Photo by Marie-Michèle Bouchard

Video – ADISQ 2022: Jean-Michel Blais makes music for everyone

Story by Eric Parazelli | Wednesday November 9th, 2022

Composer and pianist Jean-Michel Blais has been  creating instrumental music that’s struck a chord with both the public and his peers, who showed their appreciation once again at the Premier Gala de l’ADISQ on Nov. 2, 2022, by awarding him the Instrumental Album of the Year Award for Aubades.

We spoke with him about the importance of celebrating instrumental music composers, who still too often face challenges make a living from their art. We also discussed the effect of the pandemic on our growing desire to hear instrumental music, and, above all, the fulsome confidence he has in listeners’ ability to enjoy his music in their own way, and under any circumstance.

Photo by Marie-Michèle Bouchard

Video – ADISQ 2022: Naya Ali, goes from rookie to pioneer

Story by Eric Parazelli | Thursday November 10th, 2022

From the very beginning, Naya Ali had big ambition as an English-language, Montréal-based rap artist. Through hard work, she climbed the steps of recognition one by one, until she became the first rap artist to win the Félix for English Album of the Year at the Premier Gala de l’ADISQ on Nov. 2, 2022, at MTELUS, for Goodspeed: Elevated.

We spoke with her as she left the stage to discuss, among other things, what motivates her to create and make her place on the Québec rap scene, and the pride she derives from it.

Photo by Marie-Michèle Bouchard

Video – ADISQ 2022: Klô Pelgag’s family affair

Story by Eric Parazelli | Wednesday November 9th, 2022

Year after year, Klô Pelgag has slowly become a mainstay at the ADISQ Galas. In 2021, she became Céline Dion’s equal in terms of “artistic” trophies won in a single year, after earning six of them; this year, she walked away with the Show of the Year Award for her Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs tour.

We met with her after her victory at the Nov. 6, 2022, Gala, where she discussed the importance of her touring team, which she considers her second family, as well as the fact that she had to get used to a new family life during this tour –  that’s taken her throughout not only Québec, but also Japan, France, and England.