We learned at the beginning of the month the identity of the finalists who will take part in the final of Chante en français, which will be held on May 30 at the Plaza Theater at 8 p.m. Alexandre Belliard, artist behind the ambitious Legends of a People project and 2024 spokesperson for the showcase competition, spoke with Are you going out? to discuss both the experience of Chante in French, but also the hazards of life as a singer.
Ten semi-finalists were present on the evening of May 1 at the Maison de la culture in Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, but only five of these musicians had the chance to advance to the next stage: Léïa St-Pierre, Zéphyr Bielinski , Marily Dorion, Erwan and Laurence Bay. These artists will perform in front of a jury of five industry professionals who will award participants 14 scholarships ranging from $300 to $3,000. Contest partners are also offering prizes worth up to $30,000. The final will once again be hosted by Geneviève Borne.
“A competition is an experience, it’s a tool, but it doesn’t build a career,” says Mr. Belliard, who will perform during the final of Chante en français. Once you win, the real work begins. The richness of this competition is being in contact with actors you need to advance your career on a professional level. Radio people, promotion people, show production, album production, the musician lists. For everything else, it’s going to be the fight of a lifetime, to earn your living in French in song,” he continues.
frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen>
At the beginning of the 2010s, Alexandre Belliard embarked on a project of biographical frescoes, songs and monologues on the history of the Francophonie in America. Under the name Legends of a People, Belliard has notably published albums, history textbooks and a comic strip, in addition to having founded a collective in 2014 including artists like Vincent Vallières, Paul Piché and Mara Tremblay . Despite all the efforts made by the artist, Belliard still hesitates to continue his profession for economic reasons.
“ [Je n’ai jamais arrêté] because I really love it, creating, writing, sharing with people, doing shows. Music, then creation, it inhabits me, it animates me, it stimulates me,” explains Alexandre Belliard. “But I have plenty of friends who can’t get by and who have enormous talents. It breaks my heart that they are unhappy doing a job [sur le côté] which does not interest them when they have so much to offer. »
The platforms of streaming do not contribute to the cause, on the contrary, explains Mr. Belliard. “Everyone has the right to earn a living, and so do artists. I’m going to spend $25,000 to produce a record that I’m going to give to Spotify, which will give me back 50 piasses in exchange over two years. It’s ridiculous,” says the Montreal musician.
According to Alexandre Belliard, in addition to festivals like Les Francofolies or competitions like Chante en français or Les Francouvertes, the industry often does not give enough space to French song in the province. Coming to the final of Chante en français, “it’s a way of being responsible for your culture, of going to encourage young people, of going to see them”, underlines Alexandre Belliard. Only musicians aged 18 to 30 can register for the showcase competition.
“I find young singer-songwriters really courageous, today more than ever, to want to do that. I’m really looking forward to hearing what the candidates have to offer. I want to be there for them, I want to talk to them about the profession, to encourage them, but at the same time to talk to them about the reality of being a singer so that they are there with full knowledge of the facts. », says Alexandre Belliard.
If Alexandre Belliard’s speech may appear defeatist, the musician assures that the situation will be reversed one day, that we will not be able to go any lower. But on one condition. “If there is no sovereignty for Quebec, Quebec culture will die. There is only one solution, and that is to become a country. »
Registrations for Chante en français are already closed for this edition, but Belliard greatly encourages young Quebec artists to rush for the next opportunity, in winter 2025. “Register for competitions in general, particularly for Chante en français, it means having everything to gain. You will meet people from the industry, people from your generation who do the same job as you. You will be able to exchange. It gives you the opportunity to get feedback on what you do, and then to make friends. The artists who will be on stage tomorrow will meet at the Francofolies in 20 years, they will meet on tour in Gatineau or all over Quebec,” says Alexandre Belliard.
Registrations for Sing in French are free. Each participating artist automatically receives a $200 grant. Chante en français will also offer finalists a preparatory interpretation workshop presented by Marie-Claire Séguin.
The finale of Chante en français at the Plaza Theater is open to the public free of charge. Details here.
* This article was produced in collaboration with Chante en français.
