The Christmas decorations are put away, the cake is digested, it's time to find out what local songs warmed up our month of January. Good to hear!
Behind the day (with Albin de la Simone), Beyries
Photo from the archives of Mario Beauregard/Agence QMI
(CB) – What have you been waiting for, Amélie Beyries, to sing in French? Her sensitive voice in the language of Vigneault to the words of Maxime Le Flaguais is velvet to our ears. A pearl, this duo ballad that tells of love and finitude.
Houston, Fredz
Photo from the archives of Marcel Tremblay/Agence QMI
(SEN) – “Houston, there's something like a problem, a flaw in me that stops me from being myself,” sings Fredz. We fall in love with the catchy melody, the voice with electro accents and the words of this artist who, at 21 years old, is not afraid to reveal his moods, fears and existential questions to the public.
Primeloud and sharp
Photo from the archives of Didier Débusschère/Le Journal de Québec
(AC) – Loud's preparation for his show at the Olympia in Paris continues with this piece that he signs with Frenchman Edge. The Montreal rapper's sharp pen and his partner's polite side delight both fans of pure rap and fans of pop-rap.
Emmanuelle'Valance
Photo provided by Elizabeth Landry
(MP) – Sweet Emmanuelle is a beautiful invitation to dream of impossible loves. A fine pen, music just melancholic enough. It makes us look forward to his album La nuit s'conceve, which will be available on February 2nd.
Die tomorrowcorridor
Photo by Dominic Berthiaume, provided by Bonsound Cedric Belanger
(CB) – In the press release announcing the song, Jonathan Robert says the idea for this track was inspired by death while buying life insurance. This may be the least rocky explanation in the story, but the tune is good. A star in the notebook of one of our indie groups par excellence.
Now and hereIan Kelly
Photo Pierre-Paul Poulin/Le Journal de Montréal/Agence QMI
(SEN) – Clouds, Ian Kelly's first album entirely in French, opens with this beautiful piece. It's gentle, still a little folky and delivered with emotion by Kelly.
focusJoe Rocca
Photo from Joe Rocca's Instagram page
(AC) – A strong comeback after several years of absence for the Dead Obies member. On “Focus,” a catchy track with disco overtones, Joe Rocca proves he's capable of maintaining a fiery tempo without compromising the quality of his writing.
I didn't have my phoneSandra contour
Photo provided by Andy Jon
(MP) – Sandra Contour brings it gently to the point with her first folk song, “I Haven't Have My Phone,” in which she evokes those simple memories of love that sometimes become the only treasures of what was.
I lost my babyClodelle
Photo by Richard Bernardin, provided by Coyote Records
(CB) – The transition from English to French is the theme of January. Since its founding in 2023, Clodelle's French-language publisher is kicking into second gear thanks to this very well-polished, Western-spiced cover version of Jean Leloup's classic.
Say goodbyeAlexandre Poulin
Photo Pierre-Paul Poulin/Le Journal de Montréal/Agence QMI
(SEN) –Alexandre Poulin has managed to transform a sad event (the death of his father) into a touching and luminous work. “Saying Farewell” is a powerful piece for his loving father, to whom he loves to say “See you later.”