La Femme – Le Podium 1 EP Album Review

Vee Hua 華婷婷2 min readJanuary 10, 20111 comment

A lean little 4-track EP, Le Podium #1 is a workout routine in La Femme’s ability to genre-hop. EP opener, “Sur La Planche,” boasts French lyrics that translate to, “On a surf board /On the beach, on the wave, I’m searching for sensations /On a surfboard, in the tubes, I’m searching for sensations/ You better not try and stop me from riding that wave, I’m invincible/ If you dare push me in the tube, I will be waiting for you on the beach, on the wave.” Appropriately, the song is filled with surf rock guitar lines, and it shows off the band’s ability to tease, being covertly sexual whilst being playful.

Listen to “Sur La Planche” – DOWNLOAD MP3

“Telegraphe”‘s driving rhythms and chaotic use of layered male-female vocals set the EP up to the be one burstng with dance rock, but such is not the case. “La Femme Ressort” is a visually-inspiring ditty that fills one’s head with stereotypically French imagery; it relies heavily on a repetitive piano chord throughout, but really shines in its last minute, where listeners find themselves awash in tingling synths. In “Francoise,” surf rock stylings are brought back, but on a subtle level. Maze-like synths descend into a cavernous fantasy world of echoes. And, with “Francoise” as the last track, a future of possibility opens up — one in which La Femme’s next output is greatly anticipated.

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Vee Hua 華婷婷

Vee Hua 華婷婷 (they/them) is a writer, filmmaker, and artist who splits their time between Oaxaca, Mexico, and Seattle, Washington. Much of their work unifies their metaphysical interests with their belief that art can positively transform the self and society. They are the Editor-in-Chief of REDEFINE, Interim Editor-in-Chief of International Examiner, and an Environmental Justice reporter at South Seattle Emerald. They also previously served as the Executive Director of the interdisciplinary community hub, Northwest Film Forum, where they played a key role in making the space more welcoming and accessible for diverse audiences.

Their latest short film, Reckless Spirits (2022), is a metaphysical, multi-lingual POC buddy comedy; the feature film version is slated for production in 2026. In 2025, they premiere their documentary short film, Hunt's Trading Post, set just outside of the Navajo and Ute Nations.

In 2017, Vee released the narrative short film, Searching Skies — which touches on Syrian refugee resettlement in the United States — and co-organized The Seventh Art Stand, a national film and civil rights discussion series against Islamophobia.

Vee has two narrative short films. Searching Skies (2017) touches on Syrian refugee resettlement in the United States; with it, they helped co-organize The Seventh Art Stand, a national film and civil rights discussion series against Islamophobia. Reckless Spirits (2022) is a metaphysical, multi-lingual POC buddy comedy for a bleak new era, in anticipation of a feature-length project.

Vee is passionate about cultural space, the environment, and finding ways to covertly and overtly disrupt oppressive structures. They also regularly share observational human stories through their storytelling newsletter, RAMBLIN’ WITH VEE!. They have a Master’s in Tribal Resource and Environmental Stewardship under the Native American Studies Department at the University of Minnesota and are pursuing a certificate in Incidencias en Problemas Socioambientales at the Universidad del Medio Ambiente in Mexico.

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