Versailles
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Versailles

Hollywood, California, United States | SELF

Hollywood, California, United States | SELF
Band Alternative EDM

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This band has not uploaded any videos

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"Skope Magazine Review"

Versailles, Broken Dolls
March 2, 2009
On the cover, you see an extremely pale-skinned or better yet ghostly-looking young female who just seems lost in herself. A very depressing and saddening visual presence right off the bat from the artist known as Versailles. Born Dianna Marie St. Hilaire, she was raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico and now is bringing pieces of her childhood back in full circle. Only twist here is that Versailles speaks of not happy memories growing up, but of disturbingly painful recollections.
Singer/Songwriter Versailles also plays guitar and keyboards on Broken Dolls proving her versatility as an artist. The music itself can best be described as gothic/alt-rock with a splash of pop. There are elements of darkness and despair feeding into the gothic side, but then an amazingly sweet-sounding voice bursts out of nowhere exhibiting that soft, poppy sensation. Truly unique when you can add such anguish, torment and trauma displayed by Versailles’ vocals, but sang almost angelically. You really do hear a true sense of good vs. evil here. Unfortunately, this was reality and an ongoing battle for this troubled, young soul. Her emptiness inside is portrayed in such a dramatic way to where the listener really feels for this individual by the end of the record. You feel her hurt, you feel her pain, you feel it ALL—but not by an angry, hateful voice as one might assume.
The album starts off with a creepy piano melody mixed in with dark lyrics that seems to be almost haunting at times. Her ghostly appearance on the cover seems to mesh right in with the scary-sounding vibe on the opening song, “Legion”. Track four, “Once”, exhibits an unorthodox pattern to where it almost seemed like Versailles was literally falling by way of her styled performance. The title track, “Broken Dolls”, invites the audience into the life of Dianna Marie St. Hilaire and how she actually questions her own self worth and well-being.—“Where do broken dolls go??” “10%” and “Run Away” offer a different taste of cool sound effects and discothequeish sensations.
Overall, this record offers a lot of heartache and trauma all experienced by the artist formerly known as Dianna Marie St. Hilaire and now depicted as Versailles. Maybe this woman has found out more about the real girl inside or perhaps she is still searching high and low. For more on Versailles and her hauntingly truthful record, Broken Dolls, SKOPE out http://versailles.ro.
By Jimmy Rae - Skope Magazine


"Nue Futur Magazine Review"

Posted by James on January 30th, 2009 No Comments Printer-Friendly
What Versailles does during the opening of “Broken Dolls” is link together a number of different musical styles, the piano line variously shifting through alternative rock, goth, and even pop as listeners are given a hint as to what the rest of “Broken Dolls” will present. Versailles also makes a play for the minds and hearts of fans of music; there are arrangements and approaches taken that will please fans of the sixties, seventies, eighties, and on. “Wendy’s Razor Blades” is an important track, as it continues with some of the trends first heard during “Legion”, but boldly forges forward in some key areas.
There is a slower, slinkier style to “Wendy’s Razor Blades” that will stick with listeners for weeks after they put this album down. Where “Legion” came forth with a devil may care attitude, Versailles uses finesse to craft a track in “Wendy’s Razor Blades” that could easily make it onto alternative, college, or even pop stations. “Once” marries together a harder rock edge with a symphonic, almost-classical type of vocals into something that resembles (And expands upon) the work of Nightwish and Evanescence. “Broken Dolls” continues this high amount of momentum with “Believe” .
Later tracks on the disc, be they “Speak To Me” or “You’re My Disaster”, continue to put forth the same level of quality that listeners will expect from Versailles. More than that, however, these final few tracks on “Broken Dolls” really will show to listeners that Versailles could take any one of a thousand different directions with their next album. The one thing that listeners are left with is that, with whatever direction the act takes with their next album, something amazing will come forth. If you want to hear an act that can take a great deal from pre-existing genres and create something that is completely new and exciting, make it a point to pick up “Broken Dolls” at your earliest convenience. The 14 cuts here will blow you away, that is for sure.
Top Tracks: Massacre, Broken Dolls
Rating: 8.3/10 - Nue Futur Magazine


"Indie Music Review"

Quote: "Versailles is a dark pop mistress with gothic influences and a voice that can be breathy and innocent even when she's rasping and pleading and crying out to the heavens."

By Jennifer Layton

How perfect that I just came home from seeing Tim Burton's Corpse Bride before playing this CD. Versailles is a dark pop mistress with gothic influences and a voice that can be breathy and innocent even when she's rasping and pleading and crying out to the heavens. There may only be three songs on this EP (four if you count the remix), but it's by no means sparce. There is a lot going on in this music. Versailles brings everything she has.

She's also got a sharp sense of promotion. The sound matches the leather-and-glitter persona. The EP comes with a black-and-white booklet with photos, press clippings, and lyrics. The omnious, snowy scene on the EP cover echos the vibe painted by “You're My Disaster,” an operatic composition that feels like a dark, bitter New York City snowfall.

In fact, “You're My Disaster” is my favorite track and the one that reminds me of fellow indie artist Rachel Sage. Versailles dreams in music, pouring it out of her soul and onto the keyboard, accompanied by strings and percussion, and I could swear I hear some birds chirping and whispers and sighs.

“Lamentations” is also strong, with flowing, rapid piano and cello. The lyrics are as hungry and passionate as the sound:

And I'm okay, I've learned my lesson today
You kept my wings aflame
Now I know what they mean by shame ...

She must present one theatrical live show. She should seriously think about scoring a movie. I wonder what Tim Burton's got scheduled next. - Indie Music


"A&A Review"

Versailles is Diana St. Hilaire. And it is also a band which features the aforementioned St. Hilaire as singer and songwriter. This is the sort of thing that makes people snort when they talk about goth music.

But is this really goth, or is it simply keyboard and piano-drenched orchestral rock? I dunno. Labels don't interest me. Versailles (the woman) real talent is playing piano, but she's a capable songwriter and a strong (if not particularly subtle) singer. The three songs here (with one remix) are intriguing. I have a feeling I could go either way with a full set.

This is what I have to work with, though. This L.A. band is plying waters I haven't experienced in a while. Folks to watch, methinks. - A&A


"Versailles Myspace Review"

I have one big complaint with this record….there isn't more of it. I really like this EP from LA's Versailles, who was born Dianna St. Hilaire. And I want to hear more. Believe contains four cuts with one of the cuts being a remix of the first song, the title cut. Versailles is a keyboard player/vocalist à la Tori Amos, who sounds like Paula Cole in parts as well. She has a quirky vocal that sounds at times like it won't make it all the way into the station but it does. Versailles, who also wrote all the material, played all the instruments on the remix of "Believe".

The title track is a solid piece. It's led by her dreamy vocal that almost lags behind the beat and you can almost imagine her draped over the piano, eyes closed as she recorded this. The jewel of the set is "Lamentations", a piano-driven piece with a haunting vocal and this is where she sounds a lot like Amos. This is an awesome cut and I hope she writes more like this. "You're My Disaster" is quite good as well. The persuasive piano has you under its spell by about the second bar.

If Versailles can produce more stuff like this, she should lots of attention. I know one person that will be lining up more the next record, at least. - Morley Seaver


"Kweevak Review"

Dianna St. Hilaire aka Versailles is "the Goth girl with the piano". St. Hilaire often performs as a solo artist but on this four-track sampler she is supported by Andy Bettis on lead guitar and Rod Arias on electronic drums. Dianna's music is dark wave, alternative with atmospheric piano chords. St. Hilaire pens shadowy lyrics but her sweet, high ranging voice keeps the songs from being too scary, yet her music is haunting. Dianna sings with raw emotion and her classical piano playing adds character and originality to her songs. The CD features two versions of the title track 'Believe'. The first focuses on moody keyboards and vocals, whereas the second translation relies more on tempos but St. Hilaire's singing is still central. 'Lamentations' was my favorite track and featured dramatic vocals and instrumentation combined with grave guitars. Versailles takes Goth to a higher level and hearing is believing! - Kweevak


"Underground Press Review"


Believe” is a beautiful and haunting album from Dianna St. Hilaire, the solo artist behind Versailles. The lyrics are almost innocent in its own shadowed sadness…“No sleep till midnight, my lips still sewn tight, a lullaby couldn't put me to sleep tonight”, and Dianna's voice is tender and celestial with an undertone of desolation. - Underground Press


"Rock City News"

A talent scoutt was sitting with me that evening and stated that ”Versailles is the personification of what it takes to be a superstar. Hew writing is insightful and poignant. Her stage presence is utterly unforgetable, and her musicianship as well as her looks posses that rarist of charisma that one cannot manufacture. She was born to perform." - Rock City News -Emily Neary


Discography

Versailles-Live Your Life Evileye Records 2003
Versailles- Kiss (single) Evileye Records 2003
Versailles- Believe (EP) Evileye Records 2005
Versailles-Broken Dolls Evileye Records 2008
Versailles- Wendy's Razorblades (EP) Evileye Records 2010
A Gothic Acoustic Tribute to NIN- Cleopatra Records-2005
A Tribute to She Wants Revenge- Cleopatra Records-
2006
Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before (Tribute To The Smiths)- Cleopatra Records 2007

Versailles music can be heard on Indie 103.1 and on various indie internet stations.

Photos

Bio

A emotional rollercoaster of piano keys, and a devious childlike outlook, Versailles little girls all mold together to form one unique artist.

The pain and torment of a sad child come at you with each delicate racing note. Versailles blends the vocals and playing of Tori Amos with an 80’s post punk feel. Forming a rich catacomb of deep running emotions and a fun get up and dance feeling.

In 2009 Versailles did a small tour of the South and Southwest following the release of Broken Dolls. A full United States tour followed shortly after with Metropolis artists Ego Likeness and Bella Morte. Following the release of her first EP “Believe” in 2005 she has had 3 songs released on Cleopatra Records in 2005,2006 and 2007. Versailles is on “A Gothic Acoustic Tribute To NIN”, “A Tribute to She Wants Revenge” , “Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before (Tribute to The Smiths)”, and “Gothic Divas”. Two of these songs were produced by Gregory Butler who has also produced “Switchblade Symphony”.

Versailles release in 2010 is the EP/ Single for Wendy's Razorblades off of the Broken Dolls CD. 2011 brings the new EP Game still in production. This album is a collection of 80's darkwave dance music! :)