Yann Perreau ate his black bread away from the spotlight and spent two years far from his native Quebec, but he is ready to win back his audience by publishing love doghis first opus since 2016.
The Lanaudière artist never shied away from the allegations of sexual misconduct that led to his ostracization from the cultural industry in 2020. He admitted his wrongs and went into exile for two years in Paris with his family, pivotal period during which he was able to establish the foundations for the new chapter of his life and career.
“I was total, honest, transparent,” he insists in an interview by videoconference. I would say that it was a beautiful gift of life, after what I experienced, to find myself in the most beautiful city in the world with my family.
A stay-at-home man, he was able to immerse himself in the abundant culture of the capital of France and take the time to write. He also believes he will be able to publish his first book in the coming months. “I took it as an opportunity, a privilege, a springboard. I always dreamed of writing, but my career was going so fast, so well, that I kept putting that moment off,” he adds.
The dog of love
Courtesy Narimane Inc.
love dogSpanish expression meaning “the dog of love” and a play on words with the last name of the interpreter of T’embellis ma vieis an eclectic and luminous album, according to the main interested party.
A great range of artists accepted his invitation, adding their flavor to a piece of his sixth opus. Lulu Hughes, Beyries, FABjustfab (Random Recipe) and Tiken Jah Fakoly helped Yann Perreau materialize his vision and take the pressure off his shoulders. After all, his last album, The fantastic of the starsis by far his most popular.
“For this new album, I wanted to take all this pressure off myself,” explains the 48-year-old. After what I experienced, that was my watchword: have fun, play and do what I do best. Even in the most painful or intimate songs, I had this need to shed light.
«[Depuis 2016] the world has changed, and not necessarily for the better. I want this record like a beacon.”
Artist entrepreneur
Abandoned by his record label Bonsound in 2020, Yann Perreau now holds the reins of his career. Life as a self-employed worker can bring its share of stress, he maintains, but also gratification.
“Since September, I have been in the organization, room rentals, vinyl preparation… I am an artist entrepreneur through and through. It’s quite a pain to deal with, but there’s a feeling of accomplishment.”
To his great relief, his die-hard fans didn’t give up on him despite his long absence and he thanked them by offering free album launches. The event in Montreal was sold out and only a handful of tickets were not sold for the shows in Quebec and Trois-Rivières.
Feverish, but anxious to find his audience again, he will begin all his next concerts with the piece Feartaken from his first album.
“I’m 48 years old and three children and all of a sudden, this song has a huge scope,” he concludes. I sing it with a different personality. My message is: “I went to the end, I didn’t give up, I believed in it.”
- love dog will be on all platforms on November 8. It will be launched at the Ministry on November 7, and at the Palais Montcalm on November 13.
Courtesy Narimane Inc
