Interviews

Inspired by the poetry of the gifted Sylvia Plath (1932-1963), I Am Vertical brings together the Montreal ensembles Cordâme and Sixtrum. Cordâme’s leader, double bassist Jean-Félix Mailloux, has adapted texts by the American author and put them into the mouth of singer Coral Egan, around whom strings and percussion unfold. Sixtrum is one of our main percussive vehicles for local and international creative music. Cordâme, for its part, is a chamber jazz ensemble that multiplies crossovers and superimpositions with modern music from classical traditions of all eras. A few days before the program launch, Alain Brunet interviewed Jean-Félix Mailloux and Fabrice Marandola, Sixtrum’s spokesmen. For PAN M 360!

INFO AND TICKETS HERE

Program

Jean-Félix Mailloux: Canadian Creations (2025) – several movements to poems by Sylvia Plath

I am vertical
Mirror
Altea
The night dances
Daddy
Balloons
Soliloquy Of The Solipsist
Ariel
You’re 
Insomniac

Artists

The collaborative exploration between vocal ensemble Phth and visual artist Beth Frey promises immersive, spontaneous and interactive storytelling. This real-time experience takes place on Sunday, February 16 at the Society for Arts and Technology (SAT), as part of the Montreal / New Musics festival presented by the Société de musique contemporaine du Québec (SMCQ). Beth Frey’s art video is populated by strange, “morphologically ambiguous” creatures, who find their vocal repartee in a quintet of singers inclined to improvisation and advanced singing techniques, including onomatopoeia, borborygms and other sounds from a lyrical vocabulary developed by the avant-garde over recent decades. Bizarre from the outset, there’s nothing austere about Phth and Beth Frey’s joint approach: humor and surprise are an integral part of the affair. Like their video interlocutor, Phth’s artists are all composers and improvisers, perfectly capable of laying the foundations of a coherent and attractive edifice. To better prepare for this experience, Alain Brunet met with Phth’s Beth Frey and Gabriel Dharmoo.

Participants

Concept by

Program

More info: Festival Montréal/Nouvelles Musiques / 12e édition (2025) — Musique et images.

The Centre des musiciens du monde in Montréal is presenting a brand new series of events entitled ‘Intimate Concerts’, to be held in a small, welcoming space behind the altar of Saint-Enfant-Jésus church, on the corner of Saint-Dominique and Saint-Joseph. In this space, 50 people will be able to enjoy the spellbinding sounds of the Arabic oud, the Mongolian morin khuur, the Peruvian charango, the Persian setar (not to be confused with the Indian sitar) and the Rwandan inanga. These will be moments of musical, emotional and even spiritual communion, as Frédéric Léotar, the Centre’s General Director, explains in more detail in this interview.

PROGRAMME AND TICKETS FOR THE INTIMATE CONCERTS SERIES

Sous le slogan Lâche ta bête de fête, Igloofête/Igloofest lance sa pleine programmation le jeudi 16 janvier, Quai Jacques-Cartier, pour 4 week-ends consécutifs au cœur de l’hiver. Tali Rose et Michael Bibi sont les têtes d’affiche, Scène Sapporo pendant que Félix Patry, DJ Minx et Willwalsh se succéderont sur la scène Vidéotron. Tout ça ce  jeudi, coup d’envoi d’une brochette impressionnante d’invités internationaux et locaux pour les semaines qui viennent. Pour mieux préparer ses sorties igloofestives, quoi de mieux que d’en causer au principal architecte de la programmation, Mathieu Constance ? 

PAN M 360. Y a-t-il un angle d’attaque pour Igloofête / Igloofest 2025 ? 

Mathieu Constance:  Pour 2025, on parle de notre Tournée Monstre Igloofest qui débute à Montréal le 16 janvier et qui s’étend à Gatineau pour la première fois (13-14-15 février) et à Québec pour sa troisième édition (6-7-8 mars). On encourage notre public à participer à la fête à travers le Québec, durant l’hiver au complet! 

PAN M 360: Quelles sont les actualisations en termes stylistiques?

Mathieu Constance: On retrouve de la hyperpop avec Bladee, DOSS et COUCOU CHLOE ainsi que plusieurs premières, dont Michael Bibi, Skepta (Más Tiempo), Adriatique et Cloonee. Ces noms reflètent la popularité de la techno mélodique et de la tech house, des styles qui font fureur partout dans le monde en ce moment. 

PAN M 360: Visiblement, la direction artistique se fait plaisir avec des pointures telles Skepta et Four Tet ou Apashe. Comment attirer ces artistes qui ne font pas exactement dans le dancefloor pour les présenter aux danseurs.euses du snowfloor ?

Mathieu Constance: On retrouve Four Tet et Apashe tous les deux pour la 2e fois, on sait qu’ils savent nous offrir des moments inoubliables de dancefloor! Skepta présente son projet DJ set Más Tiempo pour la première fois à Montréal. C’est un projet house qui a fait vibrer les dancefloors partout dans le monde, de Miami à Londres à Ibiza. 

PAN M 360: Vous n’invitez donc pas uniquement des artistes dont la fonction principale est de faire danser, on pense à Skepta qui vient en DJ set. Y en a-t-il d’autres et pourquoi ainsi diversifier la proposition?

Mathieu Constance: Bladee présente un live qui est moins orienté au dancefloor, mais qui se prêtera à merveille à notre offre de production. On a vu l’engouement pour des artistes comme 100 gecs et on a cherché à présenter quelque chose de nouveau, qui plaira à un nouveau public. Et c’est la première fois qu’on fait un événement 15 ans et + à Igloofest.

PAN M 360:. Vous poursuivez dans la même lignée, c’est-à-dire un riche mélange de découvertes et artistes consacrés. Le public en est-il conscient ou encore ne viendra-t-il que pour “l’expérience” ?

Mathieu Constance: Je pense qu’on retrouve vraiment un équilibre entre les deux;  pouvoir présenter les deux types d’artistes en parallèle permet au public de pouvoir faire des découvertes inattendues, même quand on va d’abord au set d’une tête d’affiche plus connue. 

PAN M 360: Quelles sont tes meilleures prises cette année, d’un point de vue strictement artistique ? Quelques mots pour chacun STP?

Mathieu Constance: Je suis très content de pouvoir produire le lineup de Four Tet en fermeture – on retrouve un mélange pointu de house, techno, UKG, et tout ce qui se retrouve entre ces styles pour un closing mémorable.

Adriatique sera un spectacle à ne pas manquer non plus, c’est un duo qu’on suit depuis longtemps et qu’on a hâte de voir brasser la scène principale.

En 3e, Marie Davidson est une incontournable, une première bien attendue à Igloofest. Elle lance un album sur le label du duo mythique Soulwax prochainement, et on a très hâte de voir ce qu’elle nous réserve pour son DJ set. 

PAN M 360:  Quelles sont tes meilleures prises cette année, d’un point de vue pouvoir attractif ?

Mathieu Constance: On a droit à beaucoup de grosses soirées cet hiver, mais j’estime que Steve Angello, Adriatique et Claptone seront de gros moments! 

PAN M 360:. Vous avez choisi la formule 3 soirs par semaine, c’est finalement la meilleure à l’évidence. Pourquoi ?

Mathieu Constance: Trois jours de weekend permet non seulement un engagement plus fort de la part des festivaliers, en particulier ceux qui viennent d’ailleurs, mais offre également une programmation variée et de nombreuses opportunités en termes de booking. Du point de vue de l’équipe, c’est une configuration idéale, garantissant des opérations plus fluides et une meilleure implication tout au long de l’événement. 

PAN M 360:. Peux-tu décrire sommairement le public qui se présente à Igloofest en 2025 ? Tranche d’âge, origines (locale ou touristique), intérêt pour la “mélomanie”  ou le party, etc.

Mathieu Constance: Le public d’Igloofest est majoritairement composé de jeunes mélomanes, âgés de 18 à 35 ans qui ont la culture festive dans le sang. L’événement attire des guerriers du froid de tous âges, en quête d’une expérience hivernale unique avec ses offres connexes d’Igloofête et les soirées Après-Ski. Igloofest séduit non seulement les Montréalais, mais aussi les visiteurs français (du Québec et de France!), la majorité du public accueilli réside dans la région du grand Montréal.

TOUTE LA PROGRAMMATION ET ACHAT DE BILLETS ICI

KingAlexBeats is the son of Quebec-Salvador beatmaker Doc Filo. From an early age, he was fascinated by his father’s work, and quickly picked up the tools he needed to produce music. In a way, this basic equipment became his game console! Today, he’s 23, with over a decade’s experience in sound creation. He has worked with the Canicule community of artists (Shreez, Tizzo, Le Ice, etc.) and created beats for FouKi, Mike Shabb, Maky Lavender, Obia le chef, to name a few. We also owe him a pair of albums: King (2022) and Roi à la naissance (2024). American hip-hop, trap, rap keb, reggaeton, afrobeats and other sub-genres make up his palette of colors, which he puts to good use in his work as a producer and composer.

What followed was spectacular: he was spotted by Alexander Castillo Vasquez, a Latin-keb producer who has supplied beats to the big leagues of pop, from Pitbull to Justin Bieber to Nicki Minaj. Interested in his work, KingAlexBeats’ new mentor invited him to share his work with international heavyweights. The young Laval beatmaker was then able to work with Castillo on Colombian superstar Shakira’s megatube Soltera, which prompted Pitbull to call on his services. The snowball effect has only just begun, with more prestigious collaborations to come, which is why PAN M 360 is interested in his work. Alain Brunet spoke to him, so let’s get to know KingAlexBeats!

Nuits d’Afrique is kicking off 2025 on a high note with an incredible treat for us: Omar Sosa and Seckou Keita’s SUBA Trio, joined by the phenomenal percussionist Gustavo Ovalles. Afro-Cuban jazz, West African vibes, and breathtaking improvisations—this trio is renowned for performances that leave audiences spellbound. As they get ready to bring us music from their last two albums, Transparent Water and SUBA, they’re promising an evening filled with soul, creativity, and a musical connection that runs deep.

PAN M 360 : Omar, Seckou, it’s such a pleasure to have you here. We’re all very excited about your upcoming performance in Montreal for Nuits d’Afrique. Have you performed in Montreal before?

Omar Sosa : Yes, I’ve played there a few times. It’s one of the great music cities of the world. The Jazz Festival there is legendary.

Seckou Keita : I’ve performed there as well. The energy is incredible. I remember being there for the Jazz Festival—the atmosphere was unforgettable. But I hear it’s quite cold in Montreal right now!

PAN M 360 : Yes, quite right. it’s around minus 10 degrees at the moment. But I’m sure your performance will bring the warmth we need. 

Omar Sosa : Definitely! And with Seckou coming straight from Senegal, he’ll bring some of that beautiful warmth with him.

PAN M 360 : I know you’ve been performing together for a while now. But still, how do you manage rehearsals when you’re often on opposite sides of the world?

Omar Sosa : We have a connection that transcends geography. It’s not just about rehearsing; it’s about feeling. Every time we come together, something magical happens. Seckou brings fresh energy and grooves from Senegal, and that keeps our performances alive.

Seckou Keita : Yes, it’s a natural connection that grows stronger every time we meet. The longer we’re apart, the more intense and vibrant it is when we reunite. Our performance in Montreal will be a burst of that energy.

PAN M 360 : So by now do you mostly play established repertoire from your albums, or is there a lot of improvisation in your shows?

Omar Sosa : We blend both. We honor our albums, Transparent Water and SUBA, but every performance is different. The structures are there—A, B, bridge—but the connection between us always brings something new. Each show feels like a new creation.

Seckou Keita: Absolutely. There’s always a fresh dynamic. It’s like every performance is a new album in itself. We share this energy with the audience, and it’s amazing to see how it resonates.

PAN M 360 : When was the last time you performed together?

Seckou Keita : It was in March last year, during our UK tour. Since then, we’ve been working on separate projects, but we’re excited to bring all that new inspiration back to the SUBA Trio.

Omar Sosa : Exactly. Our music reflects not just our collaboration but also our individual journeys. Every time we play together, it’s fresh and deeply rooted in our traditions and spirits.

PAN M 360 : Let’s talk about your Tiny Desk performance. How was that experience?

Omar Sosa : That was actually my second Tiny Desk. The first one was years ago with Paolo Fresu, and back then, it really was a desk—no set, just pure and simple. Now, they’ve created a little set, but the intimacy is still there. The focus on acoustic sound and the natural vibe is beautiful.

Seckou Keita : It was incredible. The space is so small, especially for Omar’s piano and Gustavo’s percussion setup. But the technicians did an amazing job creating a sound that’s so alive. The interaction with the people in the office was fantastic. It felt like we were sharing something deeply personal with them.

PAN M 360 : That performance has gained quite a following. Did it help spread the word about the SUBA Trio?

Seckou Keita : Yes, it brought a lot of attention to what we do. People often tell us they discovered us through Tiny Desk. It’s a blessing to have such a platform where our music can reach so many new listeners.

PAN M 360 : As a musician myself, I’m curious about how you balance the sound between the kora and the piano. Both can occupy similar tonal spaces. How do you make it work?

Omar Sosa : It’s all about listening and being humble. If Seckou is leading with his voice and kora, my role is to support and create a foundation. We spent a lot of time during the production of SUBA understanding each other’s spaces and finding that balance.

Seckou Keita : Yes, it’s a dialogue. We know when to give each other space and when to blend. It’s about trust and knowing each other deeply, both musically and spiritually.

PAN M 360 : Your music often feels like it channels something beyond the ordinary. How do you explain that?

Seckou Keita : Sometimes, the energy we create is so powerful that it feels beyond human. It’s like we’re just channels for something greater. Those moments are humbling and remind us of the spiritual dimension of what we do.

Omar Sosa : It’s love. Love for the music, for each other, for our traditions, and for the audience. When that love is true, everything flows naturally. It’s not something you can force; it’s something you feel.

PAN M 360 : Thank you both for your thoughts. We’re really looking forward to experiencing that love and connection in Montreal.

Omar Sosa : Thank you. We’re excited to bring our music to such a special city.

Seckou Keita : Yes, thank you, merci. We’ll see you soon in Montreal!

Here’s an insight into the immersive part of a program presented at the Satosphère on February 15 as part of Montreal / Nouvelles Musiques, a festival presented every two years by the Société de musique contemporaine du Québec. Performed by pianist Eve Egoyan, Simple Lines of Enquiry “takes us on a slow musical drift that lets us experience the emotional possibilities of the piano and its ethereal sonorities. “Imagined here as an echo of this piece by Eve Egoyan’s long-time accomplice Ann Southam, the immersive video Machine for Taking Time by Eve Egoyan’s life partner David Rokeby “transports us through an impossible panorama of Montreal. Drawn from 750,000 images of the city taken over the course of the seasons and weather conditions, it shows us a city that is slowly transforming, superimposing its different images unpredictably over time.” To further enlighten PAN M 360 users, Alain Brunet interviewed Eve Egoyan prior to this M/NM program.

INFOS AND TICKETS HERE

Montreal/New Music gets off to an explosive start with the Dynamite Barrel concert by the Dutch ensemble New European Ensemble (NEuE), presented on February 14 at the Society for Arts and Technology (SAT).

We’re encouraged to prepare ourselves for a “motley mix where music and images intertwine in a frenzied dance with nostalgic and playful works” by Tjøgersen, Cendo, Black, Bailie and a creation by young Quebec composer Francis Battah, commissioned by SMCQ.

This program is “a collection of precious memories, filled with dance, shadow theater, energy, raw technique on instruments, and reminders of nostalgic moments spent watching cartoons”.

In this context, Francis Battah respects the instrumentation of the New European Ensemble, this time drawing inspiration from Miles Davis’ legendary Bitches Brew album to take us truly elsewhere, into his own space. Alain Brunet introduces us to Francis Battah and to the foundations of this SMCQ commission, created in the context of Montréal / Nouvelles Musiques.

INFO AND TICKETS HERE

One of PAN M 360’s mandates is to promote creative music through encounters. One of the most successful since the platform went online in 2020 brings together Le Vent du Nord, a flagship of Quebec trad music, and L’Oumigmag, a jazz group led by Sébastien Sauvageau and very open to different influences, including American minimalism and… Quebec trad! That’s why Alain Brunet decided to bring the two groups together for a truly creative encounter. Here’s the film and interviews with the artists to mark the release.

Igloofest, master of the Old Port of Montreal’s year-end celebrations, produces Igloo Nouvel An, a free New Year’s Eve mega-event that takes us from 2024 to 2025. From 30 a.m. on December 31 to 2 a.m. on January 1, Igloo Nouvel An features such multigenerational stalwarts as Alaclair Ensemble, CRi, Champion and his G Strings, joined by Robert Robert, Laure, Arielle Roberge, DJ POPTRT and DJ Tallandskinny. Initiator of the event with his colleagues from Multicolore (Igloofest, Piknic Electronik, Palomosa), of which he is a co-founder, Nicolas Cournoyer talks to Alain Brunet about this festive innovation.

PROGRAM HERE

To round off the year, PAN M 360 devotes 3 separate interviews to Nicolas Boulerice and Olivier Demers from Vent du Nord, flagship of Quebec trad, to demonstrate the full spectrum: right field, center field, left field. The second interview occupies center field, as this is a consensual celebration experienced annually on December 30 at Club Soda. In addition to the Vent du Nord show, the program will feature traditional dance, boustifaille and special guests, including the group De Temps Antan, commemorating 20 years of existence. Alain Brunet caught up with Nicolas and Olivier to talk to PAN M 360 users.

Soprano Odéi Bilodeau and baritone Marc-Antoine d’Aragon started out as a lyric tandem. Alongside pianist Étienne Génier, who can also sing and add a 3rd voice to the harmonies, the tandem-turned-trio has just released the album Souvenirs de Noël, whose material (and more) will be presented at least three times on the eve of the winter solstice. And it all kicks off this Wednesday, December 18, in the intimate setting of Salle Claude-Léveillée at Place des Arts. At the end of a rehearsal, they explain their lyrical memory work to Alain Brunet for PAN M 360.

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