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Anne-Sophie Hourdeaux
Published on
Oct 8, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.
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The Clairie Lab sets up in Lille and Roubaix : this is a choralewhich has 10 groups in France, founded by… a former member of The Voice! We attended the first meeting at the Convent of Roubaix, with around fifty budding choristers, and a beautiful atmosphere.
We were almost a little too tight for the premiere of the Le Labo de Clairie choir at the Couvent of Roubaix! Song lovers from the Lille metropolis, coming from Lomme, Lys-lez-Lannoy, Bondues, responded well to the project.
The majority of participants were women. “I liked the fact that there was no hearing, that it was open to everyone,” says one. “I wanted to take my mind off things,” said another. Or again: “I read that it was focused on well-being, I have never been part of a choir…” The place also motivated: sing in an old conventit’s amazing!
Warm-ups
“Come closer, we’re going to warm up, we always start by preparing the body. Come on, raise your arms until you try to touch the ceiling! » says Clairie. A giant screen was installed, as well as a keyboard and a microphone. With her good humor and enthusiasm, Clairie, alias Claire de Belloy, guides her students. “Now we wind down, with a sound of release. » After a few jumps, it’s time to work on breathing, “essential in music”, recalls the singing teacher.
“Low breathing, through the stomach, is the best, children do it naturally. We will inhale for 4 counts, exhale for 4 counts, then for 8, then for 16…” She gives the example, then counts to better guide.
“Now we’re going to make some weird sounds, I want to hear you!” » Then she asks everyone to place themselves in three groups: high, medium, low. “If you don’t know, test a group. In any case, we are also here to have fun and change our voices as we want,” she recalls.
These exercises last around ten minutes before you really start singing. But what types of songs? “French, international variety, traditional songs and also my composition, it’s very varied,” explains Clairie, who also regularly invites her students to vote for a song to work on.
Un couple « The Voice »
But who is Clairie? You might recognize his face if you’re a fan of The Voice! She experienced this musical adventure in 2018, which, after having two coaches turn around and share a few songs, changed her life. She didn’t win the competition, but she won a husband and a family!
She could almost sing “I was born on stage”. From a family of artists, she was immersed in the world of entertainment very early on; her father wrote her a tailor-made role when she was 11 years old. She went to the United States to experience shows combining theater and music with her family. She wanted to deepen the technique, so she trained: she attended a musical theater school in Paris, then London. “I am a voice technician,” smiles the sweet young woman who appears fragile but who reveals herself to be combative and assertive on stage and as soon as she has a microphone in her hands.
In 2018, she participated in The Voice saison 7 first in Pascal Obispo’s team then Mika. There she meets Antoine, also a candidate, it’s almost love at first sight! She did not win the title of winner of the show but she won a family: she now has two children with Antoine.
Nine groups since 2022
The idea of creating a choir germinated, but very quickly, it became more than that, a concept of choirs to spread throughout France. Clairie has had 9 groups since 2022, the two most recent of which are in the North. “It’s a region where I wanted to come because my grandmother is from the North, I still have cousins there…”
She defends the positive values of singing: “Singing does a lot of good. This creates oxytocin, dopamine, it oxygenates the blood… And I want to do good to people! »
If everyone started singing, the world would be a very different place!
Joy and open-mindedness, against fear
At the same time, Clairie continues her career as an artist: “I continue to write and sing. My style is more French pop, I write my lyrics with my husband. » And his concerts are a little special, “because I like to make the audience sing as much as possible! »
What themes inspire him the most? “The joy and annoyance of the big flaws of our time! Like withdrawing into oneself. I sing about open-mindedness, living together, creating things together so as not to be afraid of others. » She adds: “It’s a bit of a humanist battle to create choirs! »
As she wants to share her know-how, she also created a voice coaching app for the singers. “And I would like one day, with my husband who is an author-biographer, to write books on the voice! »
100 vocal technique videos
This participation in the choir gives access to a vocal technique course with around a hundred videos listed in 30 chapters for exercises, warm-ups, more advanced technique…
Clairie will not be there at every meeting, but will come regularly to meet his singersand prepare for events, such as concerts. In Roubaix, she can count on her choir director Élia; in Lille, it’s Mathis.
She also announces to her students that other meetings are looming than pure rehearsals: “Concerts will be offered, as well as evenings to get to know each other better. »
A different choir
Because the Labo de Clairie wants to be a different choir. Of course, there are the basics: two hours of rehearsals every week. But in addition, other highlights are on the program: notably the Lab aperitifs, “because I realized that the choristers see each other every week but don’t know their neighbor’s first name! » There will also be “talents from the Lab”. “Some want to sing solo, or have talents as guitarists, pianists… We want to give them the opportunity of an open stage to show all their potential.” Clairie also has another project: bringing together its 9 choirs during a “lab festival”.
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