France D'Amour “puts her life to the test” as new coach The voice where she behaves like a “real mother” towards her team. This experience allows her to pass on her knowledge after 30 years of albums and touring, but she also “learns” a lot by being around all these talents.
“I take and I give!” she said in an interview with the QMI Agency.
The four coaches of “La Voix” for the 10th season: Corneille, France D'Amour, Roxane Bruneau and Mario Pelchat. Photo agency QMI, JOEL LEMAY
When we spoke with her just before the holidays, the 57-year-old singer-songwriter was preparing to film the season 10 semifinals of the popular TVA music competition. This version actually contains no live action, unlike the previous nine seasons.
“The caliber is so strong this year. “The candidates are really good,” she reported.
France D'Amour, who likes competing with the three other coaches – Roxane Bruneau, Corneille and Mario Pelchat – “because it's a damn good show”, knows it's a “privilege” to be there, but she says that it is also the case. This also applies to the 40 participants of the show, which is always hosted by Charles Lafortune.
France D'Amour on stage at the Percival Molson Stadium in Montreal, June 10, 2023. Martin Chevalier / JdeM
As for her team, she is in constant contact with her candidates who have heterogeneous musical styles. So it's not primarily rockers who have decided to do this or vice versa. All these wonderful people write and call each other, in short, the D'amour team is united.
“The bond is very strong. I already have an idea of how I'm going to incorporate it into my show, I've also started passing it along to other artists. We want for them, and it's time to pay it forward! I wish I had had that chance, but honestly I wouldn't have had the confidence to do this show at the beginning. But when I see what they're going through, it's the best thing that could have happened to them, and if I had that, I would have gotten where I am a lot quicker!” she said with a laugh, adding that she put down her guitar when she feels like she can no longer learn.
“I’ve done thousands of shows and I’m still learning. If it's not on my guitar it's the vocals, otherwise it's the interaction with the audience, the intelligence of the lyrics, how to convey emotions. As a songwriter, it’s also about writing songs that speak to people the most while offering a musical twist that you don’t expect.”
The host of “La Voix”, Charles Lafortune, at France D'Amour in 2023, when he briefly replaced coach Marjo, who was ill with COVID-19. Martin Chevalier / Le Journal de Montréal
The interpreter of the hits “Animal”, “My Brother” and “Vivante” says she has become “less strict on herself over the years”. This is also advice she gives to some of her candidates to encourage them to recognize their strengths and highlight them.
“We rely on the ace in our game because it takes years to work on our weaknesses. Some are ready to hatch and others need a little more time to find themselves. But that doesn’t mean they’re any less good.”
One of his contestants apologized during filming for not delivering quite what he had agreed to in rehearsal.
France D'Amour is a true stage animal and has a lot to teach the members of her team at La Voix, but she also learns a lot from working with them. Thierry Laforce / QMI Agency
“I told him that the level of perfection he wanted to achieve was inhumane and that everything else in the song was perfect. But at the same time I get it because it took me years to stop beating myself up when I was wrong. If it happens to me now, in the next second it will be in the past. The best always comes.”
A 14th album titled 14
France D'Amour will release his 14th album entitled 14 on March 15th. We already know the excerpt Je sais que je sais, which was played on the radio.
“The rock is more in the attitude than the sound of the album. The sound could be described as today's pop, with beats, sounds, the rhythm has moved more forward. There's even a bit of hip-hop,” commented France D'Amour, who will be touring in April.
The work, compiled with Doug St-Louis and Jason Lang, will also include the piece Les si n'aime pas les rêvees, which fits well with the La Voix experience.
All France D'Amour tour dates can be found here.
The 10th season of La Voix is produced by Productions Déferlantes in collaboration with Quebecor Content and begins Sunday, January 21, at 7 p.m. on TVA. Earlier on Sunday, at the same time, the station will offer a special program celebrating 10 seasons of the popular music competition.