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La Presse in New York | Charlotte to conquer the world

Charlotte Cardin has just launched her American tour, which will take her from New York to Los Angeles. An opportunity for her to establish herself even more on the world stage. Press followed the Montrealer to New York to testify to her international rise.



Marissa Groguhé

Marissa Groguhé
Press

Marco Campanozzi

Marco Campanozzi
Press

(New York) Thursday afternoon, in Brooklyn, the Marchioness of Music Hall in Williamsburg announces the concert in large letters sold out by Charlotte Cardin. The 650-seat auditorium in the trendy New York neighborhood was still almost empty when we arrived, but already, on stage and behind the scenes, the singer’s team were preparing for tonight’s show.

Around 3:30 p.m., Charlotte arrives in her turn. In an outfit between casual and chic – a hoodie, jeans and Stan Smith shoes embellished with gold jewels – she takes the time to contemplate the place. A well-felt “holy shit” testifies to his enthusiasm by discovering the room for the first time.

The Music Hall, which she will rightly describe to us later as a “Club Soda-like hall,” is the perfect place to kick off her five-show tour of the United States. “It’s the kind of room where you can create intimate moments, but where you can also feel that crowd effect. It’s been a long time since we played a show like that, ”says the singer-songwriter.


PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS

Charlotte Cardin and Marco Royal before the show

Before her sound tests, Charlotte welcomes us to her dressing room to discuss this important moment. “We had been looking forward to this day for months. We’re so happy it’s finally happened, ”she said.

He missed the road. A few years ago she and her musicians were on tour all the time. “When we stopped, we were no longer able, we were exhausted,” she says with a sincerity that will tint all our exchanges. “But when the pandemic struck, it had already been a year and a half that we had not shot. After this long break, we just couldn’t wait to meet again. ”


PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS

Charlotte Cardin in her dressing room

Exposing talent

For this circuit of American shows, “we have a small team,” explains Charlotte. In New York, the reduced committee is made up of its two musicians, Mathieu Sénéchal and Benjamin Courcy, its sound technician, Francis Major, its tour manager, Marco Royal Nicodemo, and its two Cult Nation agents, Laurie Chouinard and Jason Brando, his great creative accomplice.

These last two are the architects of a well-crafted operation to lead Charlotte Cardin to the highest peaks. It’s no luck that the Montrealer finds herself on stage in New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Los Angeles these days.

The place that it is carving out for itself, it owes mainly to its talent, underline its agents, but also to a plan which requires a lot of effort and logistics.


PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS

Charlotte Cardin and members of her team, Marco Royal, Mathieu Sénéchal and Benjamin Courcy.

Since the launch of his first album, Phoenix, last spring, the doors opened more and more in the already promising career of Charlotte Cardin. The disc quickly ranked number one on the Canadian charts when it was released. “Being number one in one of the seven most important territories, it facilitates storytelling to present the artist internationally,” explains Jason Brando, founder of the record company and management Cult Nation. “This album is a golden business card. “

The phenomenal success in Quebec has not yet been matched by that beyond our borders, although the enthusiasm is palpable there. “She has fans in the United States, so the goal [de la tournée] is above all to go see them and get in touch with them, ”says Brando.

“Charlotte has that naturalness in her voice which, from an almost biological point of view, makes the hair stand out. She has the ability to get a lot of emotions without making a lot of effort, and that is very rare, he adds. She offers a mix between hypersensitivity and an ability to be cunning in her texts. ”


PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS

Charlotte Cardin discovers the Williamsburg Music Hall

From the smallest to the biggest

The pause forced by the pandemic has put sticks in the wheels of the artist, whose sights outside Quebec have been slowed down.

We are not backing down, but we are somewhat at the same stage as three years ago. To develop a new territory, you have to be present there, and there it was not possible.

Laurie Chouinard, co-agent who has been working on Charlotte Cardin’s project since 2018

In the United States, after opening acts a few years ago, then touring small rooms solo, we are now in the process of running for bigger stages. We will then come back to the charge with participations in festivals. “It’s a continuous job, it’s really step by step,” says Laurie Chouinard.

Dedicated admirers


PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS

Last sound test before the show

At the end of the afternoon, before warming up her voice and fine-tuning the last details of the show, Charlotte tells us that the creation of the second album is already well underway. If the making of Phoenix was a deliberately slower process, there is no question of making the audience wait too long this time.

“We spent the whole summer in the studio and we’re going to polish that up in December before resuming the tour,” she said, while making herself tea in her dressing room. Three and a half years will not pass before the next one! We’re not done, but I’m really happy with what we have. In the meantime, she published the edition on Friday. deluxe from Phoenix, on which we find seven new songs, two of which she presents.

In the crowd during the concert in Brooklyn, we sang in unison the words of Scorpio Season, extract published only three weeks ago. Besides, the New York public knew the words of all his plays. No doubt Charlotte Cardin has a devoted following, even on this side of the border.


PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS

Charlotte Cardin’s show sold out last Thursday in Brooklyn.

In front of Williamsburg Music Hall, nearly five hours before the singer took the stage, admirers lined up. Americans Phoebe and Olivia wanted to be in the front row. “I discovered her when she was opening act for Oh Wonder in 2017,” says Olivia, administrator of an Instagram account dedicated to the singer. The young woman came from Philadelphia to attend the New York concert and plans to follow her for the other two weekend concerts on the East Coast.

Phoebe drove from Boston to see Charlotte Cardin on stage again. “I had heard his song from The voice on a playlist in 2015 and I went to see her in New York City the last time she came, she says. I’ve been waiting for her to come back for a long time. What does he like about the work of the Montrealer? “Her voice, her stage presence, her lyrics and the fact that she’s sweet, genuine, pleasant,” she said, smiling. I love everything she does. ”

Later in the day, we meet a group of four Quebecers, passing through New York to attend the concert. “We love it, we’re big fans,” says Céleste Brouillard. “We saw her at Osheaga, and the next day, we decided to buy tickets for New York,” adds Mathieu Roy, just before entering the room.

Charlotte Cardin’s show in pictures

  • Charlotte Cardin at Music Hall in Williamsburg last Thursday.

    PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS

    Charlotte Cardin at Music Hall in Williamsburg last Thursday.

  • Charlotte Cardin performing

    PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS

    Charlotte Cardin performing

  • Charlotte Cardin performing

    PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS

    Charlotte Cardin performing

  • Charlotte Cardin performing

    PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS

    Charlotte Cardin performing

  • Charlotte Cardin performing

    PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS

    Charlotte Cardin performing

  • Charlotte Cardin performing

    PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS

    Charlotte Cardin performing

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Show time

As soon as it rings 9 p.m., Charlotte goes on stage and sings the first notes of Passive Aggressive – the simple one that launched the “era Phoenix », End of 2020. The clamor of the crowd, compact and agitated, resounds. The New York public welcomes Charlotte Cardin with tremendous fervor.

On stage, the singer is magnetic. Her voice never slips, she impresses with the notes she reaches, always with accuracy. His quickdraw, it is a beast of the stage, a real one, but without excess. She presents new songs, also returns to old pieces. In the middle of a show, his fans sing to him Happy Birthday ; it was her birthday on November 9, and she gave herself an unforgettable gift.

When interpreting Sun Goes Down (Buddy), in acoustic version, it gives proof of what Jason Brando said about her earlier: it gives goosebumps, we feel the collective thrill that crosses the audience. Anyone Who Loves Me, in piano-voice version, makes this moment last.

The singer is also able to offer electrifying moments, such as when she grabs her guitar during the song. Phoenix. At her side, her musicians are as solid as she is. After Meaningless, the rowdy reminder brings them back for two more pieces.


PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS

Charlotte and her team regroup after the show.

Paid work

When she leaves the stage, Charlotte is called upon from all sides. More official meetings with artisans in the industry, an interview with Twitch, who was broadcasting the concert live, then the moment of celebration with his collaborators and friends. Everyone is in heaven. In the small box of the Music Hall, we give each other a hug and congratulate each other.

“We’re really on a high Charlotte tells us a few moments after her performance.


PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS

Charlotte Cardin after the show

It was so filled with energy! Honestly, I’ve rarely had as much fun as I’ve had tonight. The reaction of the crowd was beyond our expectations, especially since we had not been here for years. It’s really special to see that people listened to the album, knew the lyrics. Couldn’t have started the tour better! ”

The musician and her team know that all the preparation in the world cannot guarantee the hoped-for success. Even if the talent is indisputable and the export potential just as much. It’s moments like this that confirm that they’re on the right track. “We want to share the project with whoever wants to hear it and we will see where it will lead us”, launches the Montrealer, down to earth. Still, everything is in place for the Charlotte Cardin name to be found in the years to come on increasingly imposing and prestigious marquees around the world.

Visit Charlotte Cardin’s website

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