Laurent Paquin had wanted for years to release more serious songs than those of his usual comic repertoire. Suddenly having a lighter schedule due to the pandemic, the comedian got down to work with his musician friend, Éric Desranleau. Here he comes with And pretend, a serious project, but unpretentious. The newspaper spoke with him.
How did this project happen in your life?
“It wasn’t a flash that I had. Sometimes I wrote down more serious phrases, things that could make a great song. At one point, I had a song that I had played to Éric Desranleau, because I wanted his opinion. I thought maybe it would be interesting one day to record something. But at the time, I didn’t know it was going to become an album. […] At the start of the pandemic, Eric sent me a message telling me that he had free time to initiate this more seriously. All the show plans had been canceled or postponed. ”
Which artists influenced you for this project?
“I have the impression that the influences are often unconscious. I was necessarily influenced by Plume Latraverse and Michel Rivard. As I compose on the ukulele, at times, I had the impression that it sounded a bit like Les sœurs Boulay. The country tone of some songs also reminded me of the Cowboys Fringants. I think I must have been influenced by everything that is being done around. There are other artists that I like like Vincent Vallières, Renaud, Mano Solo. “
Recently, several comedians have released “serious” music albums, such as Patrick Groulx, Adib Alkhalidey and Anthony Kavanagh. What do you think motivates comedians to do such projects?
“I think it’s a lot of a desire to get out of the box we’re sometimes put in. I will always think that I am first and foremost a humorist. But I like it to think I’m more than a comedian. I like to think of myself as an actor, singer, designer. I want to think that I have a certain talent for writing texts. I don’t consider myself particularly [comme un] good singer neither [un] good musician. But I think I have a certain talent for composing catchy melodies. And I think I have a certain poetry in my lyrics. I have the impression that it is in tune with the times. We’re going to get out of the box, we’re just going to surprise the world, do something else. “
What’s next for this project? Could there be shows?
“I don’t have in mind to do shows with that. I don’t know what the rest is, it’s up to people. Will the project be well received or not? […] The next show I’m working on is my comedy show. There will be no serious song in this show. I like to separate the projects. “
Laurent Paquin’s album, And pretend, is on the market. laurentpaquin.com.
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