CityZine: When you released your previous CD you said it was going to be the last one, but now you’ve released ‘Sisters and Empathy’ and you are working on yet another one?

Axelle Red: ‘I said that because of all the work involved in releasing a new CD, the production, it's enough to give you a headache... But the creation process, composing songs, playing gigs, it's just so much fun! (laughs) And ‘Sisters and Empathy’ marks a new stage in my life. The French-speaking record we are making now will be more uptempo, very different from the previous record. I always make contrasting records, a new style, a new challenge every time. I am also constantly evolving, I don't think you can be around for so many years if you don't. There are times when you have wings and times when you come crawling out of a hole. All this is reflected in a record.’

CityZineHow would you describe this new stage in your life?

Axelle Red: ‘I've found a kind of balance, it feels good. I've found the answers to all kinds of questions and this is expressed in my music. Not all questions because wisdom is not all-encompassing. But I've asked all the questions relating to life and death and wanted to find the answers on my own, starting from nothing. And many answers are very logical in fact. I always go back to nature. Nature provides many answers, to all questions.’

CityZine: As a Unicef ambassador you go to places where there is a lot of injustice. How do you personally think the world could be made into a better place for more people?

Axelle Red: ‘I think the world will become a better place and I even believe the world is on track. Every act is in fact a global act. If everyone briefly thinks about the impact his or her actions have on the world, we are making the world a better place. By being a better person, simply by acting accordingly, living closer to nature,… The whole green movement is in fact a kind of empathy for the planet. And if this empathy could be produced toward people and in all actions, I think we're there.’

CityZineYour last CD ‘Sisters and Empathy’ has been termed a protest record, to highlight the injustice against women. How do you think music and creativity in general can contribute to dealing with injustice in the world?

Axelle Red: ‘I think you can explain things through a song, raise people’s awareness. Nowadays, people are overwhelmed with information and anything that happens is instant news. Everyone knows crimes against humanity are committed every day. And I believe music is one of the many ways to make us aware of this, albeit it very subtly. This is the strength of music. And sometimes it can also be done through an uptempo song. The message trickles into people’s minds while they dance.’

CityZine: Do you think people are effectively doing something about the injustice in the world?

Axelle Red: ‘I think there is a kind of sixties revival going on. People are more aware of life again and really want change. The fact for instance that Obama was elected in America. A couple of years ago any talk of commitment was not done. It was cool to be cynical. A committed person was an idiot. Thinking the worst and being cynical was much cooler. Today's heroes are the ‘Obamas’. Heroes are no longer the people with pots of money’

CityZine: You’re an optimist, an idealist?

Axelle Red: ‘I very much believe in looking into oneself. But sometimes I also tell the kids off for things I do myself

(laughs)

. But you know, I also believe in humour, in putting things into perspective, I am not an ascetic person at all. If you have so many ideals people are quickly inclined to say you are ascetic, whereas I am exactly the opposite. I believe in empathy, in feelings. Whether its ecclesiastical laws or state laws, they're only laws. If people feel they are hurting another person when they are doing something, you need less rules. And the nicest thing you can teach a child is not just to be polite and have respect, but also to laugh, be positive, believe in the goodness of people and have faith in yourself.

Anyway

, it all sounds good but I also often get it wrong. It's very difficult to always act correctly. Love and a sense of humour can solve a lot of problems!’

CityZine: The university of Hasselt awarded you the honorary title of ‘Doctor Honoris Causa’ for your commitment as an artist and human rights activist. Hasselt is of course proud of you, but what does Hasselt mean to you, not having lived there for the last 20 years?

Axelle Red: (enthusiastic) ‘I'm also proud of Hasselt you know! I still live in Hasselt some of the time. Living somewhere is tangible, but at the same time intangible as well. In part I am who I am because I come from Hasselt. A region lends you a certain mentality.’

CityZine: How would you describe ‘a Hasselt mentality’?

Axelle Red: ‘Limburg is actually an underdog province so I think we're able to put ourselves into perspective quite well. On the one hand, we are very modest, but on the other hand there is also a desire to show what we are good at. We’re proud of our background and still we tend to act normal. The expression ‘doet es normaal!’ (‘act normal’) is typical. And the Limburg accent is very warm and friendly, it's disarming.’

CityZine: How often do you go to Hasselt?

Axelle Red: ‘About 10 times a year. But I still see people from Hasselt everywhere. My entire technical crew, for instance, is from Hasselt and we talk Limburgs to each other on tour. (laughs) And generally there is a very big bond among Limburg people.’

CityZine: Any chance of moving back to Hasselt?

Axelle Red: ‘It's possible. I'd either like to live on a farm like where I live now, close to the centre of Brussels. Or along the Hasselt canal, it's such a great place, with a view of the canal. I really love water, nature, but I also think it's important to have a combination of the two: living close to a big city so you can also do cultural things. I travel all over the world, but I also think it's important to remember your roots. I couldn't live in Hasselt and not travel. I can live here in Brussels as well because I travel a lot. But too much travel is not good either. That's what I'm trying to say in my song Living in a suitcase. It's about not finding any peace and quiet in your head. Being in so many different places drives you nuts after a while. I think humans are born nomads but we also feel the need to settle down. I feel like a European, a citizen of the world, or, how do you say it… an earthling!’

www.axelle-red.com