Sparks collaborate with Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard on new song "So May We Start"

"So May We Start", which features vocals from Sparks, Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard and Simon Helberg, is the lead outing from the Annette film soundtrack, starring Driver, Cotillard and Helberg.

Annette is a musical film directed by Leos Carax and co-written by Sparks, aka Ron and Russell Mael.

Sparks say of the project, "Initially, we conceived Annette as another Sparks album. Yet this time it would be a narrative story that would consist of three main characters, a small enough ensemble that would allow us to also present the‘opera’ live on tour...The music, story and album were finished and ready to go, which is where the story takes a huge detour."

They add, "After meeting Leos at Cannes, we felt a real kinship, so we thought we would send him Annette, not expecting anything other than to show him what Sparks was currently up to. And lo and behold, he said he really liked the album and would like to consider it as his next project. We were happily surprised and elated at his reaction. As fans of Leos’ films, to now realise that he would be directing a film of ours was beyond our dreams."

Carax says of Sparks, "I discovered Sparks when I was about 14 – I stole a copy of Propaganda from an underground shop at La Défense because I liked the cover. Not long after that I saw them live at the Olympia in Paris. Propaganda and their next album, Indiscreet, have been part of my life ever since. Their tracks are among the most joyous songs I know (although they’re poignant too, in places). For me, Sparks’ music is like a childhood home, but one free of ghosts. Without them, I don’t think I’d ever have done something I’d dreamt of doing ever since I first started out in cinema: making a 'film in music'."

The first track from the Annette soundtrack follows the recent reveal of the trailer for The Sparks Brothers documentary directed by Edgar Wright.