2024 - "The Voice": talent at the rendezvous

After the explosive interpretation of their respective great successes, which ended at the top of a Montreal building, on Sunday evening, the coaches of “La Voix” took their seats to welcome the first candidates for the auditions at the blind of this new season.

If several candidates were able to charm the coaches, Montrealer Steffy Beyong, 23, completely turned them upside down, Corneille having waited only a few seconds to press her button. “I didn’t know that my voice could have such an effect on people, explained the young woman in an interview. I had sung in public before, but I had no confidence. I didn’t think I could convey so much emotion.”

His presence at “La Voix” is first due to a combination of circumstances, which was quite difficult to live with at the start.

“I had signs of life that pushed me to go to the auditions, I wouldn’t have been able to go on my own. I got fired from my job, and my “boss” told me to go sign up for “La Voix”. I found myself in a situation where I had nothing more to lose. I’m still in touch with my ex-“boss”, and she’s proud of me. She says she released a butterfly by doing this gesture. But it was still a blow at that time.

A vibrant voice

The warm and deep voice of Steffy Beyong vibrates to the rhythm of the emotions it conveys. “I knew I could sing around the age of 15, when I was going through a really, really difficult time. I felt this gift and started expressing what I felt through music. It turned into pain. You can feel it in my voice that there are a lot of emotions, life taught me that.”

She confides in the same breath that singing is a way for her to free herself from this difficult and complicated past. “I’m very modest when it comes to my emotions, but when I sing, it’s a way of speaking with my heart, a kind of therapy. It doesn’t hurt me, it relieves me.”

In addition to her beautiful voice, the young woman of 23 years has a confidence and a crazy charisma, what she calls the syndrome of the bathroom. “Singing alone at home helps to practice the voice, but also everything else, be it the gait, the attitude, the presence… All these things that I usually do in my room bath, I can now put them into practice on stage. But I still have a lot to develop.”

After difficult years and a suicide attempt last year, Steffy Beyong begins to see hope reborn in her life. “It’s going much better, “La Voix” gives me more self-confidence. But I’ve come a long way.”

Touched by Mario Pelchat’s comments, she decided to join his team. “He’s also a vocal singer and I tell myself that with his years of experience and his wisdom, he will be able to help me develop. I want to be able to know more about myself. I think he will be able to teach me how to manage my emotions, how to pass it … He will help me progress.

Catherine Bessette, 29, Mercier

During her adolescence, Catherine Bessette embodied the character of Anouchka de la Pétarade, whose songs were intended to transmit good values to children. She then sang on cruise ships with her lover at the time, Guillaume Lafond (who we discovered at “Star Académie” in 2020).

“What I love most in the world is singing,” explains the mother of two young children. I am ready to embark on a career. Working with coaches, being with colleagues who love music, it can only bring me good. I want to continue to sing, to work with other singers and I want to reach as many people as possible.”

The four chairs turned on his interpretation of “Old My Hand”, the song from the film “Top Gun”, but it is Marc Dupré who now has him in his team. “I’ve followed him through the previous seasons, and I know how he takes care of his singers. I like his musical style, he’s friendly and he has a lot of baggage to share. I want to work with, learn as much as possible from his experience. He is really present and invested in the process. We look a lot alike.”

PHOTO COURTESY / BERTRAND EXERTIER

Marie-Eve Quirion, 31, Magog

Even if she suffered several refusals in the past, both at “Star Académie” and at “La Voix”, Marie-Ève Quirion was not discouraged and always believed in her talent. She came back even stronger this season.

“I had nothing to lose, I walked past several times on the verge of being caught. At worst, no chair turns over, but I really wanted to participate in this adventure.

Her rendition of Michael Bolton’s song “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You” convinced Corneille and Marjo to press their button.

And it is the team of the only female coach that Marie-Ève has chosen to join. “Corneille said some really fantastic things, but I chose Marjo out of challenge. It is often said that I have a beautiful soft voice, but I want to find the lioness in me. I want to show something else, another side of my voice.”

PHOTO COURTESY / BERTRAND EXERTIER

Loïk Jolicoeur, 16, Saint-Constant

Loïk Jolicoeur has fond memories of his blind audition at “La Voix Junior” in 2017, but this time he succeeded in his bet to turn Marc Dupré’s chair. “It was him I wanted. Even at “La Voix Junior”, it was him that I would have chosen at the time. I’ve always wanted to work with him.”

The young man, who has had two surgeries to remove brain tumours, lives for music. “Singing is essential in my life, it’s a way of expressing myself and expressing myself. Without it, I wouldn’t be the same person, I wouldn’t be so playful. Singing gives me a lot, it’s part of my personality. I can express my feelings, convey emotions. Without having to speak, I tell people how I feel and I deliver my perception of the song at the same time.

Currently in secondary 5, he especially wishes to gain experience through this adventure. “I would like to go as far as possible, but winning is not in my priorities. My goal is first to pursue studies in music, but if I have an opportunity to start a career, I will take it.