At first it was just a project between friends. Rumors even predicted that the adventure would be fleeting and end at the end of quarrels or conflicts. But Tocadéo let them lie. As they enter their fifteenth anniversary, the vocal quartet emerge with an eighth album and tour taking shape for the fall. “We have no intention of stopping,” confirms Dany Laliberté.
Since their very first contract in 2008, the four singers – Dany Laliberté, Benoit Miron, René Lajoie and Patrick Olafson – have never been idle, embarking on project after project, both on stage and on record. And rather than dividing them, the years have resulted in the group becoming “welded together.”
“In the beginning we were four friends. Today we are four brothers. We have a real need to come together and do what we love: sing,” says Benoit Miron.
However, they have built their careers in the shadow of an important, mainstream broadcast channel: commercial radio. Because no, Tocadéo’s titles don’t monopolize the airwaves like some of their current peers. The four singers quickly understood that. And without the slightest trace of bitterness, they describe this situation in an interview.
“We recognized it early on and decided to direct our energy to the right place: with our fans. And we are aware that our sound is different than what we hear on the radio. It seems that there are fewer and fewer current artists and songs that rely on great emotions or vocal heights,” explains Dany Laliberté.
Large sizes
It is true that these “singing flights” have become the quartet’s trademark over the years. A simple look at the group’s discography confirms this: Tocadéo has borrowed tracks from Celine Dion, Lara Fabian, Whitney Houston, Ginette Reno, Mario Pelchat and other Marie Denise Pelletier of this world.
Her new album Songs to Last Forever, released Friday, is no exception to that rule; The four singers combine some of the greatest hits by Daniel Lavoie, Roch Voisine, Claude Dubois and Les BB and also draw on the repertoire of Celine Dion and Lara Fabian.
Big sizes what. Names and titles some would even call “untouchable” given their status as classics, or vocal acrobatics they master.
“Different Effects”
But it would be a misunderstanding for the members of Tocadéo to think they would be intimidated by “Love still exist”, “I would like to see New York”, “If God exist” or “If you love me”.
In fact, the group knows how to make these songs their own. After all, they have four voices, each with its own register and range. This makes them a valuable tool for firmly anchoring these titles in their very own universe.
“A song carried by four voices is automatically different than one performed by a single singer. We therefore automatically move away from the original version with a completely different proposal,” says Dany Laliberté.
“And when we choose a song that was originally sung by a woman, we immediately know that our version will be different, that it will have a different impact, carried by male voices,” adds Benoit Miron.
Virtual launch
While waiting for the tour that starts next September, Tocadéo fans can already discover the world of songs for eternity on stage with the launch show, available since Friday on the live platform in your living room.
Led by Guylaine Tanguay, in this virtual event the four singers interpret the songs from the album one after the other and entrust themselves to the creative process of this project.
♦ Scrapbook songs for eternity is now available in stores and on platforms. The launch show is available on the live platform in your living room until June 13th.