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 punctuatedby 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 (Sociétéprofessionnelle 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 - Variousartists
Songs:À la ferme de grand-père, Le chœur des puces, Regardez bienLes enfants et la pluie

Hommage à Nino Ferrer– Allo Nino (2009)

Compilation - Variousartists
Song:L’arbre noir

Merci pour la chanson (2008)

Compilation - Variousartists

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
  • ÉtoileGalaxie 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 PerformancePrize for J’échoue