On December 31, 2022, they were still strangers. A year later, our cultural life would not be the same without them. Here are 6 artists we discovered in 2023 and whose adventures we will now follow.
Eric Chacour
Éric Chacour Photo by Justine Latour, provided by Éditions Alto
(SEN) – Éric Chacour, completely unknown to the literary world before November 2023, became the writer of the hour by publishing his first novel, which quickly won prizes in Quebec and France. Beyond the coveted vocabulary and unique narrative form, the beauty of this book lies in the depth and complexity of human relationships that it tells in a sublime way.
Alice Moreault
Alice Moreault Photo Archive Mario Beauregard/Agence QMI
(MD) – She has worked hard for several years, but for many, including the author of these lines, 2023 was the year Alice Moreault finally emerged from anonymity. Notable in the role of a loving and protective sister in the film Solo, the young actress also shone alongside Julie Le Breton in the second season of the excellent police series A Criminal Affair.
Arielle Soucy
Arielle Soucy Photo provided by Bonbonbon Records
(MP) – What a lovely surprise it is “There's Nothing That I'm Not,” Arielle Soucy's particularly accomplished first folk album. Is it the artist's fine pen that catches the eye so much? Or the sweet arrangements, the perfect basis for his universe, both simple and grandiose? One thing is certain: this talent holds promise.
Dave Fenley
Dave Fenley Photo Archive Cédric Bélanger/Le Journal de Québec
(AC) – Even though we discovered it at the end of 2022 with the show En direct de l'Univers, 2023 was the year of its meteoric rise. A true revelation of country music in Quebec – despite not yet being widely popular in his homeland – this gentle giant from Texas has the voice and charisma to reach new heights in 2024.
John Duff
John Duff Photo Archive/Getty Images via AFP
(BL) – Fans of vibrant pop music should remember this name: John Duff. Beyond the seductive stage personality, the singer turns out to be a full-fledged pop star, but above all, he is able to deliver irresistible – and oh-so-persistent – catchy tunes. Examples? We haven't been able to get “House on Fire” and “Somebody's Daughter” out of our heads since we first heard them. Far be it from us to complain about it.
Zaho de Sagazan
Zaho de Sagazan Photo from the archives of Emma Picq, provided by Universal Music France
(CB) – She has the gift of finding the right words, simple and profound, an unparalleled feel for melodies and lots of chatter: mixing the coldness of electronic music with the poetry of French songs, Zaho de Sagazan captivates and amazes. La symphonie des éclairs, the 23-year-old Frenchwoman's first album, heralds a bright future. Listen to “Sadness, Enough, Tell me that you love me” to see for yourself.