How was “Radio Léo”, your 25th anniversary album, born?
Laurent Kebous (vocals and guitar): “ Leo’s Screams were born in 1995 and released their first album in 1998. Today, the group totals some 3,000 concerts given in 38 countries with always the music as a background to encourage meetings. Then, two years ago, there was the start of the pandemic. However, on February 14, 2020, “Mondial Stereo” was released, a concept album on migrants and exile on which we had worked for two years. A month later, we were announced the first confinement. It was a small industrial shipwreck. We had invested time and money in this record. It is thus two years of work that have been thrown in the trash with a completely sabotaged tour of only twenty dates. »
Hence the idea of ”Radio Leo”…
“During these two complicated years, we wanted to redo things, wanted to unite around music. We went back to the studio to re-record iconic pieces from our repertoire. We completely re-orchestrated them. We just forbade ourselves to touch the melody of the song and the texts. We also listened to our old concerts and selected some passages. It is all this that makes up “Radio Léo”, our 25th anniversary album released last May”.
In what state does the group feel following this troubled period?
” We are in shape. We took it upon ourselves. We have set up beaches to see each other. Anyway, as soon as the floodgates reopened and we were able to do it, we resumed the concerts and the meeting with the public. That’s our engine. We are a live band. We haven’t taken many breaks in our career. So, these two years have perhaps allowed us to find a new freshness. Thus, as soon as we play, we are hyperenthusiastic. And then, there are always people who come to see us to tell us that our music reminds them of important moments in their lives. We have been supporting people for 25 years.”
When is the next album?
“During this tour, we meet once a month to work on a new repertoire. The next album, of new compositions this one, should be recorded in 2023 for a release in September of the same year.
Practice
Concert evening of the Kann al Loar festival, this Sunday, July 10 from 7:30 p.m. at the Espace Saint-Ernel (outside) with Les Hurlements d’Léo, Arzan and Jahiner. Prices: €25 on site, €20 by reservation, free for children under 12.
