When a lyrical artist dabbles with popular music, it is most of the time by taking over an already existing repertoire. This is what makes the approach of Quebec contralto Rose Naggar-Tremblay even more interesting. Indeed, the one whose early career is flourishing – in recent years she has won the Fernand-Lyndsay career grant of $50,000, second prize at the Prix d’Europe and the OSM singing competition – also writes and composes. In the mini album I remember youshe therefore becomes a singer-songwriter and offers six original songs which are at the crossroads of French song, neo-classical and opera.
And the result is truly beautiful. From the first song, the magnificent Paris in a bottle, the singer captivates us with her interpretation full of nuances and her rich voice with a thousand colors, which is not only accurate and controlled as we don’t hear so often, but carries true emotion. The timbre is serious, but if the contralto is never far away with some surges in the heights, we are really in a universe of intimate songs which rock and move – Rose Naggar-Tremblay also has a certain sense of melody , from which we feel that she draws inspiration from both the lyrical and songwriting worlds.
The coating of piano and strings gives elegance to this album, full of softness and quiet strength, produced by Gabriel Lapointe. But there are also choirs and accordion, and all kinds of delicate touches that support the singer’s very personal lyrics. Even in the title song I remember youwhich is written from extracts of Sappho’s poems, it is clear that each word is felt and lived.
Rose Naggar-Tremblay steps out of her lyrical comfort zone and uses her multiple influences to deliver an album out of time – perhaps a little too much, anchoring it more in the present could be an asset if she repeats the experience . But by managing to move us in this way in six short songs, she already shows that she has the depth and sincerity to touch people directly in the plexus. And that is a quality that has no age.
Extract of Paris in a bottle
Song
I remember you
Rose Naggar-Tremblay
Independent