Billet Doux are a duo from France who have a distinctly Californian sound.
By Graeme Smith
Listening to their debut album, Superbloom Is Here Again, I was surprised to learn some of their influences are rock bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blink-182, and Kings of Leon. They weren’t the first bands to come to mind.
Billet Doux are principally a cosmic pop-rock act who build a sound with electronic textures and vocal harmonies. Where the overlap lies is an ability to combine softness and hardness, emotion with edge.
Kaycie and Pierre – the pair who make up the act – compose like a rock band too, building on bass or guitar riffs and a drum pattern to launch into a melody. Billet Doux make that indie pop rock sound their own in their impressive new eleven-track record.
Ghost Collector introduces us to their penchant for smooth and sultry dual vocals. They are full of romance and yearning in the opening verse and delivered against a gentle yet deep indie pop backdrop. It all feels well-composed, well-crafted, and an intensely pleasant listen.
Two Scorpios follows, giving us some early contrast thanks to a bright pop arrangement and a cockle-warming message.
Throughout, the lyrics are introspective. Billet Doux chose Superbloom as a metaphor for rebirth after fire, naming it for the explosion of flowers that appears after heavy rain in the deserts of Southern California. The theme appears strongly, giving us a rich sense of duality.
Title track Superbloom Is Here Again crystallises it, acting as a vibrant and uplifting late album highlight. Other stand out moments include Cautious with its catchiness and delightful Francophone verse, the mythical Seahorse, and the funky Mermaid Hands. The latter is perhaps where that laidback yet punchy Southern California sound comes through the strongest. So much so, it’s easy to forget the band are really based on this side of the world.
Billet Doux’s debut comes with a tight, 32-minute structure and some strong production from The Dø’s Olivia Merilahti. It sounds beautifully polished while giving us plenty of raw emotion. What really makes it stand out, though, is the chemistry between Kaycie and Pierre. Their twin vocals work perfectly, and their attention to detail when it comes to structure and songwriting should be celebrated.
If you want to keep up to date with all they’re doing, you can by following them on Instagram and YouTube.
Superbloom Is Here Again is out now, and you can listen to it below.
