Alexandre Chassagnac: « The fact of assuming my voice has always ensured respect for others »

He is mistakenly believed to be a lyrical singer. In fact, it is much more than that. Author, composer, performer, producer, vocal coach, artistic director and incidental, TV host. Yes, Alexandre Chassagnac’s « song » of action is as wide as his vocal palette. From gothic, to pop opera, to rock and variety, he makes the difference in different styles with dexterity and above all, great fun. Discovered in « It’s my choice », launched by « Incredible talent » and recognized by « The Voice », the charismatic artist with the voice of angel never ceases to surprise and marvel at the extent of his talent which allows him to take both tenor and singer intonations. In spite of the health crisis, the news of this Spanish touch has remained extremely dense. During his visit to Paris and between two meetings, the enchanted poet tells us about the busy start of the new season.

IMPACT EUROPEAN: You have just published your first book « Ida Conrad of the Unknown » at LMDA editions.What is that mysterious story that you are presenting to us?

Alexandre Chassagnac:She comes close to that of a woman I knew who had experienced the wrath of her husband.But since I did not want to show the woman in a depravity that the man could grant himself the right, I treated her so that I could remain in agreement with my vision of the woman, that is, a strong being.

IE:The book is a monolog.Is this not a trivial choice?

AC:Indeed.With the monolog, the man cannot come against the word of the woman.It was immeasurable, impossible, unalterable, unequaled.He could not be otherwise, because he was a woman.

IE:So, tell us who is « Ida Conrade of the Unknown »?

AC:She is a 72-year-old single woman living under the rooftops in a studio in a beautiful Parisian Haussmannian building and living a life she never wanted. She is a woman of love, integrity who knows where she comes from. You can see a mother, a friend, a neighbor…

IE:What explains the importance of the dream and a life by proxy?

AC: Yes. She has dreamed all her life of being an Ava Gardner, of being a great adulation singer. She has the regret of the fatal woman, the dominating woman, the released woman. She is a woman who loves rhinestones, sequins, beautiful makeup, wig. She will even play with the big boa. But all of this is going to be nothing. her husband adamantly refusing to be an artist.

IE: She is a strong woman …

AC: With character. Even though she is being beaten up, she is still recovering, because her strength is to live this life of wealth without having lived it.

IE: Hence the fact that it is timeless …

AC: That’s it. She has this great ability to leave in the past and return directly to her present. It is not in its time and is no longer in time. She is stuck in a life that is forced upon her. And since she has not yet settled what she should do, she cannot go up.

IE: This intermediate phase allows it to take appropriate references that exist, but that it has not known …

AC: Exactly. It evokes Mr. Benoît Binet. How can a woman of this century speak of having called on the « binettes » of the greatest French wig hairdresser who was, moreover, that of the Sun King, knowing that he is no longer of this world? The same goes for Georgette Roques, one of the most renowned little hands in Millau’s luxury glove?

IE: Does it exist, or does it come straight out of your imagination?

AC: « She showed up to me while I was staying with a friend. I was awakened by the first phase of this monolog. I wrote it as if a woman told me « This is who I am. » In my head, I heard « I am Ida Conrad of the Unknown ». I let my writings whisper, but strangely, I was always in touch with her.

IE: To hear you, she would have inspired you this book…

AC: Did that woman exist? Is she from here or elsewhere, stuck between two worlds? What is certain is that she needed to talk about her. By my writings, it is his voice that we hear.

IE: Through Ida, we are mainly talking about an ode to women …

AC: The woman is beautiful, the woman exists. Man must recognize her in her inner beauty, in her wealth and in the beauty that she can bring to her. It is a vehicle of love and strength. I find that today the beauty of women is not emphasized. Through Ida and as a man, I try to do it.

IE: What about the subtlety of his name?

AC: She is « unknowns » even though she says « I am not a stranger ». She will understand that she is not « Ida Conrad of the Unknown », but Ida of the lymphes that has remained stuck between two worlds and is now rising.

IE: What are the subliminal messages?

AC: The love of the woman for a man, the search for self and the acceptance of the one in between. Compared to Ida, there is both the woman, the goddess, everything that can involve the strength of the woman.

IE: This book will be presented on stage by Marie-Christine Adam …

AC: Marie-Christine Adam is THE Woman. This is the beauty of the soul par excellence and I am totally in love with it. That she interpreted Ida was a wish. I was delighted to have accepted it. It will be September 2021, in Paris, city of love, city of Ida.

IE: Will you coach it for the sung parts?

AC: Marie-Christine will be for myself and with a pianist. We will prepare it for the recording of the CD that will accompany the book, then we will work for the 1h15 monolog she will have to hold on stage.

IE: Before your career in the arts, you embraced the career of a soldier in the army. Leaving the uniform, did your priesthood, in the end, save you?

AC: Not only was I a military soldier for eleven years saving, but it also allowed me to find myself, to push myself out of the straitjacket of a problem little child.

IE: Did you experience the war?

AC: No, but I went to Bosnia in Sarajevo with people who lived it and told me it.

IE Was this peculiar high-perched coloratur voice as much a pain-suffering as a pride?

AC: At first, my voice was a great pain. But, over time, it became a force that I had fun with.

IE: Did she cause you any problems as a soldier?

AC: The fact of assuming my voice has always assured me respect for others and has never come into account as to my work and my rank.

IE: Are the crochet TV shows that you’ve been on (« Amazing talent » on M6 and « The Voice » on TF1) a must-have way to make yourself known?

AC: The true bias of music today is media. Even though the Internet is full of all kinds of proposals, television is more favorable. We still have to get there with a universe. Winning a show must not be the goal of a true artist. For my part, « The Voice » brought me the definitive label of French artist. So thank you for the programs that open the door, thank you to the journalists who give us the opportunity to express ourselves and thank you to the public.

IE: As part of your role as a coach, you have taken Tiago H., a developing artist whose 1st single « In the Skin » runs all over the net (see our interview on June 30: « Tiago H.  the revelation of the summer »).

AC: It’s the meeting of a student who comes in mid-year to take singing classes. When I listened to him, I decided to prepare him directly for a casting for which I was asked by a producer who was looking for a young, typical Andalusian artist for a Latino pop project. After a month, Tiago H. was ready. He passed the hearing and won it.

IE: You must have been proud…

AC: With his smile, his beautiful aura, his beautiful light and his vocal potential, I knew he would succeed.

IE: You are his coach on the album he will be going out in October and on his upcoming tour, but you are also one of his authors …

AC: His producer did not want to have only one author on the album that is in preparation. I wrote a song that, to my surprise, was chosen to be the next title of Tiago H. will defend in september. I’m glad he got more. He sawed at her. There will be others.

IE: You also take care of Auguste Truel …

AC: Yes. He is a 15-year-old lyrical singer who will be featured in the show « Prodiges » on France 2 in December. I also take care of Noa. I wrote him « Step by Step Dad », a headline that’s growing.

IE: You do a lot for others and for you, that it is your news?

AC: I just worked with Mathieu Saladin, one of the founding fathers of pop gothic music. Together, we have just finished the album of a lyrical musical called « Lord » which will be presented at a show case in October; the aim is to put her on stage. I will also be touring all over France with the show « La Voix de l’autre » at the start of my new season and I will be releasing all my most famous albums in vinyl.

IE: What can we wish you?

That « Moi Barth slave of cotton », a story that came to me at the end of Covid-19, takes us to his next boat unless she brings him back to his village, his parents, his origins, his land…

All information and dates on: www.alexandrechassagnac.com

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Visuals: © Alexandre Chassagnac

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