He was the musical revelation of the year 2007. Nearly two decades ago, a young man with blond hair named Julien Doré won the fifth edition of New Star. His trademark? A remarkable talent for covers. Since then, the successes have continued for the 42-year-old singer who pays homage to his great beginnings, and to this era so dear to his heart, with the release of a sixth album entitled Impostor, available to listen to since Friday November 8, 2024, in which he enjoys revisiting pieces from very diverse backgrounds.
Julien Doré: “With the album Imposteur, I wanted to look back”
Télé-Loisirs: Have you ever been called an impostor?
Julien Doré: Yes ! While working on the album in the studio, I Googled my name. While digging through the archives, I came across an article published at the time of the semi-final of New Star title : Genius or imposter? And I found this notion of imposture very interesting for the title of my record.
Why did you prefer covers to new creations?
I wanted to look back and remember where I came from in the eyes of those who come to see me today: I come from a place called New Star17 years ago, when I didn't really know what I was doing there and where I did something that people still remember. I felt it was the right time to do a covers album.
Julien Doré: “I have infinite respect for the career and journey of Mylène Farmer“
How do you manage to seriously engage with Frank Sinatra, Mylène Farmer, Philippe Risoli and the L5?
This really sounds like what I listen to in real life! [Il rit.] This eclecticism is very important to me because it shatters what I have always hated: the notion of box and taste. I needed this album to bring together songs that I love and that I associate with a strong marker of my life, a memory, a smell… This open-mindedness is fundamental.
The album echoes the era of New Star. Why not include a cover of your first audition on the show, the song in favor of autumn of Tété?
We tried it in the studio! But musically, I didn't find the right tone and it didn't add anything more than this almost a cappella moment from the casting at the time. So yes, it could have been a cappella in the end, it would have been funny now that you're talking to me about it… So I just had the idea… It wouldn't have been so stupid to have an a cappella title (laugh) !
You collaborate with several artists on the album, including Sharon Stone for the song Lyrics… Lyrics…
I wanted Alain Delon's voice to be done by someone else on Lyrics… Lyrics. Immediately I thought of a woman and a foreign actress with an accent like Sharon Stone. And I remember that she wrote to me a few years ago on Instagram and that we had already met at the Cannes Film Festival, in short it's a long story (he laughs). It was a real challenge because I didn't know she spoke French at all but it could be incredible to have her participate! And it was! We worked together while taking advantage of one of his visits to Europe!”
Why did you choose a song Mylène Farmer, As long as they are softas the first musical extract?
I have infinite respect for the career and journey of Mylène Farmer… She is someone I had the chance to meet twice and discuss with her. We live in an era where we advocate media overexistence. And she fills the stadiums in the snap of her fingers while maintaining a mystery about her. It sublimates the absence somewhere. This way of leading one's career is so contrary to the times in which we live. I find her inspiring. That's why she opens the album and closes it with Hi Lolitaa song she wrote for Alizée at the time.
In your recovery of Mama's Eyes by Kenji Girac, we hear the voice of a woman in the introduction…
She's my mother. I really wanted to cover this song that I love very much as a modest tribute to my mother. One day on the studio couch, I'm deep in thought and I go to my email and I'm like, 'Here I'm going to listen to my mother's voice again'. And I realize that I no longer have a message from her… With a little help, I managed to retrieve a message that was intended for me, a message all the more poetic than banal which talks about the weather and simply to know how his son is doing. It makes me feel good to hear his voice again. I really wanted to capture my mother's voice in a song because I don't have any images or videos of her.
In the music video for the cover of All the women in your lifeonly four of the L5 are present…
Yes. This is why the clip opens with a phone call to this fifth grader, Louisy. To tell you the truth, a few months ago, I wrote a message to all the L5 on Instagram to tell them I was doing this cover of All the women in your life and that I wanted to make a music video. But then circumstances meant that four of them agreed to participate in the clip and the fifth was present through this phone call.
You also repeat the nursery rhyme Ah les crocodiles. Do you usually sing it to your 3 year old son?
To be honest, not really. On the other hand, we both make music. Often when I sing something and start playing the piano, his first instinct will be to pick up an instrument to participate. But frankly and fortunately, he never expressed the desire to listen to one of my songs! What he loves is coming with it, sitting at rehearsals on dad's flying carpet and watching the dogs Simone and Jean-Marc, dancing with the musicians 5 minutes before the start of the pestacle (the name of his next tour, editor’s note).
Julien DoréBeing an actor is a hobby, it's not my job“
On the TV side, season 1 of the series Panda worked very well…
To say the least, we are the second series behind HPI in audiences! There is a season 2 which is in the works and which we finished filming in mid-July. Unfortunately I don't have any more information. No release date on the horizon at the moment.
Do you identify in life with this character of Victor Pandaloni, a bit of a cool guy?
Yes definitely a little! (He laughs). The role was thought up by the screenwriters to be offered to me! And that's what we did, we had to build everything through the other characters from the castings to the writing of the settings, all I wanted was for it to be located in my region in the Camargue. I wanted it to show this land of my childhood. And because I also knew that by doing this by moving this series to my home, I was also going to have people from my region work on this shoot.
What do you like about acting?
For me it's not a job, it's more of a hobby! It's an extra zone, a breathing space around music but it's not where I really fit in, I don't want it to become my job. There is a season 2 of Panda and I don't think there will be more! It's like when I do a season in The Voice kidsI adore ! I enjoy doing it but that's it. I'm not settling into this chair. My job and my passion is the stage and music.
Tell us about your future role in the Star Academy…
I will be an exceptional teacher. In fact, in my opinion, I think I am correctly placed today to perhaps discuss it with some of the candidates of this new season of the Star Academy : give them advice, pitfalls to avoid. As I experienced it New Star 17 years ago. So I will have the chance to go to the castle several times to chat with them, also debrief certain bonuses, then go to the bonuses sometimes too, sing with them.
