Maxime Landry is proof that the future belongs to those who get up early. By going to auditions in Quebec at 4 a.m. 15 years ago, he sealed his destiny as a singer. At 37, he is very busy, dividing his time between the stage, the radio, the production of other artists (Brigitte Boisjoli, Rita Baga) and the writing of novels.
Your most beautiful memory of your time at Star Academy?
«There are so many! I think my fondest memory – because I so hoped to do this job – was my first audition. I arrived at 4 a.m. in Quebec, there was no one there. I literally opened the door to the judges. I sang my song and left there with a disappointment, because they didn’t ask me to do a second song. But the next day, I received a phone call from the team to tell me that I had been one of their favorites.”
What did each teacher give you?
“Especially the kind of self-confidence that I didn’t have at the time, but that I tried not to demonstrate on stage. Dancing with Geneviève Dorion-Coupal, pronunciation with Sophie Faucher. Patrick Huard in interpretation ignited many things in me, including sincerity towards people. Songwriting with Michel Rivard, and then Johanne Blouin who gave me the greatest gift of my life: the piano of Star Academywhich I still have.”
The most valuable advice you received from teachers?
“René Angélil, who was the director of the Academy, told me: “Champion, you are going to sing Let me Love You” when placed in danger. But I couldn’t see myself singing that, so I spoke to him from my heart about my grandfather who was sick and to whom I wanted to dedicate the song. If God exists by Claude Dubois. Finally, he told me to listen to my heart in the future. Since, when I have a feeling, I do it, I follow my instinct, as he told me.”
What remains of Star Academy NOW?
“I host on the radio five days [par] week and I do around 150 performances per year of the show The country of our idols [la rentrée montréalaise aura lieu les 8 et 9 mars au Casino de Montréal]. After 15 years, I’m still here. I’m preparing a 13e album, Safelywith Annie Blanchard, which will be released on March 7. I have written five novels. I owe all this to Star Academy. Doing what I do for a living, I owe that to them.”
What advice(s) would you give to the participants of the 2025 edition?
“To be as real as possible. When performing on stage, there is no place where you spend the longest time than in front of a mirror, facing yourself. When you don’t like what you see or you’re trying to be something else, it’s hard. You have to be as real as possible from the start.”
