Marilyne Léonard is guided by her desire for independence

Participating in a television competition is not always a guarantee of success for artists. For Marilyne Léonard, her participation in the Sunday show was above all a golden opportunity to open the doors of the Quebec music industry.

I didn’t necessarily want to win, I just wanted to network and get into the industry that way.– the artist explains at the microphone of Catherine Pogonat.

We have to admit that Marilyne Léonard won her bet. In addition to reaching the quarter finals of the singing competition, she impressed the judges and the public with her cover.Alice By Philippe Brach – Met a Quebecer manager and laid the foundation for his blossoming career.

In 2021, he was hired by Audiogram, one of the most established recording companies in Quebec. His songs Boats and Honey, which was released a few months later, became a popular hit. Since then, he has collaborated with several well-known artists such as Clay and Friends, Jay Scott and Ariane Moffatt.

His young talent even earned him a nice nod from host Louis-Jose Houde at the recent ADISQ gala.

Focus on authenticity

Sometimes reminiscent of a diary, Marilyne Léonard’s very personal writing is highlighted by her casual sound and musical style that combines several influences (pop, rock, hip-hop, soul). He reminds that originality is at the heart of his artistic approach.

Playing several instruments, including guitar and piano, he is very close to his audience, especially through social media, which he uses as a creative laboratory.

I am most authentic when I write about what I have experienced. I think that’s the beauty of my songs. When people listen to my songs, they think I’m real, which helps me connect with them.he says.

Be artistically independent

Now 21 years old and with several years of experience, Marilyne Léonard admits that she feels a strong urge to do things her way.

It seems that I am beginning to understand that I have entered that world. I like it, I tell myself that I have to trust myself and trust my instinctshe explains.

” There is no one else in the world who can understand me as well as myself. Controlling the direction the album takes is very important to me in the art I make. »

He applied this philosophy the life of an angelhis mix tape released last May. In addition to directing some songs with Marc Bell (Lauryn Hill, The Fugees, Kroy), the singer collaborated closely with director Emmanuel Ethier (Peter Peter, Pierre Lapointe, P’tit Belliveau). A colorful album that brings together songs written in different periods of his life.

Not all songs have the same artistic direction. So they all went in different directions, which is really cool because when you listen to the album, you can tell each song apart.

For a new extract She is my ladyPublished in October, Marilyne Léonard decided go somewhere else in creation.

Vie d’ange, j’étais plus dans des structures a-b-a-b, couplet-refrain-couplet-refrain, des structures plus classiques et pop. Là, j’ai essayé d’expérimenter autre chose avec cette chanson-là, c’est quand même catchy, quand même pop, je vais dans le rock.”,”text”:”Avant, sur l’album Vie d’ange, j’étais plus dans des structures a-b-a-b, couplet-refrain-couplet-refrain, des structures plus classiques et pop. Là, j’ai essayé d’expérimenter autre chose avec cette chanson-là, c’est quand même catchy, quand même pop, je vais dans le rock.”}}”>First in the album the life of an angel, I was more into abab structures, verse-chorus-verse-chorus, more classical and pop structures. There I tried to try something else with this song, I still have it attractivepop though, i’m going to rock.

bridge, il y a un changement de tempo complet, j’ai trouvé ça cool d’expérimenter ça. Pour la suite, j’aimerais aller dans des chansons comme ça, où la rythmique change, les arrangements changent. J’ai vraiment eu du plaisir à le faire dans la chanson C’est ma lady.”,”text”:”Rendu au bridge, il y a un changement de tempo complet, j’ai trouvé ça cool d’expérimenter ça. Pour la suite, j’aimerais aller dans des chansons comme ça, où la rythmique change, les arrangements changent. J’ai vraiment eu du plaisir à le faire dans la chanson C’est ma lady.”}}”>Delivered bridgethere’s a complete change of pace, that’s what I found cool to experience it. For the rest, I would like to go into songs that change the rhythm and change the arrangements. I had a lot of fun doing that in the song This is my lady.

Marilyne Léonard, nominated for the GAMIQ awards (Alternative Gala for Independent Music in Quebec) in the pop EP of the year category, will fly to France in a few days for a series of shows.

The project excites him, but because of all this, one cannot believe that he is preparing to conquer Europe.

I really have a sense of belonging to Quebec, I see myself building something here before I want to flourish outside, he adds. There is something about the Quebec culture that is 100% like me. But if I can travel with my music one day, it will fill me up.