After winning her first Grammy, experiencing her first political controversy and receiving recognition from the United States, Montrealer Allison Russell has a new goal in mind: singing in French.
The singer-songwriter, who has lived in Nashville for twenty years, even wants to begin research next year that she considers essential to composing not just one, but a series of albums in French.
“It's in my plans. I want to immerse myself in the French-speaking world, in Quebec, in France, in Africa. My biological father comes from Grenada, which was a French colony before the British took over. Like Quebec. It's a big project. I have to study, do a lot of research and want to bring my family with me,” says Allison Russell, with whom Le Journal recently spoke.
Even though she left Montreal a long time ago, Allison Russell has always been proud of her French-speaking roots. In her first two acclaimed albums in the US, Outside Child and The Returner, she often inserted French words into her songs.
“Everyone loves the sound of the French language, it is so musical. “The English always say it's very sexy, even if they don't understand it,” says the woman with a laugh, who even used her time on the set of the popular CBS Mornings show Wednesday morning to point out that she did it participated in “Everyone’s Talking About It” in Quebec.
Barefoot at the Grammys
Allison Russell has been nominated for the Grammys eight times since 2022 and won her first Golden Gramophone thanks to her song Eve Was Black during the American musical gala's afternoon ceremony on February 4.
“I was overwhelmed, it was surreal. “It wasn't possible that they would say 'Allison Russell and Eve Was Black,'” admits the Quebec artist, who even went barefoot on stage to accept her trophy.
“We were in a different building than the Crypto.com Arena to rehearse our number with Joni Mitchell in the evening. We didn't know if we would make it in time for the first ceremony. It was crazy, we were walking through underground tunnels and I had no shoes,” she says.
Blocked by Republicans
A few days later, she found herself at the center of a controversy when elected Republicans in Tennessee blocked a motion introduced by elected Democrats to recognize her win at the Grammys.
A similar motion aimed at paying tribute to the Paramore group was nevertheless passed.
“For what? Because I'm black, because I'm queer?” asks Allison Russell, who is also known for her fight against the anti-LGBTQ laws passed by the Republican Party.
The case made headlines in the United States and Paramore singer Hayley Williams rejected the motion to support Allison Russell.
“Our community spirit scares them,” she said of Republicans. “We have to look after each other. It gives me hope to see Hayley publicly say that she will not be part of their system. I appreciate it very much.”
- Allison Russell is coming to Quebec. A Canadian tour takes them to Studio TD in Montreal and the Imperial Bell in Quebec City on March 15th and 16th.
- She is nominated for three Juno Awards, which will be presented March 23 and 24: songwriter of the year, contemporary roots album and music video.