Maude Cyr-Deschênes releases her new EP Nos Saisons
Edmundston, New Brunswick-based singer-songwriter Maude Cyr-Deschênes has unveiled her EP, Nos Saisons.
On the track “Santa,” Cyr-Deschênes recalls her encounter with a dementia patient by the same name, with whom she shared a deep bond while assisting medical staff during the pandemic. Deeply affected by Santa’s story, Maude decided to dedicate a song to her that tackles the elderly patient’s desire for freedom.
This is also the main theme of Nos Saisons, which features six different characters, all seeking freedom, independence, or deliverance. All are based on people with whom Cyr-Deschênes has crossed paths at one point or another.
Cyr-Deschênes’ lyrics and melodies carry a folk sincerity. The EP combines acoustic, electric, and country guitars, which intermingle with the lightness of her jazz piano. The EP was inspired by artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Joni Mitchell, Beau Dommage, and Harmonium. The opus is carried by choral vocals that subtly envelop us in the sense of comfort.
Listen to Nos Saisons below, and learn more about Maude Cyr-Deschênes via our Five Questions With segment.
Care to introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Maude Cyr-Deschênes, and I’m a singer-songwriter from Edmundston, New Brunswick, who has been living in Montreal since 2016. I have been immersed in the performing arts since I was two years old, singing and acting in different musicals. However, it is definitely the world of music that fascinates me the most, specifically songwriting. After high school, I decided to continue my studies in the Professional Music and Song Technique program, Jazz Composition and Arrangement profile, at Cégep Saint-Laurent in 2016. Taking advantage of the composition techniques that I learned there, I have fashioned a writing style of my own, mixing folk, country, and jazz.
Tell us a bit about your most recent release.
Santa is the first single off my upcoming EP, Nos Saisons. I wrote all the songs that will be featured on the album throughout the COVID pandemic. During the first couple of months of lockdown, wanting to keep myself busy, I decided to go work at a hospital to help healthcare workers. I had so many special encounters, but one patient, in particular, touched me. She was an elderly lady with dementia called Santa. She had no family left and lived alone in her house until the police came to take her to the hospital. Despite everything, she was always singing, dancing, and doing pranks on everyone.
Her story moved me so much that I decided to write a song in her honor. A song that talks about the fact that often the elderly would rather be able to be free, to walk as they want, than to be locked between four blue walls, even if this can have serious consequences on their health.
Where do you tend to pull inspiration from when writing?
I tend to be inspired by the world around me, especially people. I love listening to them, understanding their difficulties, and empathizing with them. In my upcoming album, each song is about individuals who have crossed my path over the past two years. They are all humans who have touched me in some way. Six completely different people, all at different stages of their lives, all had the same visceral need: freedom.
Musically, you can hear the influence of 70s pop/folk bands such as Fleetwood Mac, Joni Mitchel, Beau Dommage, and Harmonium in my music. The instrumentation is simple and is supported by voices, which, in my opinion, is the most versatile instrument and the one with the greatest range of emotions. My music is often carried by choirs which subtly give a comforting effect. We hear bits and pieces of several styles, such as country, jazz, and rock, but all of this sails on a folk frame. There is something very touching in the simplicity of this style, a certain warmth that highlights the emotions that I try to transmit.
Do you have any upcoming shows or festivals you’d like to tell us about?
In connection with my music, I have my album launch that will take place on October 13th at the Petit Campus, Montreal. I really look forward to that show; being the first that I will do since 2021! After that, I will be performing at the Saint-Denis Theater from December 2022 to January 2023 in the musical The Sound of Music.
What’s your goal for 2022?
My goal for 2022 is to have a successful album launch and to reach as many people as possible with my music. I also want to keep writing new songs in the hope of starting the process of making a new album soon!
Connect with Maude Cyr-Deschênes:
Bandcamp
Facebook
Instagram