Cover Sarah Lancman will bring the power of jazz to Hong Kong in June (Photo: courtesy of French May)
Sarah Lancman will bring the power of jazz to Hong Kong in June (Photo: courtesy of French May)
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Ahead of her anticipated return to Hong Kong, French pianist and jazz singer Sarah Lancman talks about how music is an act of love in a negative world
As a child, Sarah Lancman had nodules at her vocal cords that caused difficulty in speaking, let alone singing. She underwent years of voice therapy. When she could finally speak, the abnormal friction of her vocal cords caused by the nodules “gave me a little sound as if [I was projecting] with a scar”.
But Lancman, now a celebrated pianist and jazz singer in Paris, never saw it as an obstacle. “It gives character and uniqueness to my voice and identity,” she says. Her warm and sensual tone, paired with the soft and sentimental songs she writes, makes her a memorable singer both in France and beyond. As well as her frequent tours in Europe and Asia—she was last in Hong Kong in 2017—she has also won prestigious awards, including the International Competition of the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in 2012.
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Above Sarah Lancman (Photo: courtesy of French May)
Above Sarah Lancman (Photo: courtesy of French May)
Sarah Lancman (Photo: courtesy of French May)
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She will return to Hong Kong on June 6 this year for a one-night-only concert at the City Hall, Central, as part of French May’s programme. The first half of the concert will take place in an intimate setting, which will see Lancman collaborating with local jazz pianist Joyce Cheung; the second half will expand into a jazz trio, augmented by the addition of strings. The musicians will perform some originals by Lancman, some interpreted classics and one Cantonese song. “The selection of the songs is like [taking the audience on] a trip,” she says. “I’ll have to start practising [Cantonese] diligently.”
Lancman was introduced to Cheung by Hong Kong-based actor Karena Lam, French May’s ambassador. The two musicians bonded over their “big, passionate feelings” for music and the process of selecting which songs to play also evolved naturally from this easy camaraderie, with Lam contributing ideas as well.
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Above From left: Sarah Lancman and Karena Lam (Photo: courtesy of French May)
From left: Sarah Lancman and Karena Lam (Photo: courtesy of French May)
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It is exactly in this kind of connection-building that jazz’s special powers lie, says Lancman. She adds, “ It [allows me to] talk about my truth. I’m convinced that when we speak our truth [to the world], we also touch others’ [hearts]. It’s magical because it’s beyond the personal—it’s a universal experience.”
In songs such as Inspiring Love (2016) and Love Me Just Your Way (2018), Lancman focuses on the power of love, positioning its strength as an act of revolution or resistance in an otherwise negative world. “Sometimes it’s difficult to say that life is beautiful because there are terrible things [happening] in the world. As an artist, it’s our duty to share this [positive] message because music sometimes is more powerful than a political message. It touches the hearts of people. In that way, we can [inspire] change.”
“I love writing songs about love. It’s hard to write about anything else. It’s important to realise that there is also the love of friendship from people who are there no matter what,” she says.
Above Joyce Cheung, who will be performing with Sarah Lancman (Photo: Instagram/@joyce_cheung_pno)
Joyce Cheung, who will be performing with Sarah Lancman (Photo: Instagram/@joyce_cheung_pno)
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Lancman also speaks to us about female representation in jazz, noting that the scene in Paris is becoming more inclusive, although male musicians are still more prevalent. Reflecting on her own experience—including the lack of enough women in her music school in Switzerland and instances where she received comments about playing well “for a girl”—she feels true progress will be made when gender is no longer a notable factor, and only musical merit is taken into consideration. She is delighted to embrace feminine energy in the Hong Kong show together with Cheung and showcase their talents.
Above From left: Sarah Lancman and Karena Lam (Photo: courtesy of French May)
From left: Sarah Lancman and Karena Lam (Photo: courtesy of French May)
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Looking ahead, Lancman is planning to record an album in New York, which will feature a mix of her original compositions as well some interesting reinterpretations of existing songs.
And like the improvisational nature of jazz, the singer sees herself as a “voice” not confined to one style, happily drawing influences from French chanson, classical music and pop. She believes that thinking of oneself as a voice opens up possibilities to perform across genres, wherever her music takes her. She says, “In my music, everything is possible.”
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Zabrina is the Senior Editor, Arts and Culture of Tatler Hong Kong. She specialises in performing arts, visual art and film. Her wanderlust was first fuelled by the Mighty Rovers Antarctica Expedition 2010. Over the years, she has interviewed A-list artists and filmmakers, including Oscar winners Chlóe Zhao and Tim Yip, Golden Horse winner Sylvia Chang, In the Mood for Love cinematographer Christopher Doyle, Pachinko author Min Jin Lee, and Coachella’s first Chinese solo singer Jackson Wang. She won gold at the WAN-IFRA Asian Media Awards for her 2021 feature on the waves of hate crimes targeting Asian Americans.
