After participating in Star Académie in 2009, Vanessa Duchel tries her luck at The Voice in France, and everything seems to be going well for her.
The singer granted us an interview a few days before the broadcast of her Blind Audition.
Vanessa, here you are at The Voice in France!
Yes, I was approached in the summer of 2020 by the team of The Voice: the most beautiful voice. I think they spotted me thanks to a cover I did of a Yseult song. I was then talked about on French television. I passed each stage of selection by Zoom, but the pandemic arrived and, the day before my departure, the borders were closed and I could not leave. They called me back this year and I flew to Paris to do the auditions.
When did you go there?
I left in December and stayed there for two months. During the Blind Audition, I was selected in Amel Bent’s team, it’s really fun! Since there are a lot of gaps between the different stages of the competition, I was able to come back to Quebec. I opted for the song Last Dance by Donna Summer, because I wanted to show my fun and party side; I wanted to honor Donna Summer. Amel Bent is the only one to have turned around. Florent Pagny told me he wanted to do it, but he was stuck. I don’t know what he meant, so I can’t wait to see the show to understand better. But I had good comments from the other coaches, Marc Lavoine and Vianney. Basically, I wanted to work with Amel, so it’s perfect for me. The next stage will be that of Battles (Battle Songs).
Why have you never tried your luck at La Voix in Quebec?
I thought about it, but I had a certain modesty. I was able to sing with so many people here that at one point I almost felt like I was auditioning in front of my family, and I was more or less interested in that. But over there, it’s different, I’m less in familiar territory and I like the idea.
What do you remember from such an experience?
That I have to trust myself and stop having impostor syndrome, even though I feel like it’s going to follow me my whole life. I have to learn to be confident in my abilities and in my appearance. I felt that in France, people are much more fatphobic than here. Without telling me directly, I was made to feel it. It’s even impossible there, for a plump woman like me, to dress in the shops. They don’t have my size. Except for this more difficult part, I was able to learn and I think I came back here more confident.
Were you alone in Paris?
I went there with my girlfriend and my best friend, so we were able to travel a bit. We went to Belgium, we visited the Luxembourg Gardens, and we were able to see a lot of regions of France. It felt good, because I have family there, and I was able to reconnect with all that after 10 years. I love going to France, it’s a place I appreciate and I feel at home there.
What are your other projects?
I am currently working on new music. I want to create music that looks like me and I expect a return from record companies. Otherwise, I have a youth program project in the works.
To follow Vanessa’s adventure at The Voice: the most beautiful voice, follow her on her social networks.