Pigeon Spins Featuring an Interview with Steel & Velvet

Steel & Velvet - People Just Float EP

Steel & Velvet is a folk-rock band born in 2021 from the friendship of Johann Le Roux (vocals) and Romuald Ballet-Baz (guitar), Breton musicians who both benefited from solid classical training.

Soon joined by another guitarist friend (also Breton), Jean-Alain Larreur, more rooted in blues-rock, they offer a collection of songs recorded in a spirit similar to that of Johnny Cash’s «American Recordings.» Acoustic guitars and vocals.

Their sound is minimalist, stripped-down, and authentic. Most of their repertoire consists of covers of North American artists from the worlds of folk, rock or grunge. Nevertheless, they also dabble in composition, releasing their first single, «Poppy Field» (Song for the Armistice), in May 2022.

One of the band’s distinctive features is that they favor concert venues that allow singer Johann Le Roux to remain unamplified, thus maintaining a more organic and intimate connection with the audience. They also attach importance to the visual aspect of their artistic universe, collaborating closely with Brest-based photographer and videographer Loïc Moyou, who shapes their visual identity through his photos and videos, as well as the logo he created for Steel & Velvet.

«Waiting for Some Warmth» was released in May 2023. This four-track EP is a tribute to Mark Lanegan, who «really loved this type of music, when someone can take a guitar or light instrumentation and a beautiful voice and can transport me somewhere.»

In October 2025, Steel & Velvet returned with a new artistic offering: «People Just Float,» two works in one: a six-track EP and a short film directed by Loïc Moyou. The six songs were carefully selected to form the soundtrack for a dreamlike western. Together, they tell the story of Joshua, a man living in seclusion in a cabin who, while hunting, discovers a frightened woman in the forest. Musically, the band maintains the continuity of its previous output: stripped-down acoustic versions with an authentic sound. Some songs remain close to the original versions, while others have been reworked. This is particularly the case for «Orphan’s Lament» (Robbie Basho), originally played on piano by the American artist, and which benefits from a brilliant guitar adaptation by Romuald (Ballet-Baz). A small novelty, however: Johann Le Roux’s daughter, Jade, sings on two tracks.

Interview with Steel & Velvet

What inspired the concept behind People Just Float, and how did the idea of combining a six-track EP with a short film come about?

Johann: When we finished recording our first EP (Waiting for Some Warmth), we were determined to compose our own songs for a new album. But this project wasn't progressing quickly enough. So I proposed another concept: an EP I envisioned as the soundtrack to a kind of "Lynchian western"... I carefully selected six existing tracks that, put together, told a story. In the email I sent to Romuald and Jean-Alain to share my idea, I wrote: "The best thing would be to really shoot this short film... It's obviously very ambitious, but let's keep that dream in mind." It was December 2024, a little over a month before David Lynch's death...

Can you tell us more about the story of Joshua and the frightened woman in the forest? What themes or emotions did you want to explore through this narrative?

Johann: Initially, I had a few themes in mind: love, death, hell, heaven… Then my idea became clearer: I wanted this story to depict the devastating effects of loneliness, particularly on mental health. I think our work can be interpreted in different ways depending on beliefs and sensitivities…

How did you choose the six songs featured on the EP, and what drew you to reinterpret works by artists like Johnny Cash, Nirvana, and Peter Ivers?

Johann: Even though it seems obvious, I must first say that these are songs I love. And, in my mind, the original versions already had, for the most part, a western feel. As previously mentioned, I saw a thread between them that allowed a story to be told. I would like to add that I also see a thread that connects the artists who composed or performed these songs: a form of authenticity and sincerity.

"In Heaven" is a bit of an exception. The first version I heard was the Pixies' version. I discovered the original Peter Ivers and David Lynch version much later, which is featured in a key moment in the film Eraserhead. And I must admit that I don't know any other songs by Peter Ivers.

The sound of Steel & Velvet has always been stripped-down and authentic. How did you approach maintaining that organic quality in this new project?

Johann: It's simple: Johnny Cash's American Recordings remain our primary source of inspiration. We continue to follow this model.

What was it like collaborating again with filmmaker Loïc Moyou? How did his visual interpretation enhance or influence the musical storytelling?

Johann: It's always a pleasure working with Loïc. He loves the world of Steel & Velvet and we love his. The creative process is therefore easy, not to say obvious: we're really on the same wavelength. I think it's important to clarify the chronology of the scriptwriting process. I provided Loïc with the story outline as well as the original versions of the six songs. Based on this, he wrote a script that we had in mind when we went into the studio to record the EP. This, of course, influenced our interpretation of the songs. Then, before filming, the two main actors, Régis Kérébel and Maïwenn Le Jehan, listened to our versions of the six tracks. This may also have influenced their performances.

Jade Le Roux sings on two tracks. What was it like bringing your daughter into the creative process for this project?

Johann: It's a pleasure and a source of pride for me. Jade really did a great job.

You’ve described your performances as intimate and unamplified. How does that philosophy carry through into the recording of People Just Float?

Johann: I think the recording, mixing, and mastering reflect this philosophy well. If you come to one of our concerts, you will hear a result close to this recording.

What do you hope listeners and viewers take away emotionally from both the EP and the short film?

Johann: The first thing I want to remind you is that we are music lovers who want to connect with other music lovers. Joshua's odyssey lasts less than 20 minutes but covers a fairly broad emotional spectrum. It's a kind of condensed version of life: loneliness, hope, love, loss, fear, despair, resilience... These different feelings will resonate with you more or less depending on your experiences.

How does People Just Float reflect your artistic evolution since Waiting for Some Warmth?

Johann: I feel our performances have stepped up a notch in terms of intensity. And I want to highlight the fantastic adaptation work Romuald has done for Orphan's Lament, The Man in the Long Black Coat, and In Heaven.

Looking ahead, do you see Steel & Velvet continuing to merge film and music in future projects?

Johann: What is certain is that we will continue to work with Loïc Moyou. Our artistic worlds have a lot in common.

(•)> That's all, Folks! Check out Steel & Velvet on the Pigeon Spins Playlist