Albuquerque’s award-winning “indie folk” band Bébé La La is celebrating 15 years together this fall, and for the big anniversary, they’re playing a special show at the Outpost Performance Space on Nov. 15 presented by AMP Concerts. Bébé La La is known for showcasing commanding, harmonized vocals performances from singers Alicia Ultan (who also plays guitar and viola) and Maryse Lapierre (accordion, harmonium), and Ultan says she and her partner-in-folk are really “the core of the band.” They have been joined on various stages by a variety of talented musicians over the years; but next week, they will be singing and jamming with Micky Patten (bass & guitar) and Joe Chellman (drums), who have been their bandmates since 2022. During the anniversary gig, the band will be accompanied by several guest artists including Alicia’s twin sister, Jacqueline Ultan (cello), Frank Leto (steel pan), Alex Murzyn (saxophone) and others. To say Ultan knows music is an understatement. Besides earning a music degree from the University of Minnesota, she’s The Outpost’s current communications and sponsorship director and has been working with the beloved, established and celebrated concert venue since 1998. Bébé La La’s body of work celebrates the “childish spirit” of the musicians in the band, but the music definitely isn’t kid’s stuff. Lyrically, they explore sophisticated themes such as persevering through the passing of time – no matter what life happens to throw at you. And the band’s complex instrumental performances are inspired by decades of exposure to countless classical and contemporary genres. You could describe the Bébé La La experience as a musical exploration of A Curious Series of Unexpected Events, and Ultan is more than happy to be our tour guide during the journey.
Will you describe your sound for us?
Well, one music critic called our sound “Wild – Alternative – Magic!” I love that description and it’s pretty right on. We like to call it “Indie Folk Français.” Maryse [Lapierre] grew up in Quebec singing and playing French-Canadian music, and she really only learned the [English] language when she moved here – she was about 20 years old – but now she’s completely fluent. My father was a composer, and I got my degree in music, but I also really love folk music.
We went to get a beer after our first gig, and we were writing down all these different ideas for a band name. We realized Maryse had started writing a song called “Bébé La La.” The actual phrase means “acting childish or foolish” and we were like, “Well, we’re kind of serious, but we’re childish, and we have fun with what we’re doing.” I guess “bébé la la” is a popular French-Canadian term.
What are your favorite venues to play and why?
We love house concerts! Our songs are intimate, and in that setting our audience can really focus and listen and tune into the lyrics, which are important to us. But we also love playing at The Outpost where artists are treated with the most respect. The sound is first rate. It’s a great listening space and an all-around satisfying musical experience for the performers and listeners!
What are your lyrics about?
Our songs run the gamut, from very personal life experiences (love, heartbreak, discovery, regret, etc.), to the events of our present day world (COVID, women’s issues, political unrest, etc.) to more universal themes like hope, honoring and preserving the animal planet, finding balance, and the plight of the human race.
The title track on our first album is called “High Wire” because at the time we wrote it, life felt like such a balancing act existing and finding our way. Where are we going to be when we get to the other side? It’s specifically about going through divorce, but really, it’s so much more universal than that. And I think that that theme kind of carries through the album. On our second album, the sentiment was more about time in all these different guises. I ended up writing three songs during that period about things that were happening in the current state of the world, but also finding hope in a dark period. It’s called A Curious Series of Unexpected Events.
What bands or genres inspire your music?
I would say probably modern folk/indie music like Kate Bush, Joni Mitchell, Sarah Mclachan, Cat Stevens, The Roaches, Crosby Stills & Nash, etc. Plus, classical music was truly a foundation for me. Maryse grew up in Quebec, CA, so her influences are probably different, but we both embrace what we each bring to the table.
What is the best show you have ever played and why?
I would say two things. When we’ve had really good sound – where we can truly hear each other and feel balanced – that makes for a great show (and weirdly enough, it’s a rare treat). But we have also done really intimate, totally acoustic shows as a duo that have been so sweet. Shows where we feel really connected to our audience and vice versa, and where people tell us that this song or that song really spoke to them and moved them. That is always such a lovely confirmation that what we are sharing is having a positive effect.
At the anniversary show, we’ll be selling our new Bébé La La AnniversaTEA (created by the NM Tea Co. in collaboration with AMP Concerts and Bébé La La) as well as anniversary mugs, CDs and other special fun mementos. We’ll be going into the studio (John Wall’s Wall of Sound here in ABQ) in early December to record three new songs.
Listen Up:
You can keep tabs on Bébé La La by visiting their website full of news, music and extras here. The site includes links to their album releases, but they are available on streaming platforms as well.
Watch them perform the song “Hidden in Blue” at their 2022 album release (with music by Alicia Ultan) here.
Check them out performing “Laissez Tomber Les Filles” by France Gall live here.
Enjoy an entire 2020 Bébé La La “Pollination Celebration” concert here.