Writing the songs

Languages....

Soysoy writes in English, in French and in ... er… a rare language, 'Soylandish', which was actually invented and is purely aesthetic, without actual semantic meaning.

English was chosen not because of its status of 'official' language of pop, but because like no other language known to us, it allows, thanks to its numerous diphthongs and triphthongs, to couple vocal phrasing and melodies with great ease. This allows an agile singing that is difficult to reach in French, where diphthongs are not numerous and triphthongs almost non-existent.

We also like to sing in French because of its poetic strength and beauty of form. (these qualities are also to be found in other latin languages).

'Soylandish', which - we confess - was inspired by Lisa Gerrard, is a phonetic construction that aims to use vocals in the free-est way possible, like an instrument, without the restrictions imposed by language. Melody and interpretation define 'words' and 'phrases'. The idea is to faithfully render different states of mind and emotions which spontaneously emerge when composing. This way, they are spared from language's semantic contingencies. We borrow many phonemes from Eastern European languages (Czech, Rumanian, Polish...) and from the Balkans (Bulgarian). We find these languages particularly 'musical'.

Some excerpts...

We've been building such holy empires
And burnt all we love in so many fires
Modern idols are still quite the same
They're moulded with blood, they're moulded with shame

- Stars eat fire

Pale pink souls having pale and pinkish thoughts,
You may trust fashion to lead the easy way

- Pinchbeck Mind

They are writing on the walls sentences from an ancient tale
Until the last color drop falls and the memories grow pale

- Paradiso

Là tu m'enferres
Si fort enlacée
Que je n'ai guère
D'air à respirer

Toi mon mystère
Ombre de fée
Rends-moi mon rêve
Tu vas le briser

- Home

Sah liran di san
Imehdo saale nodo
Sah liran di sadio
Hillaradi nan anna

- Silla

Some full-lenght lyrics there

Introduction