RÊVERIE is Wilkins ’personal love letter to chanson. She strikes just the right tone and rhythm, bringing a fresh sense of life to these timeless songs.
Lamplight Social Records
Becca Wilkins – Vocals; Olly Chalk – Piano; Sam Ingvorsen – Bass; Billy Pod – Drums
London-based vocalist Becca Wilkins takes on French chanson with a fresh jazz perspective in RÊVERIE. Mixing well-known songs by Jacques Brel, Yves Montand, and Édith Piaf with a few deeper cuts, she brings a light touch and a modern sensibility to this classic material.
French chanson is all about storytelling—poetry set to music, where the lyrics come first. Think of it as France’s answer to the Great American Songbook, but with less swing and more drama. The old-school chanson singers were emotional powerhouses, with sparse arrangements that mostly stayed out of the way. But that’s exactly where RÊVERIE flips the script—Wilkins’s arrangements and her band don’t just accompany her, they reshape the emotional language of chanson itself.
Wilkins has been hooked on all things French since her teenage years, when she spent time living in Normandy. Later, she studied both French and music at university—so RÊVERIE feels like a natural next step for her. The songs are reworked into a fresh, modern setting without losing the poetry and romance that made them special in the first place.
“One night, while driving home from a gig, I was listening to a French music show on the radio and heard a track by Yves Montand, ‘Sa Jeunesse. ’I was instantly captivated and knew I had to perform it myself. That moment sparked the entire project.”
Recorded over two days at Porcupine Studios in South-East London, the album has the warmth of a live performance. Wilkins is joined by Olly Chalk (piano), Sam Ingvorsen (bass), and Billy Pod (drums), and the trio sounds totally in sync with her—sometimes locking in as a unit, sometimes backing off for a quieter vocal moment.
Across the album’s eleven tracks, Wilkins shows just how naturally she interprets a song. Her expressive vocals, paired with the trio’s great ear for space and detail, turn well-loved classics like Charles Trenet’s ‘La Mer’ into a refined, intimate quartet arrangement.
Edith Piaf belts out ‘Je Hais Les Dimanches’ with that signature intensity—full of drama, big vibrato, like she’s pouring her whole soul into every line. Wilkins takes a gentler approach, leaning into a cooler, more modern sound. The Rhodes piano adds a subtle, contemporary edge while keeping the chanson spirit intact.
Yves Montand’s ‘À Bicyclette’ has that classic chanson bounce—charming and slightly theatrical. Wilkins’ delivery is light and carefree, not far off from Montand’s version. But where his is backed by a full orchestra, hers shifts into jazz territory. The rhythm section opens things up with a melodic bass solo, the piano comps with ease, then steps in for a solo of its own. It’s still chanson, but it moves like a jazz tune—playful, intimate, and very much alive.
RÊVERIE is Wilkins ’personal love letter to chanson. She strikes just the right tone and rhythm, bringing a fresh sense of life to these timeless songs.
