Sept Îles, QC singer-songwriter Louis-Jean Cormier has been a long-time favorite Francophone artist here at GDW. Landing on our radar back around 2008 as the frontman for indie-rockers Karkwa, we discovered his music due to the release of the band’s third (and Polaris Music Prize nominated) studio album, “Le volume du vent,” with the singles “La façade,” “Echapper au sort,” and “Oublie pas” played in heavy rotation on SXM radio back in the day.
During one of our visits to Montréal around that time, the CD was purchased (many Karkwa albums would later be discovered too), and during our most recent return to QC last fall, a vinyl pressing of “Le volume du vent” was found tucked away in a record store bin. Yes, that is now a much-loved addition to our record collection here in PA. Unaware that Karkwa decided to go on a lengthy hiatus in 2012 (finally reforming in 2023), we learned that Louis-Jean had embarked on a solo career, releasing several albums in that time frame (two vinyl copies have also since found a home here in PA).
While many established ‘band vocalists’ have subsequent successful solo careers too, what separates Cormier from the pack are the two distinct personalities that he brings to the table. He’s an energetic rock star with Karkwa, fronting a band that opts for a more percussion-based sound over the typical guitar-focused variety – but as a solo artist, veers towards softer, melodic folk-rock. A true Jekyll & Hyde musical persona, if there ever was one.
Releasing this live recording of “Tu m’aimes-tu” just last Thursday – accompanied by a beautiful music video shot in one continuous take – Louis-Jean demonstrates his authentic musicianship perfectly. As the conduit between an intimate venue and an equally intimate audience, Cormier’s tune earns your immediate attention – and holds it for the duration. And with an extensive list of solo concert dates on his 2026 calendar, he clearly has plenty more new music up his sleeve in the foreseeable future.
Louis-Jean Cormier will make a rare tour stop in Ottawa this spring – we plan to be there to witness this side of his musical persona first-hand (we caught a show by Karkwa in 2024, which was just off-the-charts amazing). Ontario friends – come join us in Ottawa – and prepare to be serenaded by one of Quebec’s finest – we can’t wait!
Photo Credit: Bandcamp
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.
