MELODY Gardot’s lockdown single From Paris With Love est arrivé “after incredible efforts made by fans to help finish the track”.
Confined in the French capital, where she now lives, the American singer-songwriter made headlines last month when she launched a call-out on social networks for musicians to join her on her remote new project with a “global yet personal tone”.
After reviewing hundreds of the online submissions from the United States, Armenia, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Norway and beyond, the final piece is ready, completed in the first session at London’s Abbey Road studios after lockdown.
From Paris With Love combines the musicality and skills of orchestral musicians from all over the world who have never met, many of them out of work these past few months, unable to perform under COVID-19 strictures.
The hopelessness of this continuing situation for Gardot’s fellow musicians inspired the New Jersey-born singer to embark on her ambitious digital recording in isolation. All musicians chosen for the final project were paid a fee relative to the standard UK musicians’ studio wage.
“This project is a stunning example of how music is a universal language and how our global awareness is greater than ever” says Gardot, 35. “Seeing what’s happening around the world, we cannot ignore our need for love and connection during this time.
“I am so happy to see the generous response displayed in the vast array of characters, from all corners of the globe, coming together to create this unique piece of music. It is a symbolic gesture for the way we can offer hope as we look towards the idea of creation in the future.”
The global digital orchestra musicians were selected by producer Larry Klein, conductor, arranger and composer Vince Mendoza and veteran engineers Al Schmitt and Steve Genewick, who have worked in the past with Frank Sinatra, Joao Gilberto, Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney.
From Paris With Love’s accompanying video captures the selected musicians performing from their homes, complemented by a montage of people who sent video portraits of themselves with messages of love from all over the globe.
“This video is a kind of a digital postcard, made possible by the generous contributions of musicians and people currently confined,” says Gardot. “My hope is that this message will continue to find its way around the world and bring hope where hope is most needed to leave us all feeling more connected. My most heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in the making of this project.”
Earlier this month, Gardot had the honour of being the first artist through the doors when Abbey Road Studio re-opened for business after ten weeks for a socially distanced album recording session.
From Paris With Love is being released on the Decca Records label to benefit healthcare workers; both Decca and Gardot are waiving their profit, instead paying a minimum of 50p to the charity Protégé Ton Soignant for each permanent download sold in the UK and 20p for each permanent download sold outside Britain or for every 150 streams.