Daniel Bélanger

2021. It’s a cold February morning, during yet another pandemic wave. Daniel Bélanger is wandering the streets of Mile-Ex. Hands in his pockets, head down, he ponders the countless consequences of the current health crisis, including the fact that it’s now impossible to sit down in a café, like he enjoys doing so much.

After stopping by a spot where he’s a regular and ordering a latte to-go, he recognizes somebody among a group of people gathered around a public bench. Greetings, introductions, small talk — Daniel Bélanger isn’t aware of it yet, but he’s making real friends, with whom he will get through the next few weeks of lockdown, over warm cups of joe.

The song Soleil levant was born from this meeting, “between a café and a good chat,” while “reinventing the world, one end at the time.” In fact, you could say that each of the 10 tracks that make up Mercure en mai come from such happenstance. From thoughtful words to sudden surprises, to these “little Californias” that exist inside of us. The music is alternately sparse and lush, with looping motifs and secret passageways. It’s an impromptu portrait, capturing the things that are unplanned, unreasonable.

Daniel Bélanger’s impeccable productions can make it seem like everything is carefully thought out and structured, but the truth is actually quite different. “Songs come to me,” he says, “and I’m always surprised by where they take me.” The rockabilly Chic de ville (2013), the dreamy Paloma (2016), the cinematic Travelling (2020)… Each of his albums is defined by unrestrained self-expression, as he follows his muse even when he doesn’t entirely understand where it’s heading until years later. Once again, as the days (and the streets) went by, the singer-songwriter found the inspiration for his new songs, which were certainly impacted by the health crisis we went through, as well as the longing for escape it instilled in each of us.

Joie is about those inner tides, that “liquid diamond” that reaches our heart. Dormir dans l’auto celebrates “the end of dormancy and the beginning of hope.” Seizing the moment, getting out in the nick of time, exploring instrumental lands (Oh no !!!, Hiatus)… Daniel Bélanger’s twelfth LP is one of his more playful and introspective, while also reflecting our collective reality, our desire to fly away, our wanderlust.

A small band, namely Guillaume Doiron (bass) and Robbie Kuster (drums), stopped by Daniel’s studio before Pierre Girard mixed this hypnotic Mercure en mai, which provides us with the breath of fresh air we all needed.

Daniel Bélanger needs no introduction. This beloved, free-spirited singer-songwriter has released more than ten albums, won countless Félix awards, and earned numerous Gold and Platinum records. Having recently won the Instrumental Album of the Year award at the Gala de l’ADISQ, he performed at a few festivals this summer. His album “Mercure en mai” is set to be release October 14, 2022.