1/7/2005

MP3 Download: So Sweetly by Fall Records artist, Page France

There is something about singer/songwriters that draws the listener in, something that welcomes and tells a story, a good singer will instantly connect with his audience. Page France (a.k.a. Michael Nau) is such an artist. A unique blend of the past and present, he paints his stories out and allows them to flow into your heart. After reviewing his near perfect album I had the chance to talk to him about where he came from, how it started and the future.

Allalom Productions: Thanks for taking the time to talk with me.

Page France: Thank you for taking the time to talk with me!

AP: Lets start with the basics, who are you and where did you come from?

PF: My name is Michael Nau, and I presently live in Cumberland, MD.

AP: How did you get started in music?

PF: I grew up in the midst of a rather musically versed family, so to be honest, I cannot recall a time when music was not a vital part of my life. At the same time, there is no vivid starting point- I suppose that we could say that the present days are serving as such.

AP: Page France is an unusual name that could be taken several different ways – how did you come up with it?

PF: The name "Page France" came from an old bedtime story called, “Tomorrow Will Soon Be Bright.” If anyone has a copy of this, or happens to stumble upon one, please contact me via the net and I will buy it - there should be a few copies floating around.

AP: Your debut album (Come, I’m A Lion!) was a breathtaking piece of pop, what was the inspiration behind it?

PF: It was certainly a seasonal inspiration- to me, the album feels much like a summer evening- we put it together very quickly. We basically locked ourselves in a small room until we felt that it was complete- and I believe that that particular unity makes itself evident throughout the record. I think that we all shared a strange mindset for those few days, so we tried our best to get it all down.

AP: How did your relationship with Fall Records come about?

PF: We sent Chris a copy of the album, and within a few weeks, we found ourselves working with them- it has been a fruitful and very enjoyable few months. They have been nothing shy of wonderful to us. We just believe in what they are doing, so it makes sense to release music together.

AP: Were there any musicians or bands that directly influenced the album?

PF: At the time, I was overwhelmed by the work of Daniel Smith- I think that the feel of the album was in some way overseen by my unbridled adoration for his work. Also, Margo Guryan’s album, “Take a Picture” has always influenced all of my work in some way or other. There are so so many others…

AP: Your website mentions that you have already started recording a follow-up?

PF: Quite true: we are quite possibly getting in a bit over our heads at the moment- we have been keeping very busy, to say the least. We are actually working on two albums at once… things just began to pile up, so we decided to take a few weeks and put everything down. We’re overtly enthused with the way that things are coming together. One of these has been completed. It will be called, “Love of a Barren Farmer, part one.” We are still in the middle of tracking for its brother/sister album. Both of these works differ greatly from each other, as well as Come, I’m a lion! so we are excited to have them heard.

AP: What is a normal day of recording for you?

PF: Wow… sometimes stressful, always long-winded, and occasionally interrupted by a recent obsession with Ms. Pac Man. I suppose that it depends what we are working on that particular day. This past week has been all about early mornings and late nights- it’s like an enjoyable ‘work day’, BUT with an end result.

AP: Do you have any plans to tour this upcoming year?

PF: Yes. We plan to tour the east coast in the springtime.

AP: If you could play with any musician in any decade who would it be?

PF: Harry Nilsson.

AP: What does the future hold for Page France?

PF: Hopefully, a lot of releases, reputable equipment, and all of our faces carved into some hillside, somewhere.

Visit Page France at www.pagefrance.net and be sure to check out his latest release “Come, I’m A Lion!” on Fall Records.