Editorial: Feb 2019

Been quiet here for the last month, but we’re not dead and gone, far from it in fact. Consider it just an extended festive holiday. 

In the world outside the internet I’ve been settling in to new full time employment and as a consequence had less time to throw at the VLR blog, but with a new routine sorted out things should now be back to normal.

There have been a few significant releases over the past few weeks, including a new album from -M- and one from Lou Doillon as well as a particularly fine new collection Persona from Bertrand Belin.

I’ll have some words about these before too long.

February seem more on the horizon, with releases from Yann Tiersen and Voyou. Also looking forward to the album from Le Superhomard.

Details of some of France’s big summer music festivals have been unveiled, I’ll have a look at a few of these over the forthcoming weeks.

Elsewhere, the Victoires de la Musique awards take place later this week. Obviously big award ceremonies are always open to criticism, but the event does give a massive showcase to French acts in front of a huge audience. I always enjoy it, perhaps it’s just seeing some French acts appearing in the kind of big budget spectacle that is normally only reserved for TV reality show winners these days.

Meanwhile, I've been keeping very busy on the French Music Podcast UK Faecbook page, where you'll find French music recommendations on your timeline several times a day Mon-Fri. Give it a like.

I can be contacted as ever on johnDOTkilbrideAThotmailDOTcom, so promoters, press people and labels are always welcome to contact me with recommendations. I'll do what I can to cover it!

merci et à bientôt

jk

Prix Constantin: Selah Sue

This year's Prix Constantin winner has been announced, and Belgian singer Selah Sue came out as this year's prizewinner with her debut album.

Selah Sue works in a soul/funk fusion style, an urban sound that is as accessible outside France as it is to a French audience.

Her self-titled debut album was released in March 2011, reaching number one across Belgium and the top ten in France.

The announcement the album was the winner was made at the Olympia in Paris on Tuesday October 17.

The award is similar to the UK's Mercury Music Prize, going to an album by an artist who has come to prominence but who has not had major media coverage.

Its the tenth anniversary of the prize, and ten acts had been shortlisted.

Alex Baupain, Brigitte, Cyril Mokaiesh, Lisa Portelli, Sly Johnson, Bertrand Belin, cascadeur, L, and The Shoes were all selected for the finals along with Selah Sue by a jury of 19 music professionals, including journalists and TV and radio producers.

The ten artists performed live and the winner was announced at the end of the show.

Last year's winner was Hindi Zahra with her album Handmade. Previous winners include Mickey 3D, Camille and Emily Loizeau.

Others nominated in previous years inclued Justice, Stromae, Julien Doré, Thomas Dutronc, Grand Corps Malade, Phoenix and even Carla Bruni, all of which have gone on to take their place among the best-know contemporary artists in French music.

There's always some debate about competitions with regard musical artists, and whether in an artistic matter one act can actually ever be said to be 'better' than another, but in terms of introducing artists to a public who might not be aware of them, it's a process that succeeds for both the artists and the audience.

While winning a prize might not necessarily be a guarantee of an immediate A-List music career - remember that with many of the Mercury Award Winners like Roni Size, Gomez and Speech Debelle have not gone on to be household names - the process certainly succeeds in raising awareness about an artist.

The shortlisted acts receive a huge amount of press and media attention and no doubt win over a few more listeners, and while there might only be one overall winner, all ten certainly win in terms of the benefits of the publicity.

Hopefully some of the names shortlisted this year, as well as the winner, will become the big names in years to come. We'll certainly keep a listen.

Radio station France Inter will be broadcasting a special programme on October 24 and there will be TV coverage of the event on France 2 on October 28 and France 4 on November 9.