Eric Speed: the electric violinist wants to emerge from the shadows

He holds the Guinness record for the fastest violinist in the world, he has played for several well-known local artists, he participated in the composition of the music for the series Méganticbut his name is probably unknown to you. After more than 15 years of making a living from his art, Éric Bérard, aka Eric Speed, wants that to change.

From the shadows, this Montreal artist, who has made the electric violin his favorite instrument and who has a string of corporate contracts, wants to move into the light.

“I would like to be that famous backing singer who stands out and has a place,” he says.

In the Quebec musical world, many people know Eric Speed. “I worked on the albums of Marie-Mai and Marc Dupré. People don’t know that I’m the principal violinist of Mégantic. I made a tune for One Republic,” lists the 43-year-old artist.

Even Robert Charlebois knows him. “I played for his 80^e birthday. He tripped.”

Neoclassical

Eric Speed ​​does what we call bow-pop or, if you prefer, neoclassical, but on the violin.

He has just launched Americaniquea collection of instrumental songs including several reinterpretations of great classics by Beethoven, Vivaldi and Rossini.

This is his fifth album. From his earlier output, two songs enjoyed some success: a cover of Maniacwhose music video reached one million views on YouTube, and Rediscovering Powers.

“I played this one all the way to Europe. I was made to go there just for a tune. I went back and forth to Italy, Switzerland, France. A tune, thank you good evening.”

Manager wanted

It’s not new that Eric Speed ​​is trying to make himself known. In 2011, he achieved his Guinness record at the Just for Laughs Festival, playing in 58 seconds The flight of the bumblebeeby Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, in addition to winning competitions in the shows We don’t have all evening et What would you do for $1000?

Next week he will try his luck on the show What talent!

What is missing to achieve its goal of being known to the general public? People to support him, especially a manager. “I have had some, but never at international level. Charlebois told me that I needed someone who could export me,” says the man who sees himself playing in Las Vegas.

Social networks

He concedes that he also needs to be more visible on social networks. “I have a TikTok, I have a video that has had 100,000 views, but I’m not on it often,” admits Eric Speed, who calls himself “old school” when it comes to the Internet.

Music is not his only passion. In addition to creating a dice game during the pandemic, he spent more than 10 years writing the script for a film, entitled Concertoand is looking for a producer for what he describes as a mix between The red violin et A History of the Bronx.

He is tireless. “I love everything creative. Before I go to bed at night, I have to have created something.”

• L’album Americaniqueby Eric Speed, has been available since September 27.