Having accumulated an impressive discography spanning across 30 years, Jennifer Cardini is renowned for showcasing a wide range of musical genres. Her talent is highly regarded by both music enthusiasts and the fashion icons, such as Saint Laurent, who seeked her expertise to curate music for their recent campaigns.
In collaboration with renowned French visual artist and filmmaker Lou Fauroux, Jennifer Cardini established Færies Records, a dynamic platform that defies the conventions of the music scene. Embracing a multidisciplinary approach, Færies Records fearlessly transcends genre limitations, emphasising the values of artistic expression, experimentation, and fostering a vibrant community.
The label’s first release is an audio-visual single with music from Berlin-based Brit Angel Rider and a video created by Fauroux. Angel Rider’s “when ur gone” is a trippy, helium-voiced declaration to death and invisibility that’s both upbeat and theatrical, pulling inspiration from the likes of Charli XCX, 100 gecs and A.G. Cook. When it came to creating visuals, Fauroux drew inspiration from the early era of the internet, a time characterised by boundless freedom and creativity.
We sat down with the record label owners to talk about early beginnings in the music industry, creating a business and the process behind “When ur gone”…
Watch the visual art for “when ur gone” now…
How did you first find your way into the music industry?
Lou: I’m more of a visual artist; I’ve worked with music since the point pov of someone who makes images, moving images, integrating it into my works and films. I started thinking about Færies because I wanted to bring together installation sounds, film music and video game music, as well as pop, hardcore or ballads/experimental music, with the idea and desire to make these sounds cross universes, formats and listening spaces.
Personally, I’ve been listening to music obsessively digesting sound since I was a teenager on the radio, YouTube, myspace then SoundCloud, tumblr, etc now bandcamp / IG / TikTok too. It went from an idea to an actual project when meeting Jennifer.
How has the landscape of electronic music altered over the years?
Jennifer: I definitely think it’s the way in which it’s grown – going from a couple of underground club nights, warehouse raves or free parties into the industry we know today with its massive events and festivals gathering thousands of music lovers. It has also created many opportunities and jobs, a lot of us make a living out of our young raver days. I haven’t done anything else in life than working in electronic music which is really amazing.
In therms of aesthetic I’ve also seen new genres emerge and new generations redefine techno and house music. At the moment it’s all very exciting and I’m thrilled to see how Færies will develop taking me out of my comfort zone.
Talk us through the launching of your record company?
Jennifer: I have three record labels, CORRESPONDANT was launched 11 years ago and is more focused on house and indie dance. A few years later I started DISCHI, which is more influenced by my new wave, new beat, Ebm unconditional love and Færies Records. Færies was born from my encounter with my partner Lou, we were trying to find a way to combine our passion for music, her vision as a visual artist whose work is inspired by music, and the re-empowerment of queer sound, by queers.
Lou: From exchanging ideas and sounds with Jennifer, emerged the idea to create a record label, a platform, that would cross boundaries between electronic music (synthpop, avant-garde, dyke, queer, dreamy, club, idm, ambient, experimental, sad…) and crosscutting art practices; create a space for experimentation and hybrid processes that involves sound and music. I come from different forms of arts, went to les beaux-arts, and I’m willing to create a space that takes down barriers between the different industries.
What did you set out to make your new release “when ur gone”?
I wanted to create a happy, sad pop banger! It’s a criticism of romantic love but it’s also a cathartic moment for when u feel like a ghost of yourself. I also love Donatachi so much and had one night where I pressed replay 100 times on the song “On Ur Mind”- manually, for heightened self loathing- and just cried.”when ur gone” definitely inherited some of this vibe. A cute voice over a bouncy beat can be the perfect healer for me.
What do you want listeners to take away from the release?
I would love u to take away a lil piece of my heart, and a lil piece of Baby Rocket’s heart (who produced this track), a lil bottle of our tears that u can use instead of your own or mixed together with yours so you don’t feel alone when u cry, a party for your friends in ur first ever DJ set at a house party, and a lil glimpse into my world with a wide open invitation to come inside!!!
What’s next for you?
I have a release planned in July as part of the Faeries Records compilation, which features my wonderful internet friend Syyler (aka Lesterr). That song is lyrically a nice progression from ‘when ur gone’, exploring the myth of ‘the other half’. And Syyler’s voice sounds so tragically angelic on the track. It is a dream come true to make something together!