With Mirage, Berlin-based French-British artist Aliénore unveils an ambient work that folds cinematic sound design, evocative vocal textures, and bilingual lyricism into a deeply atmospheric five-track journey. Released on November 7th in digital format and limited-edition cassette, the EP expands the artist’s distinctive sonic identity—one shaped by ethereal timbres, witchy undertones, and a refined sense of spatial dramaturgy. Following her critically received debut Métamorphose, this new chapter explores duality, illusions, and the dark feminine, drawing listeners into a world where fragility and empowerment coexist in a constantly shifting emotional field. It is a high-quality release we are pleased to spotlight on our webzine.
The opening moments of Mirage establish a deliberate rhythmic minimalism that becomes a core structural pillar of the EP. Rather than relying on prominent percussive elements, Aliénore sculpts momentum through slow-building pulses, granular textures, and subtle low-frequency oscillations. Each track unfolds with a sense of suspended movement, where rhythm emerges as a natural extension of breath, vocal cadence, and synth modulation. The result is a rhythmic language that prioritizes fluidity over impact, guiding the listener through terrains that feel organic, dreamlike, and constantly evolving.
Synth work plays a central role in shaping the EP’s atmospheric depth. Aliénore layers analogue-inspired pads, airy filters, and dark, resonant drones to create wide, enveloping expanses. Her sound palette is both intimate and cinematic: soft shimmering tones rise alongside brooding harmonic beds, while melodic lines often appear as luminous, spectral traces. These synth structures function less as traditional accompaniment and more as ecological environments in which the vocals reside. Each track feels like a self-contained microcosm, defined by delicate timbral interplay and long, breathing phrases that stretch across the stereo field.
Vocals—haunting, ethereal, and sometimes almost choral—serve as the emotional axis of Mirage. Singing in both English and French, Aliénore weaves her crystalline soprano around the surrounding ambient textures, creating a dialogue between voice and synth that blurs the boundary between human and electronic. The bilingual approach enhances the EP’s themes of multiplicity and dual perception, while her lyrical focus on empowerment, mythology, and internal transformation adds an additional narrative dimension.
“Lilith,” the lead single, encapsulates the EP’s conceptual and sonic essence. Built around dark, pulsing synths and a slow-rising rhythmic tension, the track channels the symbolic force of its namesake figure. The accompanying music video—produced entirely by a FLINTA crew in Berlin—emphasizes the project’s commitment to a strong visual identity and underlines the artist’s collaborative creative process. As with many of her works, the aesthetic leans into mysticism and shadow, echoing comparisons that Aliénore has received to artists such as Kate Bush, Bat for Lashes, and Chelsea Wolfe.
“Chimaera,” the second single, continues this trajectory, expanding the EP’s thematic exploration of illusion and internal fragmentation. The track employs layered synth harmonies and delicate rhythmic movements that feel both airy and grounded, creating a sense of searching presence. Throughout Mirage, the atmosphere remains immersive, inviting the listener into spaces that shift between vulnerability and intensity.
Aliénore’s background in classical choirs, her upbringing in rural South West France, and her involvement in Berlin’s alternative scene all resonate within these compositions. Her music has been praised by BBC Introducing and FAME Magazine, and Mirage arrives following notable performances across Europe, including Niranium Festival, Meadows in the Mountains, and upcoming release shows in London and Berlin. Her live practice—recognized for its intimate and immersive qualities—translates into the EP’s meticulous attention to mood, texture, and sensory impact.
Ultimately, Mirage stands as Aliénore’s most ambitious and atmospheric work to date: a cohesive ambient narrative shaped by refined production, evocative vocal layering, and a deep exploration of the mystical. Its rhythmic subtlety, synth expansiveness, and immersive aura confirm the growing strength of her artistic voice, making this release a compelling addition to the contemporary ambient landscape and one we are proud to feature.