Quebec singer-songwriter Lumière — whose real name is Étienne Côté — has opened for French superstar Clara Luciani eight times this fall on her tour of the Zéniths, halls that can accommodate 10,000 spectators. The one who will be performing at the Sala Rossa this Tuesday at Coup de coeur francophone recounts his experience.
Posted yesterday at 9:00 a.m.
Q. How did you end up opening for Clara Luciani?
R. It is thanks to Pierre Lapointe. I had done his first parts in France in the spring, and in Paris, he went to sing his duet with her at the Zénith. I met her in the boxes, so when she came to the Francos in Montreal last summer, I invited her to come see my show. Clara is smart and funny, she puts you at ease right away. One evening, we went for a drink, and there, she had a flash: “But you should play my first part of the Zenith this fall! » And I said : « no problem! »
PHOTO CATHERINE LEFEBVRE, ARCHIVES SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Lumière performing at the Francos in June
Q. As drummer for Bon Enfant, with Lumière, surrounded by a bandhow do you deal with being alone in front of thousands of people?
R. As for logistics, it’s easier, and I find it very advantageous to play my songs alone on the guitar. But finding myself in front of so many people, I hadn’t considered it at all… The first evening in Amiens, I was unsettled. I was really scared. I forgot my lyrics, which never happens to me, and I had to start my song over. It’s like being in front of a football field full of people, with a wall at the back full of people too. I found my 30 minutes stressful.
Q. How did it go on the following evenings?
R. I said to myself: hold on, I’m going to pull myself together. I was determined it wouldn’t happen again. I arrived with another set list, more dynamic tunes. I was more confident, I said to myself: I’m here to warm up the room, people are waiting for Clara, I know my role. If it’s not me, it will be someone else, so let’s go! It takes guts, yes, but I had to manage to have fun and I finally succeeded!
Q. Was it like accelerated learning?
R. Absolutely. Already with Peter [Lapointe], I learned a lot by watching how he talks to the public, his routine before and after the show. There, I learn to work with a huge team. There are a lot of people involved. Clara is followed by 50 people, three tour buses… Me, I have to be on time, agree to such a place, pick up my headphones from another place…
Q. Are the halls full?
R. Yes, full to bursting, all the time. We did Lille two nights, it was full both nights. It works great, people love it. She became a celebrity on the music scene, she did a lot of TV too. And there is a culture there. People, when they love you, they love you as a tabarouette.
Q. You will be at the Sala Rossa this Tuesday with your group as part of Coup de coeur francophone. How do you see that?
R. I missed my band and I can’t wait to find it again. I hope that spontaneity will be there, that we will experience something pleasant. I’m really looking forward to this audience, I’m ready for them. I hope they are ready!
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
The group Bon Enfant, of which Étienne Côté (in yellow) is the drummer, received the Félix for rock album at the Premier Gala de l’ADISQ last Wednesday.
Q. Bon Enfant has just won the Félix for rock album of the year for Diorama. What place does the band hold for you?
R. He is always dear to my heart. I loved the summer spent together, we make new music all the time. It’s become the only project in which I play drums, and it’s a role that I really like. I got replaced for the first time for a show last summer, and it’s still possible.
Q. After this experience, did you want to pursue a career in France?
R. I already had it. I went there a lot with Canailles. I like to shoot in France. Compared to Quebec, it is another measure over time, more over the year. Here, it’s great in the summer, there are plenty of festivals, but after that, planning your future in Quebec is difficult. You collect yourself playing in small bars, it’s not easy to shoot in winter. Arriving in France, I see it as a big playground that opens up to us and that completes the network of festivals in Quebec. But you have to work for that, it’s not easy and that’s what I’m doing. Apparently, the Lumière project has a CV that I am filling out.
For brevity, the interview has been edited.
At the Sala Rossa this Tuesday at 8 p.m. as part of Coup de cœur francophone; at Club Soda on November 19, 7 p.m., as part of M for Montreal