Bibi Membership on Avant-Pop Sound, Constructing Neighborhood, and Discovering Gentle in Chaos [Interview] – EARMILK

Pictured: Adèle Trottier-Rivard of Bibi Membership singing at Pageant de Musique Émergente (2025). Picture Credit score: DMC Photographe

For the previous few years, we’ve been looking and exploring, and all of it comes alive on stage throughout our stay performances. We actually dive into our sound and our music. It’s one of the simplest ways to find ourselves and study ourselves musically. 

Perhaps now there’s a bit extra stress in our sound than there was.

Nicolas: Yeah, I would say now we’re in an period the place our music sounds—or tastes—like grime or the Earth. 

It’s grounded, and I really feel that’s what we’re going after. There’s a sensibility you possibly can really feel in your physique. That’s what we’re after after we’re within the studio. 

We consider it as not essentially one thing soiled, however music that’s near the bottom, perhaps a bit heavier in a means.

What does your artistic course of seem like? Do you often begin with devices and a set construction, or is it extra free-flowing? Has your course of modified over time?

Nicolas: It is sort of usually the identical means we write down concepts. Like we mentioned, our home is a busy place, so if we’ve got one among our children within the tub and we’ve got a minute, we’re usually in a state of emergency—in a bizarre means, and in a relaxing means too.

It’s like, “Oh, we’ve got this concept, file it on guitar or vocal, no matter it’s, on a telephone, depart it there, after which we’ll go to the studio in some unspecified time in the future, e-book studio time, verify our concepts, and construct a track from there.” Once more, actually instinctively.

A bit like a puzzle, too. We transfer fast—simply the 2 of us—after we work, and after we write music, we’re simply the 2 of us. And we attempt to belief. And I will discuss myself: I belief Adèle’s intuition—the musical intuition I belief essentially the most. So if she says that’s the course, I am going—and I believe it really works the identical the opposite means round?

Adèle: Sure.

Nicolas: And it tends to begin with music. Adèle usually writes lyrics as a result of I are inclined to engineer the session whereas plugging cables, after which we rework the lyrics whereas recording.

Typically, as soon as we’ve got a track, it informs the opposite track, and so they sort of reply to one another.

Yeah, it is a bit like a puzzle. You already know whenever you make a puzzle? You have got the body, and then you definitely’re like, “Oh, now I see it,” after which all of it comes collectively?

Music comes first, extra usually, just like the melodies and perhaps the manufacturing, earlier than the lyrics. We file whereas we write. We attempt to not overthink or overwork something. If there is a mistake, we depart it. Perhaps it opens a door to one thing else, or like, “Oh, we didn’t see that we might go there.”

Yeah, that is the factor—we’re attempting to watch out to not overwork it. Once we work with collaborators, like a mixer or for paintings, we attempt to not let individuals overwork something—simply go, belief them, and assist them belief their intuition, bodily.

Are you able to discuss concerning the themes mentioned in your most up-to-date album and the inspiration behind the songs? 

Adèle: The title of the album is Feu de garde. The Google translation means ‘Watch Fireplace.’ 

So, watch fireplace was the primary inspiration, I might say—the primary phrase that basically impressed us.  It is a army phrase, so there is not any actual connection to our themes on the file. However the phrase itself actually spoke to us as a result of, in instances of warfare, it is the fireplace that’s maintained—preserving individuals heat and making them really feel protected and secure. We sort of translated that to our actuality.

There are a whole lot of themes on the file; we discuss concerning the people who find themselves near us, our little group, as we talked about.. 

Additionally, there’s a theme of contemplation, however I don’t need to sound too obscure as a result of contemplation can sound such as you’re simply there, in a peaceable mode, which isn’t actually what we had been on the lookout for. It’s extra about discovering some type of consolation within the chaos.

Yeah, we talked quite a bit about fatality—loss of life, but additionally the fatality of life. As a result of we’re mother and father, a lot of the file focuses on parenthood. However it additionally extends to {our relationships} with different individuals we love, concerning themes of group and the inevitability of life.

Nicolas: There’s additionally stuff about nervousness. Plenty of songs the place we simply title issues we see, or discuss one thing occurring round us. In a means, it comes from touring quite a bit and being anxious—like being in a park and naming stuff round you simply to calm your self. So there’s that side.

Adèle: I believe nature is at all times in there, as a result of it’s a spot the place we really feel snug, grounded—the place once more, there’s a whole lot of chaos, but it surely’s a comforting chaos. There aren’t any straight strains in nature. The whole lot’s curved and peculiar.

In a means, we associated that idea to our music, like Nico was saying. He talked about intuition and never overworking something. 

There’s this fascinating connection to nature the place it’s sort of chaotic, however not violent. There’s stress with out violence, and we like having this picture after we play LIVE—creating stress with our devices. 

It’s not violent in any respect, however nonetheless, you possibly can really feel the emotion. We really feel a whole lot of feelings after we play.

Nicolas: However I might say, total, our key theme is group. 

There are references to when Adèle was within the Lady Scouts, when she was younger—so there are references to studying to sing on that file particularly, being in a gaggle at evening, what you’d do to consolation your self, to have fun the achievement of the day, and to transcend what you thought you possibly can do. 

Simply all these themes put collectively.

What are your creative influences in your music? They will come from any type of artwork.

Nicolas: For me, I believe quite a bit about theatricality after we play music. We didn’t have our lighting individual with us at FME, and she or he’s often the one who thinks about these issues on a regular basis. 

Good theater or dance usually influences us, I discover, as a result of it lingers after it’s over. A music present is completely different—you possibly can hearken to the songs once more afterward and relive the expertise. However with theater, you go house and maintain fascinated about it, and that sticks with me.

Pictured: Nicolas Basque of Bibi Membership acting at Pageant de Musique Émergente (2025). Picture Credit score: DMC Photographe

Because it’s simply the 2 of us on stage, I believe quite a bit about motion—the way it could make you are feeling gigantic on stage. 

I need to create that sort of impression, like whenever you’re a youngster and also you see a play that makes you suppose, “That’s what I need to do with my life,” or “I need to be a part of that,” and even, “I simply realized one thing from this.” 

That’s the sort of feeling I’m chasing.

Adèle: It’s laborious—there are such a lot of issues that encourage me. Once we really began the venture, it felt like for just a few years, I didn’t actually perceive the place I wished to go together with my voice. I didn’t know if I wished to write down in French or in English, and it wasn’t actually clear. I didn’t know the place to go.

I actually performed with my voice, and I’d been listening quite a bit to Stereolab. They got here out after I was younger. It was the primary time I used to be listening to a girl who sang each in French and in English, you really cannot actually discover, it’s simply a part of the music, it’s like one other instrument within the track, and it actually spoke to me. 

As a result of the singer has this fashion of singing the place it turns into greater than a language—it’s a part of the music. It creates an emotion. 

She sings with honesty, and that basically spoke to me.

I bear in mind we began writing in French, attempting that, and it felt pure. I might actually really feel that I used to be being myself after I sang. 

That was an enormous inspiration for me—perhaps extra for the lyrics facet. And in addition, as a girl in music, to be happy with my voice and attempt to discover my very own language, in a means.

Do you’ve gotten any upcoming tasks that you just’re enthusiastic about releasing?

Nicolas: Sure, we completed a brand new album that will likely be launched in October 2026, so we’re excited.

We carried out two new songs at FME, and it was enjoyable to play them. I imply, we took dangers as a result of there was one we hadn’t actually rehearsed, however we simply jumped in, and it felt good. In order that was enjoyable, yeah.

Pictured: Adèle Trottier-Rivard and Nicolas Basque of Bibi Membership acting at Pageant de Musique Émergente (2025). Picture Credit score: DMC Photographe

What lyrical themes are you exploring in your upcoming album?

Adèle: Yeah, this file is principally impressed by loss of life. We had shut individuals die within the final 12 months, and it actually impressed us, in fact, to create—to attempt to discover a strategy to simply launch one thing out of it and create one thing. 

However it’s greater than that. It is loss of life, however there’s at all times a bit of sunshine in all of this, some hope.

Nicolas: It’s not totally darkish and miserable. It is extra about loss of life and life. 

Adèle described it whereas we had been working—she usually mentioned it ought to really feel such as you’re fencing in previous Greek rooms and dancing with a primal vitality. 

So there is a stress. I believe it’s impressed by issues that occurred, but it surely’s additionally about life, as a result of a recurring theme is the need to stay and to like.

That’s the stress—you possibly can’t have one with out the opposite. It’s additionally coloured by every thing occurring proper now, like in Palestine, and all of that.

Yeah, there’s one thing we’re attempting to embrace with feelings—pushing the emotion to the acute. That’s what we’re doing with this one.

I’m excited; it’s nearer to how we sound stay, too. There’s much less layering; it’s extra to the purpose, daring.

What do you hope listeners really feel or take away out of your music—previous or new? 

Adèle: Humanity, just a bit little bit of humanity after they depart. After they depart the venue and return house that they really feel one thing with different individuals within the room, that they weren’t essentially taking a look at their telephone, and so they return house, after which take a look at what’s occurring on the earth, and perhaps they’re increasingly open to being linked to different people. 

Nicolas: Yeah, I usually take into consideration that too. 

Adèle: So, I believe—yeah—a way of empathy, group, and humanity, in a means.

Any dream collaborations you hope to have sooner or later—and even previous ones that had been particularly significant?

Adèle: I imply, we had a extremely fascinating collaboration final 12 months. We launched a deluxe model of Feu de Garde, our final file. 

We collaborated with Calvin Johnson—we wrote to him, and he answered.

We’ve got this track, “Winery,” that we at all times thought could be some type of dialog between two individuals, and we lastly simply recorded it, with me singing all of the elements myself.

We had the choice to rearrange the track and take a look at one thing completely different. We reached out to Calvin Johnson, and he was actually open to collaborating. From a distance, we exchanged just a few emails, and he recorded on his facet. It created this actually unusual and distinctive model of one among our songs, which was actually particular.

He’s fairly a personality—in a great way. You may inform this individual has a whole lot of character.

Nicolas: It could be good as a result of, as we talked about, Stereolab has an incredible voice and a robust stage presence. I really like her presence on the file, and I like how she performs guitar along with her thumb.

So perhaps a guitar and vocal collaboration—that will be enjoyable. It could be a pleasant duo

In case your music had been a spot, what would it not be?

Nicolas: I might say proper now, all can consider iis Greek ruins. The place they’re falling aside. Perhaps it is at evening. That is how I see it.

Adèle: Yeah,  it is fascinating as a result of I noticed concrete. However it’s as a result of, quick story, we stay good subsequent to an enormous overpass, it is like a freeway. It’s like this large, big piece of concrete, and it’s extremely loud, and tons of automobiles move there on a regular basis. 

Since we have been residing right here. We sort of began to love this large, dusty place. I at all times have this place in thoughts associated to our music, I at all times consider this large freeway

Nicolas: In Montréal, it is referred to as 40. That is the variety of the freeway.

Relating Québécois tradition, are you able to discuss a bit concerning the Quebec music scene and the way it has impressed your music?

Nicolas: It is fairly a singular scene as a result of it is actually various and wholesome in a great way. There are a whole lot of artists who by no means depart Québec, and there are a whole lot of artists who tour as properly.

There’s nonetheless a division between what we would name the Francophone and Anglophone music scenes—some artists transfer between the 2, and there is at all times been some crossover. There’s additionally an enormous digital music scene and an enormous Francophone hip-hop scene.

For us, I believe we’ve got associates, and Adèle has a bit of choir with 5 different associates who’re all singers with their very own tasks. To me, that is inspiring—to see individuals who every have their very own venture, making music that is fairly completely different.

Plenty of them lean extra towards people experimental or jazz avant-garde, and that scene continues to be actually current in Montréal. It is a actually fascinating strategy to craft songs—there are nonetheless vocals and lyrics, but it surely’s laborious to explain.

There’s one thing avant-garde about it, but it surely’s nonetheless very easy to hearken to. That scene has been inspiring to me. I have been listening to it quite a bit, and that music scene is inspiring. It is all project-led by people who find themselves not dudes, which I believe is vital.

I really feel the range in music is extra current right here. After all, there are nonetheless a whole lot of dudes in music, but it surely’s altering, and there is an effort to enhance stability. You see that at festivals like FME, for instance.

Yeah, it’s a various scene with so many issues occurring, and a few of these tasks play in entrance of 1000’s of individuals, even when they’ve by no means been heard of outdoor the world. It is fascinating.

Adèle: I used to be attempting to determine the way it influences us in our personal music, and… I do not actually know precisely. I believe it’s within the singing reveals, within the associates who affect us. 

If we go see Hall or another band and their associates, or see them crossing borders and touring exterior Canada, that is inspiring. To me, the affect comes from seeing what different associates are doing

Has a fan ever informed you one thing about your music that fully shocked you?

Nicolas: I used to be shocked the primary time somebody cried after a present. That also will get me each time as a result of it’s not one thing that occurs usually in life—to maneuver somebody to tears in a optimistic means.

Once we toured a bit within the States and performed in Baltimore, in fact, all of the venues we carry out at are thought of secure areas for individuals who might not really feel secure of their every day lives. 

Usually, we meet individuals who simply join with the music, even when they don’t communicate the language, however one thing about seeing Adèle sing makes them really feel secure and cozy to speak to us, to share their lives. Yeah, that’s at all times shocking

Adèle: Yeah, we met, so many stunning individuals. However I might perhaps say, like Nico mentioned, it is at all times shocking to fulfill somebody who was crying. It is at all times a extremely uncooked connection you make. 

It’s extremely intense and so pure, and at all times so optimistic to really feel that the individual simply felt actually secure and free for a second. It’s extremely treasured, yeah.

If Bibi Membership had been a film soundtrack, what style would it not be—horror, motion, documentary, or one thing else?

Adèle Wow, that is an fascinating query. Apocalyptic, however nonetheless with a little bit of hope on the finish or one thing.

Yeah, like a dystopian world the place they’re looking for a strategy to survive—and it really works out ultimately. We survive.

Nicolas: One track we labored on, we used it because the background for the teaser of the film Amadeus, a movie about Mozart. It’s ridiculous—however a extremely good film. Individuals are dancing, sporting wigs, and it’s extravagant. It was a joke amongst our associates.

Adèle: It was working.

Nicolas: So perhaps it’s like a Renaissance film, I don’t know—individuals in wigs, appearing festive.

What’s on the horizon for Bibi Membership?

Adèle: One large factor developing—and I really feel a bit burdened about it—is that we’re nominated for the Polaris shortlist. It’s sort of just like the Canadian Mercury Prize for data, so our album is among the ten data on the listing. It’s a bit nerve-racking, sure, but it surely’s additionally an enormous recognition amongst different Canadian artists.

We discover out in two weeks. However relating to our excursions, our excursions are extra in all probability this winter. We’ll have touring developing. 

Yeah, we’re just about getting ready the discharge of our subsequent file, it’s a whole lot of work. 

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