Who would have thought that utensils in a kitchen drawer could inspire music? This is what Annie-Claude Deschênes, the singer of the Montreal group Duchess Says, wanted to explore with an album with a… culinary theme.
Since 2003, Annie-Claude Deschênes has given hundreds of concerts with the Duchess Says, this essential punk rock band in the metropolis. Considered a beast of the stage, she has always strived to give entertaining shows, as opposed to monotony.
During the pandemic, the 46-year-old musician found herself momentarily inspired by items that ended up in her kitchen. She had fun recording utensils and making musical samples from them. When the PHI Center invited her to come and perform an experimental performance of her choosing, she thought she could present her particular compositions to the public. This is where the show was born Symphony for cutlery.
“In the room, there was a table and Plexiglas,” says Annie-Claude. I was trying to create unease in response to the pandemic and the absurdity of plexiglass in restaurants.”
After this performance, Annie-Claude decided to take her creation further. The album Table manners quietly saw the light of day. “I didn’t feel like waiting for anyone,” says Annie-Claude about her desire to work solo. I’m someone who likes things to move, I need to channel my energy a little.”
On the album, the singer has fun with the culinary theme. On the title track, she talks in particular about the good behavior to adopt according to the Table Manners Guide 2024. On PHONESwe can hear a call for a restaurant reservation which turns into an anxiety attack.
“It’s a little beyond me!”
In Canada, the album was released on the Bonsound label. And abroad, it’s with the Italians Do Better team. Annie-Claude will present her project at Trabendo in Paris in May. The show there will be co-produced by Les Inrocks.
“It’s a little beyond me! she admits of this beautiful reaction. I haven’t left my house [pour ce projet-là]. I did three shows. That’s what’s weird. With Duchess Says, we were doing shows non-stop. At the beginning, people didn’t understand at all and it really took a while before there were people at the shows, they liked it and there was some kind of buzz about it. Whereas here, my project is the opposite. I am at home. There’s business happening, but it’s all remote.”
Annie-Claude Deschênes recognizes that her year 2024 will be “intense”. In addition to the launch of her solo album, and the shows that will follow, she will also work on the next album from her other group PyPy, which should be released in the fall on the Goner Records label (Jay Reatard).
The group, three of whose four members are also with Duchess Says, has only released one album, in 2014. “With PyPy, there is a very light approach,” she says. There will be a lot of keyboards on the album, so we’re not far away anyway [du son] de Duchess.»
After taking a break from music in recent years to study permaculture and give birth to a child, Annie-Claude Deschênes returned with pleasure to her first loves. “I think I’ve never been more motivated to make music,” she says. I’ve never done as much as I do now.”
Annie-Claude Deschênes’ album, Table manners, is available. Launch shows will take place on April 26 (PHI Center, Montreal) and May 11 (Pantoum, Quebec).
2024-04-06 04:01:16
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