(Paris) Björk, always concerned about the environment, hoped “that Elon Musk and his tech friends would make electric tour buses”. “Could you pass the message to Elon Musk?” “She slips to AFP.

The Icelandic pop star makes “efforts” to limit the impact of her tours, as she navigates between two shows: a philharmonic, orchestral Björk, and a more avant-garde with more substantial means, Cornucopia.

The proof, the author of the success Army of me gave up the three Cornucopia dates planned for the beginning of June in Iceland, because her ambitious scenic device would have required additional facilities on her small native island.

“It was the first time I couldn’t bring one of my shows to Iceland and it made me very sad, but I tried everything,” she told AFP by email. an agenda disrupted by this hitch and by her involvement in a day of protest at home against whaling.

When we talk to him about tours and ecology, the ideas flow: “It would be better to have more “green” options. I was hoping that Elon Musk and his tech friends would make electric tour buses or boats with motors powered by the winds and the sun for touring musicians.”

“Could you pass the message to Elon Musk?” she asks. And to imagine “a kind of Coachella (festival traditionally held in California, editor’s note) with a festival boat crossing the oceans without a plane involved”.

Asked about this post-health crisis world that should have been more environmentally conscious, Björk replies: “I think the turnaround is very slow, it would be better if it was done faster, but I keep hope, I say it’s a generational thing.”

“At least during COVID-19 we had birds singing louder, cleaner air, fewer airplanes. We know it’s possible, that if we want, we can.”

While waiting for better days, its news is the preparation of the resumption of the European tour of Cornucopia (from September 1 in Portugal, the 8 in Paris, at Bercy/Accor Arena, last date in Floirac, near Bordeaux, the 5 December). A show that concludes, before the encore, with a video message from climate activist Greta Thunberg.

Cornucopia, designed around the album Utopia (2017), then swept through the entire repertoire of the artist. “I’m gradually integrating more and more Fossora (latest record, 2022, editor’s note)”, says Björk.

The Icelandic also took her Philharmonic show to Coachella in April. In a festival widely relayed on social networks, a simple orchestral version seemed amazing.

She graced the performance with more than 860 drones above the stage. “I didn’t want to add musicians or instruments so as not to disturb the stripping of a show with a naked voice and a symphony orchestra. I was thinking of something epic in the sky.” “I wanted the drones to follow the arrangements for sound visualizations. It seems to have worked out well in the desert” of Indio, the festival location.

In a more modest scenography, without the drones, his orchestral performance at La Seine Musicale in Paris in 2022 had overwhelmed the public, the strings proving to be an ideal setting for his still bewitching voice. “Being a singer is a lot of work, taking care of yourself, following a discipline”, only loose Björk, questioned about the secret of her vocal cords at 57 years old.

This year, we celebrate the 30th anniversary of his first solo album, the aptly named Debut. Is a special event planned? ” Not really “. Does the former Sugarcubes singer have any plans for 2024? “I like surprises, it has to be spontaneous for me.”