Imagine an island, floating somewhere off the coast of France, where the breeze carries hints of the tropics, and the air is fragrant with wild blooms. On this island, the water glimmers like Lapis Lazuli, and the old stone buildings bear the soft scars of time. Here, the locals speak a mesmerizing mix of French and Portuguese, their voices mingling with the soft rhythms of a distant song. This is no ordinary place. It’s a creation of Claude Fontaine’s imagination - a dreamscape, where music becomes the pulse of life.

If you’re lucky enough to wander these streets under a sky full of stars, you might just hear the sounds of La Mer, the house band of this enchanted world. The band, led by an American girl with a French name, serves up a hypnotic blend of '60s French ye-ye pop, sultry Studio One reggae, and breezy Brazilian tropicalia. Together, they’ve built the soundtrack to this imagined utopia, where dreams of a globally connected world come alive in song. With La Mer, Fontaine transports us to this island paradise, an ode to a world that exists just beyond our reach. “The island was a complete figment of my imagination, but it’s where I found myself living while writing the songs,” Fontaine reflects. “It became a place where I could be surrounded by the people I loved, and a love I had never known. The songs became prayers, manifestations of what I was hoping to create.”

Fontaine evokes the cool charm of Jane Birkin with a dash of Jorge Ben, the elegance of Françoise Hardy, and the tropical groove of Mulatu Astatke. But none of it is by chance, Fontaine purposefully assembled a dream team of musical legends to bring this vision to life. Her producer, the Grammy-winning Lester Mendez, whose credits span Grace Jones to Shakira, steers the ship. Legendary reggae guitarist Tony Chin, whose riffs have filled the tracks of everyone from King Tubby to Sly & Robbie, adds his signature touch. And with Steel Pulse co-founder Ronnie McQueen on bass, Sergio Mendes’ percussionist Gibi Dos Santos, and Ziggy Marley’s drummer Rock Deadrick, Fontaine's virtual utopia comes alive.

At the heart of it all is Claude Fontaine, crafting a lush, orchestral escape. While her debut explored a newfound love for Jamaican and Brazilian music, La Mer is a deeper dive, reflecting the growth and intimacy that comes with time. Her music now displays richer textures and more vibrant rhythms. “I write love songs,” Fontaine says simply. “That’s what drives me - love, in all its forms.”

Whether it’s the haunting tale of a solitary gaucho in “Vaquero,” the prayerful yearning in “Love The Way You Love,” or the enchanted beauty of “Green Ivy Tapestry,” Fontaine’s music speaks a universal language. Singing in English, French, and Portuguese, she taps into something timeless - a communal experience that bridges cultures and invites us all to dream.