Describe your background and industry experience, and explain how it will help you contribute to the SOCAN Board of Directors?
I will soon celebrate the 20th anniversary of my career as a songwriter. During this period, rich in creativity and varied artistic experiences, I was fortunate to release 6 albums of original music and to collaborate with several high-profiles artists. I’ve toured extensively in Québec, Europe and Francophone Africa (Senegal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo). I’m a versatile artist with a vast network of contacts and my experience as a director on various boards (Artisti, SPACQ-AE, SACEF) has made me familiar with the different systems of governance. I know how to positively influence and vigorously defend the values of my community. I’m also perfectly bilingual, which is a considerable advantage these days. In short, I’m an artist who’s always active, and I see my vast experience as an asset on SOCAN’s Board of Directors.
In your opinion, what issues will be most important to SOCAN members over the next three years?
The issues at stake will be manifold, including how to deal with artificial intelligence and the productions made by it that are flooding our platforms. How to protect the interests of Québec’s songwriters and French speakers outside Québec remains at the heart of my convictions. I also believe that more transparent distribution to rights holders and the proper management of expense will be at the heart of SOCAN’s next challenges.
Of course, with the threat of American annexation, we’re going to have to forge stronger and more lasting ties with the whole country; put our differences aside and work together to keep our institutions intact and sovereign. I believe that Canadian artists will have an even greater role to play in the years to come, and I look forward to representing them on SOCAN’s Board of Directors.