As part of the Plateau Doubles evenings at the Verre Bouteille bar in Plateau Mont-Royal, indigenous singers and songwriters Willows and Soleil Launière invited us to an introspection of their roots which proved luminous on this historic day of total eclipse. Michel Labrecque attended.
First, a confession: Willows, aka Geneviève Toupin, is part of my extended family. I will do my best to remain objective…
The Métis singer from Manitoba inaugurated this double set with a trio: drummer Vincent Carré, bassist Guillaume Bourque and Geneviève on guitars and with her unique voice.
She gave us the essentials of her 2023 album, Maison Vent, which is intended to be a synthesis of her different identities: Metis, Franco-Manitoban and now Quebecoise and Montrealer. She told us lots of stories to put it all in context.
To compensate for the absence of the magnificent vocal harmonies and sumptuous arrangements of Maison Vent, Willows and his two cohorts presented a rawer, more rock version of certain songs, but with a lot of musical creativity. The audience appreciated it, judging by the applause.
Geneviève Toupin is first and foremost a voice, which has the capacity to transmit many varied emotions, just through its different inflections and intonations. When she sings a cappella, it’s as if we’re witnessing a solar eclipse… with sound.
After the Willows concert, it’s time for multidisciplinary artist Soleil Launière, an Innu from Mashteuiatsh, in Lac-St-Jean. Last October, she released Taueu, an album that mixes roots and synthetic music, tradition and modernity. Soleil Launière comes from a Quebecoise mother and an Innu father. She has no choice but to mix cultures.
Also a dramatist, Soleil offers a show that is both musical and theatrical. Sometimes she screams and puts her body on display. The music also has a theatrical aspect. Sometimes we juggle with sound saturation.
By the way, to accompany the singer, we find the group Chances, composed of Chloé Lacasse (synthesis-voice), Vincent Carré (drums)… and Geneviève Toupin (synthesis-voice)! There is also the excellent guitarist and arranger Simon Walls. All this results in magnificent vocal harmonies that stir the inside. The room was perhaps too small to absorb such a powerful group.
Soleil Launière shares with us her rediscovery of her roots. She is learning the language of her ancestors, which her father did not speak. We sense an artist who is exploring and who will continue to surprise us.
After more than two hours of music, the audience seemed full and very happy. After the solar eclipse, the indigenous musical eclipse. A great April 8th!
