Acclaimed Melbourne-based songwriters Paris Wells and Finley François are set to transform George Lane into a slice of Latin-inspired luxury next month, celebrating the launch of their collaborative album, 'Lounge Of The Flamingo'. Released in August, the project is the latest exquisite result of their two-decade-long musical partnership, showcasing a refined artistry that moves with a confident, unforced calmness.
The album is a lush, sophisticated listen that masterfully weaves together subtle influences from the likes of Nouvelle Vague, Astrud Gilberto, and Cesária Évora. This isn't the frantic, over-produced pop of today; instead, the record thrives on a "sexy-stillness and persistent groove" that gently reels the listener in with its attention to detail.
It's a project born from a deeply solid creative understanding. Wells explains, "The team in this project was so solid and the happy musical partnership with Finley really shines through, we are a the point of finishing each others sentences, that shit takes time, this is my/our best body of work yet." This ease shines through in the music, which feels less like a performance and more like an intimate invitation.
For Wells, whose career has seen her support massive acts like Rod Stewart and Justin Timberlake, and feature on hits like Bliss N’ Eso’s ARIA-winning ‘Field of Dreams,’ this album marks a thematic shift. Eschewing "sad vagina music," she was determined to capture "calm and passion and family." As she puts it, "I refuse to make any more ‘sad vagina’ music, I’m a happily married mum, shit can be hard but I want to give people the calm we all strive for." The central concept is one of peaceful rejection of the digital rat race: "The Lounge of the Flamingo cares not about your social pages, Kardashian cages and your friends with strangers. It cares not about keeping up with the Joneses, or running away with the crowd. The Lounge only asks for your calm, so sit back, relax and enjoy the journey."
Multi-faceted artist and Mauritius native François, known for his work with Australia’s pioneering live hip hop group Fizard and collaborations with artists from GrandMaster Flash to Snoop Dogg, took the reins on the sound. He reveals the genesis of the album's distinct flavour: “Paris and I spent many years backstage & on the road speaking about a jazz base album as a side project, but that didn’t stick for me. When the opportunity to record at the newly built Frying Pan Studio, Paris mentioned she’d been diggin’ some lounge vibe tunes. I said “yes” let’s do that! Flamingo was born! My journey on piano started with Afro Latin jazz music so it was a beautiful place to return too, our reinterpretations of the covers was a dope process- rock to lounge! There’s always a positive energy in this genre, a celebration of all that is life!"
Recorded live at the Frying Pan Studios within Tasmania’s iconic MONA gallery—with Wells famously "sitting down like a ripe queen" while pregnant—the record also features guest spots from Kylie Audist of The Bamboos and a string composition from Tasmanian composer Dean Stevenson.
Fans heading to the George Lane show on the 27th of November can expect a show that’s nothing short of delightful, with the duo promising: “Think Peggy Lee meets Karen Meets Astrid Gilburto. Lounge of the flamingo could easily be Bad Bunnies Aussie warm up band without wanting to speak to the manager after." Tickets are available now.
