Following the release of her incredible new French language album, “Entre nous,” Vancouver, BC singer-songwriter Jill Barber is ready to take us on a Behind The Scenes tour of the making of this album. Produced and directed by friend and Francophone collaborator Maia Davies, this unique mini-documentary captures some outstanding insights of the creative processes though this exclusive in-studio footage.
“A lot of people ask me, ‘why make a Francophone album? You’re an Anglophone!’ And it’s true, I am,” Jill shares as the video commences. “I’m also a Francophile, and I love French music. To me, it’s a very sensual and romantic language.” Of course, for Jill, this story began over a decade ago, at a steamy, sold out show at the Montreal Jazz Festival, when she surprised her audience with a French translation of her song “All My Dreams” – which became “Tous mes reves” – and followed thereafter by silence, before the room erupted into a standing ovation.
“I just closed my eyes, channeled Edith Piaf and began to sing. I was blown away by the response,” Jill shared about that evening, in a 2012 interview with John Stewart of The Mississauga News. “Though my French was far from perfect, the audience clearly valued the effort. I was inspired to perform more and more in this beautiful language.”
Running for 6:43, this mini documentary provides a concise, yet wonderful time capsule that shares many magical moments of time spent at the Afterlife studio in Vancouver. “I loved making this record. Each morning we would go into the studio with these incredible musicians and these vintage instruments … and we would just play,” Jill recalls. “We had all the right parts, and really just let the magic happen supernaturally.” As a songwriter and performer, Jill Barber has reached rare air: she is beloved in both English Canada and La Belle Province. With “Entre nous,” the relationship is consummated.
The British guy that crossed the ocean and crash landed in central Pennsylvania (to quote Greg Keelor, “And I wonder what am I doing here?”). As the youngest of four siblings, exposure to music from a very early age nurtured my passion and appreciation for many musical genres. Continuing to discover some amazingly diverse and talented musicians based in Canada, I gravitate to live music experiences and remain devoted to spreading the word about such a vibrant music scene.
