France D'Amour and Roxane Bruneau had only crossed paths once before The Voice. It was last summer at Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa. The trend is over and this winter they will be standing next to red chairs at the popular TVA singing competition. “They sat us next to each other. I feel like you're in school when you're with your boyfriend and you just feel like being silly! » says Roxane Bruneau.
Published at 12:56 am. Updated at 9:00 a.m.
The feeling is mutual. It was “love at first sight,” emphasizes France D'Amour.
The complicity between the two singers is not faked. At least that's not how it looked when we met at the MELS studios in Saint-Hubert in December after half a day of recording.
It must be said that neither one nor the other is a special diva. Apart from a “No!” » Introduced benevolently by Roxane Bruneau to the photographer who wanted to take a photo of her during our interview (“I look like a pile of shit when I sit,” she explains), the authors are composers and performers disarmingly simple. Is this why the new coaching team they are forming with Corneille and Mario Pelchat is bringing so much joy to the production team? Perhaps.
One thing is certain, because in the American adaptation, in which Gwen Stefani, Kelly Clarkson, Blake Shelton and Co. walk often – but gently – the Quebec coaches will often throw barbs at each other in this tenth season, the production promises . And because everything was sorted out before filming began, no ego would have been hurt.
I know Mario. I know he can be touchy sometimes. But this year everything! He gets on.
France D'Amour on Mario Pelchat
The excerpts shown to journalists seem to confirm France D'Amour's words. In the first episode we even hear Mario Pelchat say that he would like to “dehumanize” himself.
“We play with each other, we fool around… He interferes in everything! » says Roxane Bruneau.
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Hosted by Charles Lafortune with France D'Amour, Roxane Bruneau, Mario Pelchat and Corneille
New trainers with experience
France D'Amour and Roxane Bruneau are not new to La Voix.
The first takes on the role of coach after briefly replacing Marjo last winter when the tireless rocker fell ill with COVID-19. And some may have forgotten, but France D'Amour briefly mentored Marc Dupré in 2014. This position has since been abolished.
“ [Les mentors] Didn't have much of an impact, notes the singer-songwriter. Marc and I spoke on the phone. I had made some song suggestions and comments… But Marc knew where he wanted to go. I felt like I was sitting at the back of the bus and when I said something, it never moved all the way to the front. »
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
France of love
Ironically, Roxane Bruneau would have liked the help of a mentor during the Duels phase this year. To have someone to consult before expelling a participant.
“I wouldn’t have said no,” she says. It's still hard to make a decision! »
The singer of In my way, Des p'tits bouts de toi and J'pas stressée was also part of the adventure in 2023. She took on the functions of “fifth coach”, recruiting candidates who were rejected in blind auditions to benefit from a second chance in a parallel adventure on the Internet. His first observation while participating in the main competition? “There is more budget on television! I have a real Piton, a real chair! »
Her inclusion in the official group of trainers is all the more significant because in 2013, Roxane Bruneau watched the taping of a program far from the main action from the stands, although it was never imagined that she would pursue a career in the music industry.
“I really enjoy it,” says the newcomer. I always look forward to coming to the studios. I forget that we're making a TV show because it's such a beautiful human experience, with real people, real emotions. I find it fascinating to be confronted with the prejudices I had as a viewer when I thought everything was settled. In the end there are no views, people! »
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Roxane Bruneau
No guarantee
Special feature this year: The entire season will be recorded in advance, among other things to save production costs. No more telephone voting to determine the winner live. The 101 viewers in the studio vote for their favorite.
Another innovation (which, to be honest, we've been waiting for a long time): four candidates compete against each other in the final, but a place is not guaranteed. Due to a system of cross-matches, a coach could lose his two charges in the semi-finals and arrive in the finals empty-handed, mentions director Jill Niquet-Joyal.
This possibility plagued France D'Amour during our visit. “When I need to take my knitting to the finale, I find it handy! »
“But France, that’s it [les producteurs de l’émission] Roxane Bruneau intervenes. They want us to be stressed. They want us to feel some pressure. »
Mission accomplished.
The Voice officially returns to TVA on Sunday, January 21st at 7 p.m. A special retrospective program will be presented on the Sunday before.
She's really funny. She could be a comedian. She has a lot of wit. As a big humor fan, this point fascinated me. She's also a really good singer.
France D'Amour on Roxane Bruneau
She is a professional woman. She knows how to own a scene. It goes through the years. It's still relevant. It's inspiring.
Roxane Bruneau on France D'Amour