’s always hard to write a song, even though you have an idea of how to do it, every time it’s different.”
She continued: “One thing that was a bit different on this one is that we really collaborated on every part of the music. We used to write each on our own and then send each other. But this one, I feel like it was really a collaborative work. And we were both quite open to the process of creating the best song we can do together.”\
It also was more “organic,” the duo said.
“We live together, we live in a house, we do dishes, and you just come up with an idea and just say like, let’s do it right now,” Sauve says. “We joke a lot.”
Santais adds: “There’s a choir of Margaux singing in the background. And while we were in the studio, I think she was reluctant to try those (vocal arrangements), because it kind of seemed like we were spinning around and having nothing productive. But I pushed a bit and I think it is among our favorite parts on the album.”
Although musically talented, it took gentle pushes like that for Sauve to find her voice.
“It’s weird, I don’t really sing to myself. I’ve always been a bit shy about singing. Like you say, if there’s an open mic right now, I’m not going. No way I’m going — I’m too shy. When I’m prepared and I know what I have to sing, I will do it,” said Sauve.
Her start in music was playing the violin. “When it’s behind the instrument, I was prepared and I knew what to do. But speaking in front of people or singing in front of people, it came really late,” she confessed
Her journey is relatable. “I was dreaming of it but never thought that it was possible (to find success) — and not as a singer. I would say to myself, ‘just keep going and stay true to yourself, to what you're dreaming,’ I think that’s what I would say to the younger version of me.”
Is her dream coming true? “It already did. I’m living it. I mean, it’s the best thing possible. We are together, we are good together, we play music. I don’t know what could bring me more happiness.”
The duo has played in large and small venues in Saudi Arabia, so far in AlUla, Jeddah, Riyadh and Alkhobar.
“We really like to do these small acoustic shows,” she said. “There’s something very intimate about these performances where it’s casual and it’s like we are in the living room together.”
They created their deeply intimate record at their home among the trees in Canada and Saudi Arabia was always on their list for the first listen.
“I wish people after listening to feel at peace, and feel just in the moment,” she said.
While they carefully curated the song list, they are not precious about how it is consumed.
“I mean, once it’s out, it’s yours. Like, it’s still ours, but it’s also for everyone. So if they like one song in the album, it’s nice. It’s not for me to choose after that,” said Sauve.
They knew they had fans in the Kingdom, as the data showed it — from the large number of streamers to the social media interactions — but numbers alone did not prepare them for the Saudi fans.
“It is different when you see the faces; the data means nothing without people behind it. Meeting the fans face-to-face and playing in concerts, the energy is tremendous,” said Santais.
“And Saudi specifically, people are very enthusiastic, so we have the best time. And, I can say that the audiences are very vocal and we love it.”
They sold-out two upcoming September shows in Riyadh almost instantly. Jeddah, too.
“We are trying to keep up with the demand. I would say for Saudi fans to not think that we don’t care. There’s a delay, like, a big delay between what we intended and what we could do,” Santais says.
“And now it’s kind of finally, slowly happening. We can expect more shows in Saudi, for sure — it’s our main territory in terms of where we aim to come back. So we will.”
Sauve added: “It’s funny, today I read comments (from Saudi fans) how long it was, the wait. And I was like, ‘oh my god, it’s been like two years-ish that we released’ (their previous album). But for me, we did our best to be really efficient in the recordings once we had the songs.”
That special bond is what makes it all worth it. “What I think is really special about Saudi is that I know that a lot of young women listen to our music. For me, it’s like having many sisters,” Sauve said.
“I feel a certain connection that if they relate to what we are trying to say or what we are trying to express — there’s a link, a visible link, between us. And I think it’s just really special.”
