Inspired by the passage from dawn to dusk, Désert is a musical journey born out of a chance encounter between award-winning pianist/composer Jean-Michel Blais and experimental electronic harpist Lara Somogyi that led to an invitation to her remote studio amidst the iconic landscape of Joshua Tree, California. Known for her highly improvisational approach to the harp and her enthusiastic embrace of effects pedals, Somogyi had apparently stumbled on an ideal collaborative partner in Jean-Michel as the beautiful interplay of their respective instruments we eventually come to hear on Désert amply demonstrates.
Our brief yet profound collaboration unfolded spontaneously — echoing the enigmatic spirit of the desert. Each piece is entirely improvised, capturing the natural, organic interaction between us, and reflecting both our intuitive musical connection and the true essence of the moment.
Lara Somogyi & Jean-Michel Blais
Interestingly, it is in an interview the two artists had with The Line of Best Fit (a great read, btw) that we learn that it was actually Lara’s husband producer & composer Cyrus Reynolds who first saw the potential for the result of those early improv sessions to become a full-fledged album and what a beautiful one it turned out to be. It is a polished production, but the joyful spirit of improvisation shines through in the lightness of the music. While one instrument is able to carry the melody line, the other is free to explore a variety of textures and colors and there is a fluid and seamless exchange between them in playing these roles as the songs unfold. Enhancing the experience is a series of atmospheric on-location videos created for each song on the record.
This record holds a truly special place in our hearts. It was born from spontaneity, from trust, and from a profound sense of place. To finally release it into the world feels like setting it free—allowing others to step into the world we found in the desert…
Désert was released February 25, 2025, on CD, vinyl LP, and digital & streaming by Mercury KX. If you enjoyed learning about the album, you may also enjoy going back to read an interview we held here with Lara in November of 2022 coinciding with the release of her debut solo album “! “(pronounced “Exclamation”).
Links: Listen/Buy | Mercury KX (CD/LP) | Lara Somogyi | Jean-Michel Blais
