With all-new album Rock Machine out now and a major North American tour starting soon, we sat down with the genre-defying French band La Femme to talk the new album, touring, and the decision to make an all-English language album.
Instinctually oriented toward an organic and rich sound, La Femme has doubled down on this approach on Rock Machine. Don’t let the album name fool you, these songs are deeply danceable and sleek with a paradoxical air of whimsy and uneasiness that La Femme has become celebrated for. Certainly packed with plenty of melodic moments, there is a distinctive stability in the sound of Rock Machine, sometimes punctuated by high flying guitar solos or trudging synths. Highlights including shredding guitar solos on a number of tracks, but especially Clover Paradise and I Believe in Rock and Roll.
Overall, the album has a comfortable optimism in its harmony and the English-language lyrics speak toward themes such as generational change, celebration of Rock-and-Roll, fame and love– all formatted as mystic preachings or bar-crawl storytelling. You’ll like Rock Machine if you like The Clash, Neu!, Philipp Gorbachev, Blondie, or even Kate Bush, Camera Obscura, or Guns “N” Roses. Out now, stream Rock Machine on Spotify or buy the album here.
La Femme Interview with The Knockturnal
The Knockturnal: What was the vision for this album, and how does it build on LaΒ Femmeβs journey so far?
La Femme: Honestly, there wasnβt some deep, overthought vision. We wanted to make a record that kicks- something fun to play and fun to listen to. Every album we do is a reflection of wherever our heads are at that moment β and with Rock Machine, it felt like we needed to get louder, more chaotic, more… reckless. Itβs like, if previous albums were us tripping through dreams and haze, this one is us waking up with a hangover and deciding, βScrew it, letβs make some noise.β This album is more instinctive. We didnβt sit around debating what βdirectionβ to take β we just plugged in and went for it.
The Knockturnal: How would you describe the sound of this new album? Were there particular influences you explored this time around?
La Femme: Itβs a mix of gritty rock, punk energy, and wild synths. We kept that 60s vibe but with a more aggressive, punky edge. Thereβs also some no wave spirit from the 80s in there. Think of it as a collision between Suicide, Nena, Blondie, Stray Cats, New Order, and some old surf records β all shaken up in our usual messy way. Each track has its own vibe.
The Knockturnal: This is the bandβs first English-language albumβwhat inspired that choice, and how does it change your approach?
La Femme: It felt natural, honestly. Weβre always switching between languages, so going full English this time was just the next step. It was about opening new doors, expanding our playground. Writing in English gives you a different kind of energy β itβs more raw, more playful. It was also a challenge: how does LaΒ FemmeΒ sound when we go there? It shifts the vibe, makes things feel more immediate.
The Knockturnal: Did working in English affect the way you think about lyrics or storytelling in your music?
La Femme: English has this way of going straight to the point. With French, thereβs often this need to be poetic or elegant. But English lets you be blunt, sarcastic, or weird without overthinking it. We gave the lyrics more room to breathe on this album, without worrying too much about meaning. Sometimes the words just sound good together, even if theyβre ambiguous. We like playing with that tension between sound and meaning β it makes things more interesting.
LA FEMME
The Knockturnal: How does this album connect with what LaΒ FemmeΒ has done in the past?
La Femme: Itβs stillΒ LaΒ FemmeΒ at the core β that same freedom to explore and mess around. Thereβs always a balance between dreamy and chaotic, between wanting to make people dance and wanting to mess with their heads. If our older stuff was more introspective or trippy,Β Rock MachineΒ cranks things up. It feels like weβve been building up to this moment, and now weβve hit the accelerator.
The Knockturnal: What kind of atmosphere do you think LaΒ FemmeΒ music is best for… chill pool party? A raging house party? Reflective quiet time?
La Femme: Our music can fit into all of those settings. Thatβs the fun part β it shifts depending on where you are. A chill pool party can turn into a rave at any moment with the right track. But Rock MachineΒ leans more towards wild moments β the kind of stuff you put on at a house party when things are getting out of control at 3 AM. Or maybe for a night drive with the windows down, speeding on the highway.
The Knockturnal: Were there any creative risks you took on this album that you hadnβt explored before?
La Femme: Yeah, we dropped a lot of filters this time. The album is more instinctive, more raw. We werenβt trying to make things βprettyβ or polished. Some parts are intentionally messy, almost like weβre saying: βHere it is. Take it or leave it.β We also played around with more chaotic structures β some tracks start in one genre and end up somewhere completely different.
The Knockturnal: What do you hope listeners take away from this albumβboth new audiences and longtime fans?
La Femme: We want people to let go and feel something β whatever that may be. For longtime fans, we hope they enjoy this new side of LaΒ Femme. For those discovering us throughΒ Rock Machine, we hope they get hooked on the weirdness and want to dive deeper. The idea is for everyone to project their own emotions and experiences onto the album. Itβs like a distorted mirror β you might not fully get it, but youβll still feel something.
The Knockturnal: What excites you most about performing these new songs live? Are you planning any changes to your set for this album?
La Femme: These songs were made for the stage. What excites us is seeing how theyβll evolve live with the energy of the crowd. Playing in the studio is one thing, but on stage, they become something else. Weβre planning to shake up our set, adding more improvisation and letting the songs take on a new life every night. And we love those moments where things fall apart and turn into something unexpected. Thatβs where the real magic is.
La Femme North American Tour Dates
The La Femme North American Tour Kicks off on November 7th at Terminal 5 in New York City before setting off with Sam Quealy. The tour schedule is as follows:
November 7 – New York, NY – Terminal 5. Tickets
November 8 – Washington, DC – Howard Theater. Tickets
November 9 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club. Tickets
November 11 – Montreal, QC – Mtelus. Tickets
November 12 – Quebec City, QC – Theatre Capitole. Tickets
November 13 – Toronto, ON – Opera House. Tickets
November 15 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall. Tickets
November 16 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line. Tickets
November 18 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater. Tickets
November 19 – Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall. Tickets
November 21 – Vancouver, BC – The Pearl. Tickets
November 22 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall. Tickets
November 23 – Seattle, WA – Showbox. Tickets
November 25 – San Francisco, CA – Regency Ballroom. Tickets
November 26 –Β LosΒ Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium. Tickets
