Aleksi Campagne
Photo Credit: Luc Joo Baya

COUNTDOWN TO STAN ROGERS FOLK FESTIVAL – INTERVIEW WITH ALESKI CAMPAGNE

Named Penguin Eggs & Roots Music Canada’s New Discovery of the Year, Aleksi Campagne offers a contemporary indie-folk take on the time-honoured fiddle-singing tradition.

Born and raised in Montreal, Aleksi’s music blends folk songwriting with an edgy, multi-layered sound resulting from his unique combination of voice, violin, and looping-effect pedals.

Aleski’s latest accomplishment was being awarded a Canadian Folk Music Award for his debut album in April 2024.

Aleksi will be playing at Stan Rogers Folk Festival in Canso, NS, throughout the weekend of July 25-28.

First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?

Hi, my name is Aleksi Campagne and I’m an indie-folk fiddle singer & songwriter from Montreal. As a fiddle-singer, I sing while accompanying myself on the violin. I recently released my first album and it’s fully bilingual–with 10 songs in English and the same 10 songs in French.

What does it mean to you to perform at the Stan Rogers Folk Festival, a festival known for its dedication to celebrating songwriters?

Playing at the Stan Rogers Folk Festival means so much to me because my mother, folk singer Connie Kaldor, was part of the Canadian Wave and toured with Stan Rogers. She even played the very first Stan Rogers Festival! Because of her, I have always cared deeply about Stan’s music and the craft of songwriting. I’ve heard so much about this festival and can’t wait to experience it for the first time.

As part of a festival that honors the legacy of Stan Rogers, how do you incorporate storytelling into your performances to connect with the audience on a deeper level?

I grew up performing on folk stages and always cherished storytelling as much as playing the music. In fact, when I was studying Jazz violin in Paris, even though I was immersing myself in the culture of improvisation and jam sessions, I couldn’t help but miss the storytelling aspect of the performances that I grew up with. Now, when performing my own music, I do not shy away from storytelling because it feels natural and authentic to me.

Stanfest is known for its intimate and community-oriented atmosphere. How does performing in such a setting differ from larger venues or other festivals you’ve played at?

I will have to see what it’s like, it’s my first time at Stanfest! I will say that I love the collaborative aspect of workshop stages found at folk festivals in Canada and I am really looking forward to discovering this amazing festival.

What new projects or upcoming releases are you working on, and will Stanfest attendees get a preview of any new material during your set?

There’s always a chance I play a new song I recently finished, but even if I don’t, I will be playing solo versions of my album. These are fiddle-singing versions of my songs that I only do live because they are best experienced in person. I use looping and guitar pedal effects to make my fiddle sound like many different instruments, all while I sing.

The festival is kicking off with “The Circle Continues – Stanfest Celebrates Bruce Guthro.” What’s your favourite song by Bruce?

His song Dirty Money comes to mind. I like the way he integrates a fiddle tune into a very rock-sounding groove. It’s a very interesting mix.

Collaboration is a big part of the folk music tradition. Are there any artists on this year’s lineup that you’re particularly excited to collaborate with or watch perform?

I am really excited to see Terra Spencer. Last March, I got to collaborate with Terra during a climate emergency concert in Halifax, put on by Music Declares Emergency Canada. I got to play fiddle on her song Coyotes, which was a real dream come true, and I would absolutely accompany her again at Stanfest if I got the chance! Other than that, I am really looking forward to seeing Just Prince, Dave Gunning, and Carsie Blanton who are all incredible performers that I really admire.

Connect with Aleksi Campagne:
Website
Bandcamp
Facebook
Instagram
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