Sold-out shows, repeated ovations, awards from Michel Drucker and Jean-Luc Reichmann… Quebec quartet QW4RTZ was a hit with their first-ever residency in France. “It was completely surreal,” breathes Philippe Courchesne Leboeuf.
“If our careers ended tomorrow, we would be happy. It’s a dream come true for us,” the singer continues in an interview with Journal from Paris.
The four members of QW4RTZ have had this “dream” for several years. A first step towards its realization was taken in 2018 with a notable presence in the show “France has incredible talent”.
But just last month, Philippe Courchesne Leboeuf, Louis Alexandre Beauchemin, François Pothier Bouchard and François Dubé arrived in France for a residency at the Théâtre Fontaine, a 600-seat theater in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. The last performance was sold out last Sunday.
“We were doing five shows and they wanted to increase it to seven or even eight shows a week. If we could, we would have. But it’s extremely demanding vocally, that would have been too much,” says Philippe Courchesne Leboeuf.
The power of word of mouth
However, the beginning of this residency was more difficult; Almost ten tickets were sold for the very first performance of the show A Cappella Héros. A “quite destabilizing” experience for the quartet, who had to offer tickets here and there to fill the audience and, above all, to start the word of mouth that could boost sales.
“We wondered what we had gotten ourselves into! But the people we invited talked to us after the show and told us that they would tell their friends about it… We managed to create a buzz and the last performances were even sold out. “It’s a complete success,” says the singer.
QW4RTZ behind the scenes at the Théâtre Fontaine in Paris. Photo provided by QW4RTZ
Printer's invitation
This word of mouth quickly reached influential people in French show business. At the end of one of the QW4RTZ shows, host and actor Jean-Luc Reichmann promised Quebecers his support in promoting an upcoming Paris tour. Michel Drucker went backstage to invite her to his show Vivement Dimanche the next time she performed in France.
And he shouldn't have to wait too long; Discussions are already underway to bring QW4RTZ back to France next fall. But until then, the four singers will embark on their A Cappella Héros tour in Quebec and New Brunswick, as their schedule for the coming months is already full.
The group QW4RTZ will be at MTelus in Montreal on May 31st. For all appointments: www.qw4rtz.ca