Emm
Emmanuelle embarked on her musical path at around the age of ten, learning to play guitar with her sister Elise, and she was very soon channelling her creativity into the plastic arts, writing and music. From the start, she was inspired by the Celtic music she listened to with Sarah: their parents had a number of traditional music albums and their maternal grandmother introduced them to the singing of Loreena McKennitt.
Armed with her enthusiasm and always eager to explore new fields, Emmanuelle learnt to play several instruments, mastering different techniques: tin and low whistles, violin, ’cello and piano. In parallel with her studies in History of Art and Musicology, she underwent classical training, at the same time playing and singing in various groups.
Emmanuelle began to take a keen interest in polyphony. So did Sarah and, with more and more in common musically, they attended the Conservatory of Pamiers together, taking lessons in vocal technique with Gisèle Lecorre and joining a women’s choir directed by Philippe Massimi. This proved a key milestone in their lives, as Philippe helped them get their musical project off the ground. Under his guidance, the two sisters created Araëlle, the name being the fusion of their two first names.
Sarah began composing her first tunes at a very early age, after being taught to play piano by a close friend. She cultivated her love for this instrument by playing with her sister Emmanuelle. Sensitive and something of a dreamer, Sarah drew inspiration from her contact with Nature. She adored the performing arts in all their forms, her activities including dance, music, theatre and musical comedy, alongside her studies in English Language and Civilization in Toulouse.
As soon as she began learning to play the Celtic harp with Sara Evans, she discovered a real passion for this instrument, throwing her heart and soul into it. A year later, she taught herself to play the bodhrán, as she broadened her experience playing with other musicians.
Both as a multi-instrumentalist and as a singer, Sarah can exploit her talents to the full in Araëlle, where she finds ample scope for her creation, accompaniment, harmonization and interpretation.
