The one that we were able to discover in 2003 during the first edition of Star Academy continues to make his mark in the profession, sometimes in the discretion of a dubbing studio, or even by shining on stage in a musical. This will be the case in May 2025 when it will be part of the distribution of We Will Rock Youinspired by the work of Queen. Interview with Martin Rouette about his job, his family life, his role as a father to little Miro and about this album that he plans to eventually launch.
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Martin, you are about to explore the world of Queen in the musical We Will Rock You. How does it feel to return to the stage?
I am always happy to return to the stage, and particularly in a show like this, which carries the history of music. Freddie Mercury’s voice takes me back to my teenage years. I have a love-hate relationship with that voice, because I’m not able to hold it like him. (laughter) I always loved this music, but I was never able to sing it. I’m going to have to work harder, it will be a great challenge. It’s a great opportunity and I’m really happy to do this.
You reappear in the spotlight from time to time. What is your relationship to the profession now?
I pick it up when it passes and try to keep rolling my bump. I try my luck as soon as it’s possible and there is an interesting role for me. I auditioned for The Producers, but I didn’t get a role. I so love the family spirit that we find in this kind of show! I really like the world of the musical, the gang trip. It’s a change from my daily life which, in general, is going to do voices in a dubbing studio. I miss the adrenaline of such a production, so when I get there, it’s a big party! I savor the moment every time.
You were part of the first edition of Star Académie, in 2003. You were instantly propelled to stardom. Looking back, how did you live afterwards?
I told myself that it was all too good to be true, and I always remained down to earth. It’s certain that living such an experience is gripping. It’s unique. When you come out of there and realize how popular you suddenly are, it’s crazy. All that, plus the touring life, was excessive, and few people can get through such an experience without it playing in their head. There is a madness that comes with all that, and it is certain that afterwards, when you fall back into a more “normal” life, you have to adapt. There is mourning to be done. It’s certain that afterwards, I had lower moments in my career. I even remember going to work in a bar. Then I managed to get on the musical theater circuit, and things started to go well after that.
Some alumni of Star Académie, including Suzie Villeneuve, then tried their luck at La Voix. Have you thought about it?
The funny thing is that the production contacted me one day to ask me to do it. But it was during a period when I sang a lot less and where I mainly did dubbing. I had fewer opportunities to work with my singing voice, so I showed up at La Voix when I wasn’t at the top of my game. In the end, it didn’t go very well; I broke my voice during the audition. After that, I changed things in my preparation and continued to work on my voice to strengthen it. But there was a time when I felt like I was swimming against the tide. It depressed me a little, I was disappointed, I no longer felt like I belonged. The interest was less there. But no matter how much we chase away the desire to do the job, it always comes back…
Are you disappointed that you didn’t have the career you wanted?
It’s funny, but a bunch of circumstances allowed me to understand certain things. Leaving Star Académie, we have the impression that everything is possible and that we will have a career at Roch Voisine. But in reality, it’s not quite that. I quickly realized that I was not Wilfred (LeBouthillier), Marie-Élaine (Thibert) or Marie-Mai and that there was not the same excitement around me. So, by mutual agreement, I terminated the contract that linked me to the production company with which I had signed an agreement. After that, I made a shift towards acting.
-In the past, you and I have often discussed an album on which you worked a lot and which ultimately never saw the light of day…
Yes, I really wanted this to happen. I have models at home, I worked hard on things, but I didn’t push more than that to make it work afterwards. Maybe I should have, but I wasn’t well supervised. Fortunately, dubbing allowed me to earn a good living. I’ve always had imposter syndrome. I come from a very simple family and, for some reason, everything always brings me back to music. But when I think about it, I was never the one who dreamed of being a music star.
Your partner, Kathline Gréco, will also be part of the We Will Rock You show. How does it feel to work together?
This will be another meeting on stage, since we met while playing in the musical Footloose. It’s great to play with her and have a front row seat! My girlfriend sings, dances, plays; she is solid in everything. She’s in all the musicals and she’s amazing! We work well together. It will be great to go to rehearsals as a pair. It will be more complicated for Miro’s daycare, but fortunately we are lucky to have help. Kathline’s parents and my mother are exceptional and help us a lot.
Tell me about Miro…
He’s an amazing little boy! He is so wise, at the age of three. He has been talking for a long time now and he imitates his mother and me a lot. He watches us and listens to us so much that he is able to say our lines and sing our songs! He is brilliant; he shows us all the colors! His mother played in Les Produceurs and he came to see the last performance. In the room, he said the lines before the artists on stage! People wondered how a child that age could know so many lines from a show! So we have succession.
Do you want a second child?
We think about it, but working in this profession at atypical hours, with children, requires a lot of management. It is certain that participating in the same show will be a great test for our family life. We are not closed to the idea of a second child, but not in the near future.
What are your other projects?
The dubbing and the We Will Rock You show will keep me very busy. There is always the idea of an album in the air. I think about it often. I would love to launch it one day, but I don’t know when. Maybe I’ll release songs on platforms. This is to be continued…
The musical comedy We Will Rock You will be presented at the Théâtre St-Denis in Montreal starting May 1. It will then take place at the Capitole de Québec from June 20 to July 13, then at the Cogeco amphitheater in Trois-Rivières on September 5 and 6, and at the Théâtre du Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau from October 2 to 19. Info: gestev.com.