Lisez l'Étiquette Records
Lisez l'Etiquette Records - "Read the Label" - was founded by Paris-based jazz vocalist Hetty Kate. This boutique label embodies its playful name, creating recordings that, like fine wine, reveal their depth and character to those who take time to appreciate the craftsmanship. Music with intention, to delight and entertain.
Based on the belief that music is best served with care and context, all releases champion a reverence for tradition, and a flair for originality. Music worth reading into.
Upcoming Single
For the debut single from "Spring, Vol. 1" Hetty Kate chose Rodgers and Hammerstein's beloved "It Might As Well Be Spring", a song rich with delicious irony.
In the original 1945 film State Fair, the song is sung in winter by a character yearning for spring's arrival, feeling "as restless as a willow in a windstorm" despite the season. Now, decades later, Hetty releases this ode to spring as Northern Hemisphere audiences prepare for winter's embrace, while her native Southern Hemisphere welcomes the season itself.
This temporal paradox perfectly captures the nomadic spirit of Hetty's project. The song's restlessness, that jumpy, anticipatory energy, transcends hemispheres and calendars, speaking to anyone caught between seasons, between places, between moments of transformation.
Hetty's interpretation, arranged in an unconventional meter, honors the standard's enduring charm while revealing fresh dimensions. Accompanied by four of Prague's most accomplished jazz musicians, this first single invites listeners to accompany her on a multi-year musical odyssey across the changing seasons.
Pre-save It Might As Well Be Spring →
Upcoming Release
"Jazz in Four Seasons: Spring, Vol. 1" marks the beginning of an ambitious four-album series, with each volume recorded in a different country alongside local musicians. For Spring, Hetty Kate traveled to Prague in the spring of 2024, capturing twelve songs (one for each month of the year) that explore every facet of the season's character. From Duke Ellington's lush "A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing" to Dave Brubeck's composition dedicated to birdsong, "Strange Meadowlark," this collection celebrates spring's tempestuous nature: its promise and restlessness, its renewal and melancholy.
Recorded at Studio Svarov, the album features four of Prague's finest jazz musicians, with special appearances by guest artists on traditional Czech instruments (violin, flute, and cimbalom) paying homage to the region's rich classical and folk music heritage. The collection includes "Lesní Studánka" (Crystal Spring), an original composition by guitarist Libor Šmoldas with lyrics translated from Josef Václav Sládek's beloved 1894 Czech poem. Released in springtime in the Southern Hemisphere to coincide with Hetty Kate's annual tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Discover Jazz in Four Seasons: Spring, Vol. 1 →
SYNC LICENSING
Lisez l'Etiquette's catalog is available for sync licensing across film, television, advertising, and other media projects. Our recordings offer an enticing blend of sophistication and personality, bringing distinctive character to your production needs.