An Interview with PAPILLON DE NUIT (Part 1 of 2)
Sometimes albums are born from a moment when life suddenly comes to a halt. “Musetta,” the debut album by Papillon de Nuit, is one such work—born out of personal insecurity, darkness, and remarkable clarity. What began as a solo project by Stephen Kennedy quickly grew beyond its original scope. “Originally, I just wanted to write and record three songs as a kind of personal catharsis,” he explains. But the ideas grew “bigger, more expansive, and more unconventional”—and Kennedy knew: “It was time to turn this into a collective.” Find out more in our two-part interview.
York as a Source of Mysticism and Memory
Kennedy’s music is deeply rooted in his homeland. Above all, the moors of West Yorkshire and the historic atmosphere of York shape his creativity. “The moors and rugged landscapes there have shaped much of my creativity,” he says. Today, he feels particularly at home between York, Whitby, and Robin Hood’s Bay. “York’s history and mystery spark the imagination—it’s a wonderful place to be creative.” You can hear these landscapes: fog, ancient walls, traces of memory.
Jan Schütz
We will continue our conversation shortly.
Listen to Papillon de Nuit on our “Current Issue” playlist on Spotify:
You can also find “Papillon de Nuit” in our July/August issue:
Order the July/August issue:
Already subscribed to our newsletter?
Choose your favorite CD as a subscription bonus:
