Steel & Velvet – “People Just Float”

Steel & Velvet just put out People Just Float, a six-track EP that also doubles as a short film soundtrack. Director Loïc Moyou, who has shaped the band’s visual look since day one, made a dreamlike western film to go with the music. The story follows Joshua, a guy living alone in a cabin who discovers a frightened woman in the woods while out hunting.

The Breton folk-rock trio sticks with their signature stripped-down sound on this release. Johann Le Roux sings, Romuald Ballet-Baz and Jean-Alain Larreur play guitars, and everything stays minimalist and acoustic like their work since 2021. They cover artists like Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Pixies, Nirvana, and Robbie Basho, reworking each song in their own style.

The version of Orphan’s Lament really stands out here, and Robbie Basho originally wrote it as a piano piece back in 1978, and Romuald Ballet-Baz translated it to guitar in a way that honors the original while making it his own. Another change for the band is having Johann Le Roux’s daughter Jade sing on two tracks, and Steel & Velvet has always prioritized authenticity, choosing concert venues where Johann can sing without amplification to keep that intimate connection with listeners. Their recording approach mirrors this philosophy. Some songs on People Just Float stay pretty faithful to how they were originally done, while others get completely reimagined, proving the band can adapt and experiment even within their minimalist style.

Their last EP, Waiting for Some Warmth from 2023, paid tribute to Mark Lanegan. People Just Float builds on that foundation but adds the film component to tell a bigger story. Check out their earlier work if you have not already, including their first single Poppy Field and their other video releases. Follow Steel & Velvet on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify to keep up with what they are working on next.