Download biography - Alexandre Désilets

BIOGRAPHY
ALEXANDRE DÉSILETS – A SINGULAR VOICE
Propelled to centre stage in 2006 as the public and critics alike discovered a
singer with a singular and fully affirmed personality, Alexandre Désilets
continues to surprise us to this day. He plays his voice like a virtuoso and
his performances instantly win over audiences. His refined pop and strong stage
presence quickly take their rightful place, making Alexandre’s world a truly
one-of-a-kind destination in Quebec’s musical landscape.
During his studies in electro-acoustic music at Concordia University, Désilets
met musical composer Tiago Inuit Conceição, with whom he started funami, an
electro-soul project, knitting songs together using nothing but samples of
Alexandre’s unique voice. Vocophilia led the duo to Portugal in 2004. Two years
later and after considerable accomplishments, Désilets decided to return home
and focus on his solo French debut. After participating in a string of
competitions, he took top honours that same year at the 2006 Festival
international de la chanson de Granby.
Energized by this sudden success, Alexandre teamed up with producer and
artistic director Denis Wolff and released his first album in April 2008,
Escalader l’ivresse, under the guidance of Jean Massicotte (Arthur H, Lhasa de
Sela, Jean Leloup, Patrick Watson and Pierre Lapointe). An ethereal fusion of
electronic, post-rock and hook-laden pop music, Escalader l’ivresse aspired to
redefine the genre. Alexandre’s soaring, soulful voice, backed by thoughtful
lyrics and impressionistic flourishes, is buoyed by well-crafted and surprising
melodies. His first solo project, bold and timeless, garnered both public and
critical acclaim, receiving four nominations at the ADISQ awards (Pop-Rock
Album of the Year, New Artist of the Year, Music Video of the Year and Musical
Producer of the Year). That year, Alexandre was named Révélation Radio-Canada
Musique. In 2009 he walked away with the Félix-Leclerc/FrancoFolies de Montréal
prize and the Relève Musicale Archambault Grand Prize. After completing
Escalader l’ivresse, Alexandre went on a two-year, adrenaline-fuelled tour of
the big festivals: the FrancoFolies (Larochelle 2010, and Montreal 2008 and
2009), Pop Montreal, the FME (Emerging Music Festival), the Coup de cœur
francophone, the Festival Franco-Ontarien, Antenne-A, the Montreal High Lights
Festival and the Mondial Choral. The two years that followed were also
punctuated by shows (Quebec, Canada, France, Belgium), remixes, collaborations
(Bran Van 3000, Catherine Major, Akido..) as well as two motion picture
soundtracks (Le baiser du barbu and Tromper le silence).
In 2010, again teaming up with Denis Wolff and Jean Massicotte, Désilets
released La garde, a more grounded and luminous soul album with a contagious
groove. With La garde, the singer-songwriter again rose to the challenge and
delivered a creative tour de force. A gifted and inventive melodist, he plays
around with various genres, hitting the mark without fail. Surrounded by
musical director Jean Massicotte, writer Mathieu Leclerc and his musicians,
Alexandre takes us from one surprise to another, dodging easy comparisons.
Listeners are treated to organic rhythms, vinyl crackles and retro-futuristic
soundscapes without ever losing focus. Amidst renewal and continuity, this
second album is, above all, an affirmation of Alexandre’s talent and the
unquenchable pleasure he derives from creating daring musical arrangements,
strong melodies and words that move. The critically applauded La garde,
nominated at this year’s ADISQ awards in the Pop-Rock Album of the Year
category, had him performing virtually non-stop and touring various prestigious
music festivals. La garde’s move to the stage was also acclaimed by rave
reviews, mainly due to Alexandre and his musicians’ mesmerizing performances.
Alexandre was honoured for his work once again, this time by the SPACQ (Société
professionnelle des auteurs et compositeurs du Québec).
With La garde, Alexandre Désilets’ artistry comes alive in the album’s stage
adaptation, which integrates the ethereal repertoire of his first CD with the
new electrifying universe of his second. With his uniquely powerful yet
delicate voice, Alexandre delivers a remarkable performance, backed by his four
talented musicians. This shift to the stage also provides a setting in which
each song takes on a whole new dimension.
DISCOGRAPHY
ALBUMS
La garde (2010)
Solo project, singer/songwriter/composer
Escalader l’ivresse (2008)
Solo project, singer/songwriter/composer
Funami- Vocophilia (2005)
Duo project - Alexandre Désilets & Tiago Inuit Conceição
Singer, co-songwriter & co-composer
MOTION PICTURE & TELEVISION SOUNDTRACKS
Le baiser du barbu (2010)
Co-songwriter with Jean Massicotte & Mathieu Vanasse
Tromper le silence (2010)
Singer & co-songwriter with Serge Nakauchi-Pelletier
Yamaska (2009-2010)
Soundtrack singer of the television series Yamaska
Cirque du Soleil Fire Within (2003)
Songs from funami project
COLLABORATIONS
Akido – Undark (2011)
Singer and co-composer of the song Kiss of Death
Bran Van 3000 – The Garden (2010)
Song: featured on Stillness
Studio 12 (2009)
Compilation - Various artists
Song: L’éphèmère
Claude Léveillée – Clo-Clo-Rico! (2009) – children’s songs
Compilation - Various artists
Songs: À la ferme de grand-père, Le chœur des puces, Regardez bien & Les
enfants et la pluie
Hommage à Nino Ferrer – Allo Nino (2009)
Compilation - Various artists
Song: L’arbre noir
Merci pour la chanson (2008)
Compilation - Various artists
Song: L’éphèmère
Band Mark (2008)
Compilation - Various artists
Song: L’éphèmère
Catherine Major – Rose sang (2008)
Song: featured on La voix humaine
Marie Cherrier – Alors quoi? (2007)
Songs: featured on two songs and co-songwriter of La funambule
L’univers de Rajotte (2007)
Compilation - Various artists
Song: Aléatoire
PRIZES & AWARDS
2011
 ADISQ – One nomination: Pop-Rock Album of The Year
2010
 SPACQ - André « Dédé » Fortin Prize, emerging stage talent
2009
 Prix Félix-Leclerc/ FrancoFolies de Montréal Prize
 Relève musicale Archambault Grand Prize
2008
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ADISQ – Four nominations: Pop-Rock Album of the Year, New Artist of the
Year,
Music Video of the Year and Musical Producer of the Year
Étoile Galaxie Prize
Radio-Canada Music Revelation
GAMIQ – One nomination: New Artist of the Year
2006
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Festival international de la chanson de Granby:
Grand Winner (all categories)
Ma première Place des Arts:
Finalist and Song Of The Year Prize for J’échoue
Festival en Chansons de Petite-Vallée:
Finalist and Best Performance Prize for J’échoue