Steel & Velvet – Orphan’s Lament (2025)
Finding a line between classical music and folk-rock stylings, France-based group Steel & Velvet dance across the genres, melding, blending, fusing and finding a distinctive orchestral symphony of structure, free fall, but most importantly, raw emotion. Joining the talents of Johann Le Roux (vocals) and Romuald Ballet-Baz (guitar), Steel & Velvet mostly covers artists from the realms of rock, grunge and folk; however, their originality skips beyond taking on other work as they released their debut single, ‘Poppy Field’ in May 2022.
Following the well-received 2023 EP, Waiting for some warmth, Steel & Velvet release their six-track EP, People just float. A six-episode narrative telling the tale of the protagonist Joshua, People just float is more than a mere 20 minutes of music; it unpicks humanity and delicately dissects emotional experiences with both charm and fragility. The EP opens with the track, ‘Orphan’s Lament’ – and it is this melody that captures our attention today.
In a cover of Robbie Basho’s unforgettable song, ‘Orphan’s Lament’, Steel & Velvet replace Basho’s haunting piano with an acoustic guitar. Just as the rush of piano swiftly sent chills down your spine in the original, Ballet-Baz’s finger-picking style is as emotional; it adds a rustic, folk-inspired tint as compared to Basho’s version that oozes a heavier classical structure with its symphonic stylings. Interestingly, while the instrumentation has altered, the emotion behind the ballad remains intact with a cinematic sweep of sound.
For me, the true star of ‘Orphan’s Lament’ is the vocals. As with the original, Le Roux’s voice dictates his classical training, but the skill brims with something less formal and ruggedly raw, showcasing the fragility behind the tune. With Le Roux’s bold vocals, I can imagine this cover to be held alongside tenors like Placido Domingo or Jose Carreras. Sincere, sentimental, and while quite similar to the original, Steel & Velvet’s take on ‘Orphan’s Lament’ is distinctive while remaining in line with Basho’s version.
In addition to the single, Steel & Velvet released an official music video for ‘Orphan’s Lament’. You can view the video below and/or on their YouTube channel.
Find out more about Steel & Velvet on their Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to more folk-rock music on The Other Side Reviews Folk Rock playlist:
