BIOGRAPHY ALEXANDRE DÉSILETS – A SINGULAR VOICE

BIOGRAPHY
ALEXANDRE DÉSILETS – A SINGULAR VOICE
Propelled to centre stage in 2006 as the public and critics alike discovered a singer with a singular
and fully affirmed personality, Alexandre Désilets continues to surprise us to this day. He plays his
voice like a virtuoso and his performances instantly win over audiences. His refined pop and strong
stage presence quickly take their rightful place, making Alexandre’s world a truly one-of-a-kind
destination in Quebec’s musical landscape.
During his studies in electro-acoustic music at Concordia University, Désilets met musical
composer Tiago Inuit Conceição, with whom he started funami, an electro-soul project, knitting
songs together using nothing but samples of Alexandre’s unique voice. Vocophilia led the duo to
Portugal in 2004. Two years later and after considerable accomplishments, Désilets decided to
return home and focus on his solo French debut. After participating in a string of competitions, he
took top honours that same year at the 2006 Festival international de la chanson de Granby.
Energized by this sudden success, Alexandre teamed up with producer and artistic director Denis
Wolff and released his first album in April 2008, Escalader l’ivresse, under the guidance of Jean
Massicotte (Arthur H, Lhasa de Sela, Jean Leloup, Patrick Watson and Pierre Lapointe). An ethereal
fusion of electronic, post-rock and hook-laden pop music, Escalader l’ivresse aspired to redefine
the genre. Alexandre’s soaring, soulful voice, backed by thoughtful lyrics and impressionistic
flourishes, is buoyed by well-crafted and surprising melodies. His first solo project, bold and
timeless, garnered both public and critical acclaim, receiving four nominations at the ADISQ
awards (Pop-Rock Album of the Year, New Artist of the Year, Music Video of the Year and Musical
Producer of the Year). That year, Alexandre was named Révélation Radio-Canada Musique. In
2009 he walked away with the Félix-Leclerc/FrancoFolies de Montréal prize and the Relève
Musicale Archambault Grand Prize. After completing Escalader l’ivresse, Alexandre went on a twoyear, adrenaline-fuelled tour of the big festivals: the FrancoFolies (Larochelle 2010, and Montreal
2008 and 2009), Pop Montreal, the FME (Emerging Music Festival), the Coup de cœur
francophone, the Festival Franco-Ontarien, Antenne-A, the Montreal High Lights Festival and the
Mondial Choral. The two years that followed were also punctuated by shows (Quebec, Canada,
France, Belgium), remixes, collaborations (Bran Van 3000, Catherine Major, Akido..) as well as two
motion picture soundtracks (Le baiser du barbu and Tromper le silence).
In 2010, again teaming up with Denis Wolff and Jean Massicotte, Désilets released La garde, a
more grounded and luminous soul album with a contagious groove. With La garde, the singersongwriter again rose to the challenge and delivered a creative tour de force. A gifted and inventive
melodist, he plays around with various genres, hitting the mark without fail. Surrounded by musical
director Jean Massicotte, writer Mathieu Leclerc and his musicians, Alexandre takes us from one
surprise to another, dodging easy comparisons. Listeners are treated to organic rhythms, vinyl
crackles and retro-futuristic soundscapes without ever losing focus. Amidst renewal and continuity,
this second album is, above all, an affirmation of Alexandre’s talent and the unquenchable
pleasure he derives from creating daring musical arrangements, strong melodies and words that
move. The critically applauded La garde, nominated at this year’s ADISQ awards in the Pop-Rock
Album of the Year category, had him performing virtually non-stop and touring various prestigious
music festivals. La garde’s move to the stage was also acclaimed by rave reviews, mainly due to
Alexandre and his musicians’ mesmerizing performances. Alexandre was honoured for his work
once again, this time by the SPACQ (Société professionnelle des auteurs et compositeurs du
Québec).
With La garde, Alexandre Désilets’ artistry comes alive in the album’s stage adaptation, which
integrates the ethereal repertoire of his first CD with the new electrifying universe of his second.
With his uniquely powerful yet delicate voice, Alexandre delivers a remarkable performance,
backed by his four talented musicians. This shift to the stage also provides a setting in which each
song takes on a whole new dimension.
IN FEBRUARY 2014, ALEXANDRE WILL WELCOME YOU INTO HIS FANCY GHETTO, HIS
THIRD ALBUM TO BE RELEASED ON INDICA RECORDS.
DISCOGRAPHY
ALBUMS
La garde (2010)
Solo project, singer/songwriter/composer
Escalader l’ivresse (2008)
Solo project, singer/songwriter/composer
Funami- Vocophilia (2005)
Duo project - Alexandre Désilets & Tiago Inuit Conceição
Singer, co-songwriter & co-composer
MOTION PICTURE & TELEVISION SOUNDTRACKS
Le baiser du barbu (2010)
Co-songwriter with Jean Massicotte & Mathieu Vanasse
Tromper le silence (2010)
Singer & co-songwriter with Serge Nakauchi-Pelletier
Yamaska (2009-2010)
Soundtrack singer of the television series Yamaska
Cirque du Soleil Fire Within (2003)
Songs from funami project
COLLABORATIONS
Akido – Undark (2011)
Singer and co-composer of the song Kiss of Death
Bran Van 3000 – The Garden (2010)
Song: featured on Stillness
Studio 12 (2009)
Compilation - Various artists
Song: L’éphèmère
Claude Léveillée – Clo-Clo-Rico! (2009) – children’s songs
Compilation - Various artists
Songs: À la ferme de grand-père, Le chœur des puces, Regardez bien & Les enfants et la pluie
Hommage à Nino Ferrer – Allo Nino (2009)
Compilation - Various artists
Song: L’arbre noir
Merci pour la chanson (2008)
Compilation - Various artists
Song: L’éphèmère
Band Mark (2008)
Compilation - Various artists
Song: L’éphèmère
Catherine Major – Rose sang (2008)
Song: featured on La voix humaine
Marie Cherrier – Alors quoi? (2007)
Songs: featured on two songs and co-songwriter of La funambule
L’univers de Rajotte (2007)
Compilation - Various artists
Song: Aléatoire