Dominique Fils-Aimé is a Montréal-based singer and songwriter whose music blends soul, jazz, and relatable storytelling. This fall, she’s heading out on her first U.S. headlining tour, bringing songs from her stay album recorded on the Montreal Worldwide Jazz Pageant to new audiences. Just lately featured on the quilt of Rolling Stone Québec, she’s gaining wider consideration whereas staying targeted on making music that feels trustworthy and linked.
How does it really feel to be opening this fall within the U.S. along with your headlining tour?
I’m stuffed with gratitude for this upcoming tour, gratitude for my unbelievable crew who made this attainable, and gratitude for the viewers prepared to come back meet us to spend this second collectively.
Your stay album captures a efficiency on the Montreal Worldwide Jazz Pageant. What made you resolve that this specific present deserved to be immortalized in that means?
I do know my supervisor doesn’t need the highlight (sorry, Kevin), however I can not faux it was my concept! We had talked about at some point making a stay album for the reason that present is so totally different from the albums. Our sound engineer information each present we do, and after listening to the Montreal Jazz Fest recording, Kevin thought it might be a ok efficiency to make our first stay album with, not simply because everybody carried out so properly, but additionally as a result of this second was such a memorable vibe, it deserved to be shared. I’m glad we now have this magical second on vinyl, honouring the jazz custom of stay albums.
You’ve spoken about shifting via life with gratitude and following your inside instinct. How do these guiding rules affect your artistic course of, particularly when performing stay?
Instinct and gratitude are clearly my mates, on and off stage. When creating music or a present, there is a component of guided freedom that appears to take type, just like the inside little one and the universe meet and play collectively.
Making music at residence was my old flame, however I used to carry out in a means that was extra standard (music, applause, discuss a bit, repeat); I hadn’t taken the time to let my instinct and my private expression take over the social assemble. After I let go of what a present was ‘alleged to be’ and started following what felt true to me, I used to be lastly capable of create one thing that felt like residence. A present with means much less applause, far more freedom, and a meditative house.
It jogged my memory to query EVERYTHING as an alternative of doing what others do with out pondering of the explanation behind my actions.
To be extra intentional.
You’ve got talked about resisting conventions in each trade practices and efficiency rituals. How do you see that stress taking part in out for artists as we speak?
I’ve to confess I do not know the way it’s taking part in out with different artists, however this makes me need to ask them 🙂 For me personally, it seems like the one solution to go.
One factor I do know is that defending our freedom to create and categorical ourselves as artists is an important a part of defending our freedoms as a society.
I imagine the cliché “artwork holds up a mirror in society’s face” to be true, and I additionally imagine it is vital for that mirror to stay clear, untainted by the trade or conventions.
You’ve transitioned from studio albums to this stay recording that emphasizes immediacy and presence. What did you be taught from that have about connecting along with your viewers?
The power of the viewers and our reference to them, captured within the album, is clearly one thing else. It’s like studio albums and stay albums are simply two totally different worlds that maintain distinct functions. The stay expertise is about ‘us, now,’ the studio expertise is ‘me taking the time to craft a present for whoever desires it.’ I cherish each for various causes.
Gratitude seems as a recurring theme in your profession, from the assist of the Montreal Worldwide Jazz Pageant to the trail you’ve adopted. How does reflecting on that assist form your dedication to your artwork?
Feeling the continued assist from the Montreal Worldwide Jazz Pageant and from the general public who so kindly takes the time to ship me messages really feel like gas. It additionally seems like a affirmation {that a} real connection is being constructed between my music and others. I really feel privileged to deepen that bond with each album and present.
Because you’re exploring new artistic instructions now, how does this U.S. tour really feel as an extension or evolution of the themes you initially explored on “Our Roots Run Deep”?
Assembly new individuals and discovering new cities and areas could be very a lot aligned with the themes of Our Roots Run Deep, since identical to bushes in a forest are speaking and exchanging ideas via an underground community of roots we can not see, we as people have hyperlinks that go means past what the attention can see. Each time I arrive someplace new, the identical previous acquainted feeling of human heat and connection dominates. To me, that is proof that our unique nature as people is type, in search of love and unity over the rest.
Past this tour and album launch, what new areas of expression or experimentation are you excited to discover subsequent? Is there a path you haven’t but traveled that you just’re interested by?
I respect all types of artwork, and one I’ve been serious about recently is jewellery making as a result of I get pleasure from guide artwork varieties. The thought of placing time and good vibes into crafting an object individuals can put on is sensible to me. Metals and stones have frequencies I’m drawn to, and the problem of studying one thing new feels thrilling.
(P.S.: This query jogged my memory it’s one thing I’ve been desirous to do; thanks for that. See you quickly! xx)
CONNECT WITH DOMINIQUE
Web site | Fb | TikTok | Instagram | Threads | YouTube
