When: Tuesday,
April 12, 2016, 12:00 PM
Francesca
recalls her Mediterranean childhood as one of bare feet on terra cotta tiles,
fuchsia sunsets, fresh mistral breezes, the aroma of lavender and evening
cricket choirs. La vie douce (“the sweet life”) aptly describes the rhythm and
rhyme of those early years, where extended sojourns to a family cabin in the
Alps further nourished a love of wild, open spaces and the solitary peace of
simple living in the heart of a family that was anything but conventional.
Born of two
cultures, Francesca not only brings her two languages to her songs, but a deep
sensitivity for the universal qualities of music. Whether or not you understand
the language in which she sings, there is something else being communicated,
something only the language of music can convey. Raised by the voices of Tracy
Chapman, Eva Cassidy, Françoise Hardy and Nora Jones (among others), Francesca
has always felt a strong connection to deeply intimate female vocals,
("the ones that speak for themselves", as Blanchard puts it). Notable
performances include opening for Suzanne Vega and Joan Armatrading, along with
performing at Les FrancoFolies de Montréal in 2013.
Following
her 2011 six-track EP, Blanchard released an extended EP in 2014 with three
additional demo tracks. She recorded her first full-length album of original
songs (six in English, six in French) in the summer of 2014 after raising over
$25,000 on Indiegogo.
Pouring her
heart into delicate melodies written for the acoustic guitar, Blanchard’s debut
album deux visions was released on October 2, 2015. It was produced by Chris
Velan (Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars), mixed by acclaimed Montreal producer
Jean Massicotte (Lhasa, Patrick Watson, Arthur H, Jorane) and mastered at the
prestigious Metropolis Studios in London. The album reflects Francesca’s travels,
both physical and emotional, with influences ranging from Norah Jones and Carla
Bruni to Eva Cassidy and Françoise Hardy.
Source:
francescablanchard.com
0 Comments