Sing in St.Eyours, it’s always a very emotional moment for Bernard Lavilliers. The Stéphanois musician, native of the Soleil district, was in concert on the Zenith stage this Saturday, March 26. At his side, two other children from the mining town: the duo Terrenoire recently crowned in the Revelations category at the Victoires de la musique 2022.
On his new album titled Under a huge sun, Bernard Lavilliers recorded a duet with the two brothers of the group Terrenoire. Together they composed the song I care about her which pays homage to the city. “We started by having drinks, because in Saint-Etienne you have to start with that and then we talked for a long time about music and poetry and then we each wrote our part like rappers”, says Bernard Lavilliers.
After the studio, it’s time to test it live in front of an audience. A few hours from the start of the concert, Raphaël and Théo, the two musicians of the duo, are impatiently waiting to be able to play it. “We only have one song together, it’s going to be very short so we’ll just try to enjoy for 3 or 4 minutes”, they confide. At 75, Bernard Lavilliers has no intention of stopping music, let alone concerts. But with Terrenoire, he knows that the succession from Saint-Etienne is assured. “These musicians are, like me, craftsmen. So I pass the baton to them”he smiles.
In the duo, Raphaël, the older brother, sings and writes. Theo, the youngest, takes care of the arrangements and the production. Both now live in Paris. According to them, all this would not have been possible by staying in Saint-Étienne. You have to know how to leave to become someone. But Terrenoire always comes back to its roots, it’s a bit what the song is about I care about her. Ties they celebrate every time they return to their homelands. “Talking about Saint-Étienne and the sun district, I think there is no better place where you can sing this song, so it’s great”, rejoice the two musicians.
If this meeting with Lavilliers is a chance for Raphaël and Théo, the duo is far from being a novice. Created in 2017, Terrenoire draws its inspiration from different styles, both pop and variety, hip-hop or electro, always mixed with a very poetic universe. Terrenoire’s first album, baptized opposing forces, was released on all platforms in August 2020.
Bernard Lavilliers’ tour passes through the summer festivals and at the Olympia from June 16 to 19, 2022. As for Terrenoire, their tour of France will once again take place on the Zenith stage in Saint-Étienne on April 5, 2022.