Download BIOGRAPHY ALEXANDRE DÉSILETS – A SINGULAR VOICE

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, adrenalinefuelled 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
• 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
• 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