Nico and His Friends Rock the Stage

L’Éclaireur-Progrès/ Beauce Nouvelle, 9 janvier 2019

(JL) Nicolas Roy’s debut album doesn’t reinvent rock music, but it’s a solid effort that will surely please local music fans.

Nicolas, also known as “Nico,” recently visited us to talk about the cassette he just released. Produced in 500 copies (at Studio La Sphère), it takes its name from the song Destinée, which has seen some success on local radio. Nico had made a demo of it two years ago.

More Rock Than Noir Silence

When asked to describe his music, he calls it “a bit more rock than Noir Silence.” That’s exactly what we found when listening to the album. Most tracks feature fiery guitar solos, masterfully played by Donald Loignon.

Nicolas, who has been making music in the region for some time, has effectively leveraged his connections to produce a quality album. In addition to Loignon, the studio musicians include Stéphane Rancourt (drums) and Dannick Gagnon (bass). His list of collaborators also features names like Éric Maheu (bass tracks for some songs) and Sonya Bilodeau. Nicolas, in addition to being the songwriter and composer of all the tracks, performs them passionately while accompanying himself on guitar.

Life Experiences

The lyrics of his songs are included with the cassette. They reflect “what I’ve been through, my life experiences,” he says.

This is particularly evident in songs like Hypocrite and Si tu savais, as well as Big torch and Maudit drogué, which reveal (like the album cover) a slightly provocative edge. However, several tracks are a reflection of this 26-year-old’s thoughts on life and the world (Destinée, Paradis, Perdu dans la ville, Angoisse).

The album is available at record stores in Saint-Georges. Nico plans to perform songs from his album a few times in bars in 1999. “That’s where I’ll really get the audience’s honest feedback,” he says.