Inside the Erotic Cartoonist's Studio (15): The Soundtrack and Imagination Behind Mademoiselle D'Artagnan

*Transcription

Hello watchers!

Let’s talk about how my fantasies fuel Mademoiselle D’Artagnan. My first and biggest inspiration is The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas—a book I absolutely adore and have read countless times. I also take cues from the films, especially the classic ones, which capture the spirit of the story better than most modern adaptations.

But since my genre is eroticism, my take on the Musketeers follows a different path—adding passion and turning up the heat.

Of course, fantasies rarely work alone. They often need a soundtrack to bring them to life, unlocking vivid imagery and emotions. So, what songs guide me during these daydreams? Let’s dive in…

My Own Fantasies

When I created the character of Mlle. D’Artagnan, I envisioned a young libertine stepping into an independent life, eager to experience the freedom and pleasure that come from breaking free of societal constraints. I think that’s a common dream for many women at least once in their lives. Oh, I’m not saying women don’t cherish romantic love—quite the opposite! But between one love and the next, there’s often a yearning to explore, to push boundaries, to try something ‘forbidden.’

The idea of the ‘forbidden’ is what truly sparks my erotic imagination. Conventional relationships are wonderful for real life—they’re healthy and enduring—but the Goddess of the Universe didn’t gift me my imagination to write chronicles about reality. She wants me to explore other possibilities, even the foolish or extreme ones.

So, my fantasies often revolve around separating sex from love and then weaving them back together, exploring open relationships, polyamory, group dynamics, a touch of domination… And my personal favorite? The impossible relationship—the one that could never work in reality. I love fantasizing about making it possible in my stories.

I can’t deny that, in some ways, I identify with Mlle. D’Artagnan. Main characters always carry a piece of their creator’s soul; they’re like alter-egos—some more so than others. While secondary characters might come from real-life experiences, main characters are always more intimate, more personal. At least, that’s how it is for me.

What if I were a young libertine in Baroque Paris? What would my dreams be? What if anything were possible? That’s how it begins—stepping outside myself and pouring a part of my soul and thoughts into this imaginary woman.

For me, creativity is deeply tied to empathy—the ability to think and feel as another person. Some artists’ creativity leans more toward crafting intricate situations, but mine focuses on the characters themselves. Once I truly feel the character, imagining the situations becomes much easier because the character naturally drives the action through their choices.

And Mlle. D’Artagnan? She’s particularly gifted at stirring up some very kinky situations!

You see, I try to be sincere by including my own fantasies in my comics, but I also do some research—through books, films, and other sources. What truly arouses women? It’s not an easy question to answer because women don’t often talk openly about their fantasies. There are so many clichés, mostly because real fantasies are often considered ‘forbidden.’

We’re not entirely free to talk about them because they can easily be misinterpreted or politicized. And there it is again—our old friend, Self-Censorship!

That’s why I see my work as a way to explore and reflect these ‘forbidden’ female fantasies, but in a thoughtful, gentle way. Of course, it all depends on the sensibility of the adult reader. I know my work isn’t for everyone, and I’m perfectly okay with that.

Music as Inspiration

Music is an essential part of my creative process. I use it not only for inspiration but also to mentally recreate scenes. In a way, I make up my own movies in my mind—complete with their soundtrack! Usually, I have a few specific tracks associated with each character. When they play, I’m instantly transported to the far corners of my imagination.

It’s a great ability, though I admit it can be a little inconvenient at times—like when I’m with other people or in an intimate situation. It probably looks like I’m not paying attention, and honestly? That impression is absolutely correct.

Let’s talk about the music that inspires the Mademoiselle D’Artagnan series. I listen to a lot of Baroque classical music—mainly Bach’s harpsichord pieces, as well as Boccherini and Rameau. They aren’t from the early Baroque period, but they work perfectly for me. Two themes I associate with Queen Anne are Vivaldi’s aria ‘Sposa son disprezzata’ and ‘I Burn, I Burn’ by John Eccles. Both feel incredibly fitting for her character.

Since the story is set in 1625—closer to the 16th century than the 18th—I also draw inspiration from medieval dances like the saltarello and pavane. But what I love most is folk music; it feels closer to the spirit of the common people. ‘Scarborough Fair’ is one of my favorites.

But if I had to pick the theme for the common folk, it would undoubtedly be ‘In Taberna Quando Sumus’, interpreted by Arany Zoltán. This satirical poem, originally from Carmina Burana and first popularized by Carl Orff, shines in Zoltán’s version. Sublime!

    In taberna quando sumus,

    non curamus quid sit humus,

    sed ad ludum properamus,

    cui semper insudamus. 

The tavern is a key setting in my musketeer and pirate comics.

Back to the folk music, and getting a bit more romantic, there's a theme I associate with Aramis and Mlle. D’Artagnan: ‘Ride On’ by Celtic Woman. It’s so sweet! But I see these two more as very dear friends, and I don’t believe Aramis is head-over-heels in love with Mlle. D’Artagnan. No, Aramis has shown me that she has deep feelings for another character. What can I say? I don’t control my characters, as I’ve mentioned before. I’ll figure out what to do with this little twist!

But I also listen to a lot of modern music. The themes for Mlle. D’Artagnan include ‘Shut Up’ by The Ting Tings, ‘Voyage Voyage’ by Desireless, ‘Sleeping in My Car’ by Roxette, ‘The Beds Are Burning’ by Midnight Oil, and ‘Sexy’ by French Affair. She needs action! I do have some quieter songs for her towards the end of the comic, but I can't say I’m able to bring drama to her character. All my attempts to dramatize Mlle. D'Artagnan just don’t seem to work.

For Porthos, his theme is ‘Sexbomb’ by Tom Jones. I can totally picture him singing it to D’Artagnan. For Aramis, it’s ‘Lost on You’ by LP. Initially, I thought it would be one of the songs for a romantic relationship between her and D'Artagnan, but no, she’s singing to someone else. It is what it is. And for Athos, his themes are ‘Human’ by Rag’n’Bone Man and ‘Dead Man Walking’ by War Hall. Yeah, he definitely has the drama that D’Artagnan is missing!

For the antagonists, Milady’s theme is ‘Russian Roulette’ by Rihanna and ‘Perfidia’ by Najwa Nimri. The Cardinal’s theme, for now, is ‘Toccata and Fugue in D minor’ by Johann Sebastian Bach. It suits him perfectly. As for Rochefort, I’m still figuring that out. He’s very secretive and elusive. We’ll see how his character develops.

Now, I’m taking the music somewhere else—straight to the Angoulême Festival. It’s when I travel that I allow myself to daydream about my stories. I just hope I remember to take some photos to share my adventures in France with you in the next video. Until then, bye!

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Songs and Artists:

Classical & Folk:

• 1. “Sposa Son Disprezzata” – Vivaldi (Queen Anne)

• 2. “I Burn, I Burn” – John Eccles (Queen Anne)

• 3. “Ride On” – Celtic Woman (Aramis and D’Artagnan?)

• 4. “Scarborough Fair” – (Traditional, performed by Liad Abraham & Roxane Genot)

• 5. “In Taberna Quando Sumus” – Arany Zoltan (Carmina Burana interpretation)

• 6. “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” – Johann Sebastian Bach (Cardinal Richelieu)

Modern:

• 7. “Shut Up” – The Ting Tings (D’Artagnan)

• 8. “Voyage Voyage” – Desireless (D’Artagnan)

• 9. “Sleeping in My Car” – Roxette (D’Artagnan)

• 10. “The Beds Are Burning” – Midnight Oil (D’Artagnan)

• 11. “Sexy” – French Affair (D’Artagnan)

• 12. “Sexbomb” – Tom Jones (Porthos)

• 13. “Lost on You” – LP (Aramis)

• 14. “Human” – Rag'n'Bone Man (Athos)

• 15. “Dead Man Walking” – War Hall (Athos)

• 16. “Russian Roulette” – Rihanna (Milady)

• 17. “Perfidia” – Najwa Nimri (Milady)

Want to dive deeper into the soundtrack that inspire my ‘Mademoiselle D’Artagnan’ series? Check out my Spotify playlists:

Mademoiselle 1 - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1YQtDftI8DBmCCChIzDndI?si=PzHX_DyxQsqmhxOFz_kpIA

Mademoiselle 2 - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Nj9PuJLrGBB7nZgRWV7BU?si=Qy_3YppVRtyzpCFxBEWv7w