**Chapter 4: Lille - "Banished"**
Black and white footage captures Sigrún strolling through the charming streets of Lille's old town quarter. The cobblestone streets and flemish style colorful facades, create a picturesque setting as she takes it all in. Sigrún pauses to admire a flower shop, running her hand along the edge of a pot of tulips.
Interviewer: "Have you been to Lille before? "
Sigrún: (shaking her head) "No, it’s my first time in France, actually."
Interviewer: "Well, Lille is known for its warm and cheerful people. French artists like to start their tours here, because the audience is often cool."
Sigrún: (smiling) "Oh, I like that...good for me! I love cities with good energy like this. And the streets, the façades… they’re beautiful!"
As they walk past a bustling square, Sigrún turns to the interviewer with a curious expression.
Interviewer : "Where are we going?"
Sigrún : "We’re headed to an estaminet"
(Sigrún trying to pronounce it carefully) "An… estaminet? Did I say it right?"
Interviewer: (smiling) "Perfectly! It’s a traditional restaurant, they’ve got amazing beers."
Sigrún: (laughing)
"Good!"
The camera follows Sigrún as she enters the estaminet. The atmosphere is lively and warm, filled with chatter and laughter. The walls are adorned with vintage advertisements, wooden beams, and mismatched furniture. A Lille OSC football scarf hangs proudly alongside colorful posters. In the background, old songs in the regional Chti dialect play, occasionally interrupted by the clinking of glasses and bursts of laughter.
Sigrún sits with her crew, and plates of local food are brought to the table. She looks down at her dish, a “Welsh,” with wide eyes.
Sigrún: (grinning) This looks intense. Is all of this… cheese?
Interviewer: Melted cheddar, ham, bread and beer. It’s a classic here.
Sigrún takes a bite, her expression thoughtful.
Sigrún: (laughing) Wow, okay, this is… very rich. Definitely not veggie!
Moments later, she tries Maroilles cheese, her face lighting up in surprise.
Sigrún: This is… interesting. Very strong, but I think I like it?
The waiter arrives with a tray of local beers, enthusiastically explaining each one to the group. The restaurant owner appears suddenly, declaring in a booming voice:
Owner: The beers are on the house!
The crew cheers loudly, raising their glasses in celebration. The camera captures their joy, the camaraderie palpable as they toast together.
The scene shifts to the group still seated at the table, mid-conversation. The interviewer turns to Sigrún.
Interviewer: Can you introduce us to your band.
Sigrún: (smiling) With pleasure! This is Jonas, our drummer, from Ireland like me.
Jonas waves dramatically, causing laughter. Sigrún gestures to the guitarist.
Sigrún: This is Arthur on guitar.
Arthur raises his beer to the camera with a grin.
Sigrún: Then we have Naveen and Samir, who play percussion, Indian bells, and tablas.
Naveen and Samir both bow playfully, making the table laugh.
Sigrún: Laura plays keyboards and violin.
Laura: (smiling) And keeps Sigrún in line backstage.
Sigrún laughs, shaking her head.
Sigrún: And we got Magnus on bass, from Norway.
Magnus: (raising his glass) And we got our roadie, Sigrún!
The entire restaurant erupts into cheers, with patrons joining in the celebration. Sigrún hides her face in her hands, laughing.
Interviewer: What’s it like touring with Sigrún?
Sigrún’s face turns red as the crew exchanges mischievous looks.
Sigrún: (hiding her face) Oh no, please be nice!
Jonas: (grinning) So we can say... anything?
The table bursts into laughter. Laura chimes in, smiling.
Laura: She screams a lot backstage.
Sigrún: (laughing) It’s true! I’m just warming up my voice before each concert.
Samir: And it’s ... freaky!
Everyone laughs again as Magnus leans in, mock-serious.
Magnus: She’s a tyrant. A real dictator.
Sigrún groans, burying her face in her hands again.
Magnus: (softening) But seriously, she’s an angel. Our precious little jewel.
The group dramatically places their hands over their hearts, cooing loudly.
Naveen: Hug time?
The room bursts into laughter. The camera focuses on Sigrún, who looks genuinely touched as she speaks.
Sigrún: I’m lucky to have this team. They help me so much.
The screen shifts to a color view of Lille, followed by a view of the venue.
Sigrún takes the stage at L’Aéronef. The atmosphere is electric, the crowd is eager, the stage is bathed in moody blue and white lights. The camera follows Sigrún as she walks on the stage, her head down, clutching the microphone in both hands. Her expression is focused, almost meditative. The crowd roars softly in anticipation, but she remains in her own world, lost in thought.
Jonas on drums begins with a primal, pounding rhythm, sending ripples through the venue. Laura adds eerie textures on the keyboard, crafting an atmospheric intro. The tension builds as Sigrún slowly raises her head and steps forward.*
Sigrún begins to sing softly, her voice intimate, as if sharing a confession:
"I don’t know why I am
The way I am."The moment hangs in the air, delicate and fragile. Then, with a sudden explosion of sound, Arthur and Magnus unleash a cacophony of guitar and bass, creating a towering wall of noise. Sigrún reacts immediately, her body jerking into an unrestrained, chaotic dance. Her movements are raw, primal, a physical embodiment of the song’s theme—being exiled, not just from others, but from oneself.
Sigrún’s voice intensifies, her tone almost pleading:
"Earth is trembling
Earth is trembling again
Charken mountains
In the dark lands
Ashes on boots
I got to head on." She moves to the edge of the stage, reaching out as if to connect with the crowd. Her presence is magnetic, her voice both powerful and vulnerable.
"I’m banished
I got to head on, baby!
Banished and scorned
Just heading on!"
The lights pulse with the beat, creating a dizzying, immersive effect. Sigrún steps back toward her band, catching Laura’s eye as she continues on the keyboard. Laura responds with a subtle, knowing smile. It’s a small, human moment amidst the storm of sound.
Sigrún’s voice rises again, carrying the emotion of the song to new heights:
"Oh, the tempest roars
The thunder crashes
In the heart of the storm
My spirit lashes." With a sudden turn, she faces the crowd directly, her eyes blazing with intensity:
"There is sulphur
In the air
I’m breathing
Help me, Jesus!"
"I’m banished
I got to head on, baby!
Banished and scorned
Just heading on!"
The music drops into a calm, haunting bridge, her voice softens to a murmur, and the spotlight narrows on Sigrún as she begins to Whisper with tension.
"I’m shaking the Earth
Distancing continents
I live in ice age
While they’re burning."
The band builds the sound back up, layer by layer, until the music swells into a steady, pounding rhythm. Sigrún’s voice grows more commanding as she powers through the finale, her expression fierce and defiant:
"I don’t know why I am
The way I am
I’m banished by humans
Banished and scorned
I got to head on, baby!"
She plants her feet firmly at center stage, gripping the microphone with both hands, her face a portrait of raw emotion. Her voice rings out one final time:
"I’m banished
I’m banished."
The music drops suddenly, leaving only her voice hanging in the air, now a faint echo:
"Banished,
Banished…" The crowd erupts into thunderous applause. Sigrún stands still for a moment, catching her breath, before offering a small bow. The screen fades to black.