The “Borders” tour in France has come to an end. But there is still a lot of touring to follow: starting from Thursday we’ll play 10 concerts during 8 days in Finland!
Our tour programme has been extended with a concert on 26 November in Outokumpu and two lunchtime school concerts on 21 and 22 November. Time to get my spirit ready for the concert marathon! In light of the busy schedule in the coming weeks, I’m glad that my last week in France was at a more leisurely pace and included, in addition to two performances, alarm clock-free mornings, long walks and museum visits in Nantes.
Last week’s concerts took us to the Landemont commune near Nantes and to the lavish capital of Luxembourg. Landemont hosted a small, cosy home concert for the local villagers. In Luxembourg, we gave a concert on Sunday morning at 11am in the magnificent Neumünster Abbey. There was also a small group of Estonians in the audience, which I was so pleased about – it’s a different kind of heartwarming feeling when someone understands the Estonian lyrics. 🙂
I can’t resist giving you a brief overview of my touristy activities in Nantes. After spending three weeks here, I am still of the unwavering opinion that it is a super nice city with plenty to do and see, and one that I would love to visit again in the future.
The must-see larger-than-life mechanical Nantes elephant that walks, blinks, moves its ears, splashes water from its trunk, makes noises… and triggers a total childlike fascination in everyone!
Le Jardin extraordinaire is a park with tropical plants and a 25-metre waterfall – a true jungle experience.
Le Château des Ducs de Bretagne, a magnificent castle and castle museum that not only tells the history of the castle but also gives an in-depth insight into Nantes as a slave-trading centre in the 18th century.
Le Jardin des Plantes, a botanical garden with a peaceful atmosphere and a variety of plants, including the chance to meet some cute chickens.
Le musée Dobrée, newly renovated and reopened, displays a rich collection of art and cultural heritage and reveals important artefacts from the history of mankind.
Le Musée d’arts de Nantes exhibits magnificent works from the Middle Ages to the present day.
Passage Pommeraye is a luxurious multi-storey shopping street, full of quirky boutiques and cafés.
La Cigale is an authentic Art Nouveau restaurant that opened in 1895 (!). It’s definitely one of the fanciest restaurants I’ve ever been to, despite the fact that I could only afford a cup of tea.
Moving onto my chosen art practices again: music and lyrics. Today, I’m dissecting the lyrics of three songs in English from the “Borders” repertoire.
I wrote the first verse of “Cage of My Mind” before the “Borders” project and collaboration with David, in 2019 as I recall. The lyrics remained unfinished and unused at the time, and came back to me when I started writing borders-themed lyrics for the new project. The lyrics are introspective and dramatic, reflecting on the internal prohibitions and commands that constrict the human mind.
I’m in the cage of my mind,
And the doors are open,
In the cage of my mind,
I keep lying to myself:
“I’m trapped like a bird,
And the burden on my shoulders,
Feels so heavy I can’t breathe,”
“Protecting the Borders” discusses neutrality. The song questions if and in what case non-intervention is better than intervention.
Why stand there in the doorway,
Not in nor out,
Not lost nor looking,
No predator nor prey?
“Sediment” is probably the darkest, but nevertheless my personal favourite of the “Borders” programme. The lyrics speak of defiance of the limitations of human abilities and the inevitability of decline, but also of the cyclical nature of existence.
Exceeding volume, form and time,
I force my arms to reach out wide,
And strive to stretch until divine punishment,
Before expiring inside out,
From deprivation, angst and drought,
I grind my teeth and curse the rain,
I'm transient.
As mentioned at the beginning of my post, our next adventures take us to Finland. Here’s the “Borders” tour schedule for Finland (public concerts only):
21.11/ Vuotalo, Helsinki
22.11/ Salon Lukio, Salo
23.11/ Kalevan Navetta Hugo-Sali, Seinäjoki
24.11/ Ö-Talo, Riihimäki
25.11/ East Coast Jazz Club, Kotka
26.11/ Karbidi, Outokumpu
27.11/ Jazzkerho 76, Joensuu
28.11/ Kulttuurikellari, Savonlinna
So, all Finnish friends are very welcome, looking forward! I’m waving goodbye to France with a new hat, some bread, butter, cheese and wine. 🙂
