I feel really good and I am quite proud. I am at a time when there are lots of celebrations and creation. It’s very addictive: this show is very ambitious and has requested a lot of investment but these are now great moments of joy.
And so, when you saw your head downstairs to the Victoires de la Musique, it was just an appetizer ?
It was just a wink!
The public will therefore have to hang on to its headquarters.
Yes ! The piano, he is not just flying on stage: he will fly over people. It is a global innovation. We fly the piano everywhere.
You will perform in several festivals with us. There is lasemo, of course, but also the solidarity in Namur. Then you return to Forest National : Will it be the same show for the summer of festivals and for concerts in theaters ?
No, not quite because in festival, the performance times are a little smaller but it will be very intense. Since the duration is shorter, we can afford to be in an even more radical energy. With so many spectacular effects and things. We try to bring back as many elements as possible. In the zeniths, I don’t know how many bus tower there are but there are 100 people with me. At festivals, the team must be reduced. There will be other artifices …
It’s amazing not to see your name appear in the spa Francofolies ?
Yes, it’s true but I wanted to play it, it is the organizers who did not wake up! This is the second year that I am not invited to me … I told them: “Too bad for you, next year, it will be ten times more expensive!” (laughs). Already at the time of Salty popcornI told them that I would like to come and they did not invite me. The next year, I come across the organizer, the project had still taken up a little more magnitude … still not. And I said to him: “Be careful, it’s already twice as expensive!” (laughs) And still not, he still missed his blow. While I love this more festival, so I’m a little frustrated. It is a festival in the city; The public is great, I really liked it. Enghien, it’s going to be not bad too, I think. And solidarity is very important for me to play it.
For what ?
Because it conveys all the humanity that I humbly try to wear. I received other proposals but I gave them exclusivity.
When you choose the festivals you play in, you are attentive to their philosophy ?
Absolutely ! I refuse a lot that does not match me. But it’s a luxury and I have the opportunity to do it.
Is it going to Belgium, it’s still something special ?
For me, it all started here! My first concert is the concert suspended on the scholarship. So there is this beginning and then there were the two circuses. I was surprised at the time because I thought it would be the only dates of the tour! We wanted to at least celebrate the album and I already had the ambition to make a big show but it was not playable in theaters, so I kept this big show in a corner of my head saying that it might be for another album. But the success was there and we were able to develop this show. There, we left for 45 festivals!
Is it a project that was easy to impose ?
Ah no, not at all! We had to convince: it was nine months of negotiations. Nine months to develop the way we were going to do it, to find the technical teams … Besides, my team on stage is Belgian: these are the same teams that have developed the crane project on the stock market; They are in charge of special effects on stage, in all zeniths and festivals. They follow me in my madness but also in childhood: there is something very childish in their eyes, you make them fart a firecracker and they are happy. I like it. The starting point is the Brussels human warmth that made word of mouth took. There is a madness in the first degree among the Belgians.
I have no problem with silence …
After the festivals, you return in October to Forest National, still with the album but there may be other songs ?.
There, there is one of which I am super happy because it was missing on stage: something very rock and I am happy to have that in my repertoire. And then there is a recovery that has been striking for me this year. And maybe if inspiration comes to me, who knows. Afterwards, I don’t like too long shows: I would like to make a 1h30 show; Beyond 1:30 am, there are less strong times …
How are you going to live after ?
The last date will be Bercy. And then I will devote myself to growing tomatoes in the south of France (laughs). There, for example, there are many dates that are linked in July-August. Then I have three weeks to recharge the batteries. Because it is a show that involves a lot of physics and the voice: there are a lot of songs where I sing a lot. Then they are tornadoes of emotions. I have no problem with silence. It’s even very cheerful for me, silence: it’s a time when I let my brain go. And that’s when the songs come. Afterwards, there is always a down, it’s normal but I have no apprehension in relation to that. On the other hand, I have apprehension in relation to my voice: it must hold and the show must be the best, for each spectator, in each room, each evening.
After that, you will also sit in a red chair for “The Voice Kids” is less twirling but just as rich in emotions.
It’s different but it’s so fun to see these children singing. There is in the purity of childhood, a gesture of such sincerity that I find extremely touching. There is no calculation, no tics. It’s charming to have this courage at that age. I have seen a lot that sing better than adults! (laughs) They have not yet learned too much: there are still flaws that are so beautiful. You have to cultivate that. I was very surprised by the level. We were told that it was the biggest season and I am not far from believing it. And then I was with a friend of the Enfoirés, Patrick Fiori, who always has this role so benevolent. And with Matt and Sopra, we are like kids. When you disembark in The Voiceyou want to be up to it. I have a responsibility and it is difficult to say “no” to children but I explain to them as I would explain to anyone, without infantilizing them. I think that precisely, by explaining to them why we did not take them, we give them keys and a goal. I was told “no”, at the conservatory and it was this “no” that made me grow. I think the “no” are important. It is because I was told “no” at the beginning to Salty popcornbecause I was noted that it was not a radio title, that I fought for two years. That no, he gave me a thirst to win.
After all that, will you come back alone or with your group, Hyphen Hyphen ?
I don’t know, we’ll see. The friends of Hyphen Hyphen, they are there, on the tour: Line is the bass player on the tour and Adam takes care of all merchandising, it is he who manages the whole image. They wanted to do it and I was delighted to stay with family. Then we will see: we have songs with Hyphen Hyphen which are not out and which are super pretty. We have lots of ideas but I leave myself absolutely free.
In concerts on 07/13 in Lasemo, 08/28 in Solidarities, 24/10 in Forest National and 7/03/2026 in Forest National.