Take a Breath with Les Imprimés’ Sounds of Peace
2023 is shaping up to be a thrilling year for modern soul and experimental music. Les Imprimés is an exciting new name and is already one of few artists comparable to the iconic Yellow Days. Morten Martens, a multi-instrumentalist now releasing music as a solo artist, has an ear for the ethereal and international and is sharing his passion for life through impressive musical expression. Growing up in Kristiansand, Norway, Martens speaks Norwegian in his day-to-day life but has developed a sweet spot for the English language through music.
“My relationship with English is kind of a love-hate relationship. Hard to speak but nice to sing,” Martens acknowledged. “I prefer to sing in English since I mostly listen to English-language music.”
Martens, photo by Tor Stensola
Martens continues to show his appreciation for languages in his stage name, Les Imprimés, meaning “the prints” in French. “It just came to me,” reminisced Martens. “In hindsight, I understand that it is hard to pronounce. Lots of different versions. But I love them all.”
This relaxed and humble energy that Martens carries himself with is noticeable in his music. Martens seems to observe life with a calm acceptance that listeners will surely find soothing and grounding.
Though Martens has been working in music for some time, Rêverie stands as his first solo record ever released. With further emphasis on the international, the album’s title is a noun form of the French verb rever, whose definition holds some complexity. Usage ranges from wild speech, delirium, or roaming, to the more English context of a state of pleasant dream-like thoughts.
These definitions align with the album’s cover art, in which a portrait without a face is motionless among passing clouds. The pleasant blue sky steers the title towards the lighter context of daydreaming, though with much of the discussion of the album surrounding love, perhaps delirium is present. “I am probably most inspired when there is peace around me and my mind wanders,” said Martens. This aligns perfectly with the visual representation of a mind wandering, as one cloud is floating breezily out of the figure’s facial cavity. Martens’ honesty in his discussion of love brings weight to the airy soundscapes. This combination creates a cinematic sound, with both a setting and narrative to pull the listener into Martens’ story.
Rêverie oozes feeling and encases the listener in a deep nature. Each cinematic soundscape encourages listeners to look off to the looming Rockies or maybe inspires the most vibey ski playlist. The album begins with a ballad that will draw any hopeless romantic with even just the title: “I’ll Never Leave You.” Martens’ life in the stunning landscapes of Norway surely has also nurtured the grandeur that Martens records.
“Where you come from has an influence on most people,” said Martens. His environment impacts his music where he finds inspiration from “perhaps long bright summer nights and cold dark winter nights.”
Listeners will find themselves daydreaming of laying in the grass and watching the clouds move, feeling the current of a clear stream or watching the color of the sky dip behind a mountain skyline. Martens’ attention to detail grounds his portrayal of deep abstract feelings. Complicated lovers, the ebb and flow of desire, how the mind wanders when in love – Martens puts sound to it all. Crooning with a poetic serenity that holds layers of emotion, modern soul graces all ears willing to listen.
One highlight of the project, “Still Here” showcases Martens’ soothing production skills and sample-worthy instrumentals that any hip-hop artist would be thrilled to remix. Martens’ love for drums and the organ are clear through the project, as well as his excitement for all types of sound. The album moves with flexibility and gentleness that only a practiced producer could procure. Unique sound and attentive percussion capture the listeners’ attention in each song.
“I like so many different types of music, and I think the music I make is a blend of it,” explained Martens. This appreciation for many genres contributes to the uniqueness of Martens’ sound and creates a wider base of thrilled listeners.
Photo by Tor Stensola
On par with instrumentalists like El Micheals Affaire or BADBADNOTGOOD and shaping modern-day soul music with as much passion as Thee Sacred Souls, Les Imprimés is sure to be an underground sensation. His partnership with Big Crown Records is an exciting step in Martens’ solo career and an exciting tie for listeners in the United States.
“I’m very happy to be at Big Crown Records, I think they push things forward, and we share the same passion for music,” Martens remarked.
Exciting opportunities are on the horizon for Martens and rightly so. Be sure to look for Rêverie when perusing vinyl at Wax Trax Records or for your next Sunday morning soundtrack. Follow Les Imprimés on Spotify or Instagram to stay updated on all the things to come!