The apple really didn’t fall far from the tree for Édouard Tremblay-Grenier. Son of musician Mara Tremblay and comedian Daniel Grenier, the 23-year-old artist comes to us with an excellent, perfectly mastered first album, Francois Robergein which absurd humor finds a small place.
“Hello, this is François Roberge. You are about to listen to Édouard Tremblay-Grenier’s first album, called Francois Roberge. Haha! That’s me. Good listening,” we can hear the real François Roberge say at the beginning of the album.
To this comical introduction, which is reminiscent of Chick’n Swell, his father’s late group, Édouard was keen on it. “I wanted the album to start with someone talking. My father suggested asking Robin Aubert, but I wanted someone a little less well-known.”
And why name your album Francois Roberge? “He’s a friend of my father,” he explains. My album is still very close to me, very intimate. I wanted to put a more humorous title to show another side of me. […] I still listen to Chick’n Swell a lot. And whenever my father does a show, I’m happy to go see him. The absurd is literally in my blood.”
Well surrounded
Despite this absurd wink, Francois Roberge is a deeply serious album. Édouard Tremblay-Grenier included songs composed very recently, relating to what he experienced in his daily life. “It is often said that those who make a first album have been accumulating songs for several years. Me, no. My oldest is three years old.”
Not wanting to produce the album, Mara Tremblay still supported her son by producing it. “I had no money to do it! says Édouard, laughing. She believed in my tunes enough. My mom and dad have always been the first people to listen to my songs since I was 13 until now.”
Édouard Tremblay-Grenier.
Photo provided by Éléonore Delvaux-Beaudoin
Knowing Pierre Fortin and Jean-Sébastien Chouinard well, Mara put them in contact with her son for the creation of Francois Roberge. “Pierre played with Les Dales Hawerchuk and Galaxie, that always really impressed me. And JS, all his guitar solos blow my mind,” mentions Édouard.
When asked about his musical influences, the young man cites Malajube, Louis-Jean Cormier, Jean Leloup and… his mother! “I am a huge fan of my mother. And Malajube is my favorite band of all time. I have tattoos of Trompe the eye et Labyrinths!»
The revelation to the Francos
In his childhood, little Édouard almost never listened to Quebec music. “It was just Malajube, La Patère rose and Les Trois Accords. Otherwise it was just American and British music.”
It was when he happened to see Robert Charlebois and Philippe Brach at the Francos, two artists he didn’t know at all, that he had a revelation. “I wondered what I was missing.”
He then began researching Quebec music. “That’s where I learned that Les Colocs wasn’t just a small band. That’s what I thought, since my mother was in it! [rires]»
After composing songs in English, Édouard Tremblay-Grenier decided to embrace his native language and write under his full name. “Some people thought it was long, but I don’t care, it’s me. I take inspiration from both of my parents to be who I am. I’m really proud to be the son of these two humans.”
A memorable national holiday
On June 23, 2024, Édouard had a memorable evening playing in the house band during the national holiday hosted by his mother, on the Plains of Abraham, in Quebec. The heavy rain caused problems for the team, but the young man made the most of every moment.
“That show really made me grow up. There were all the rehearsals and the fact that 30 minutes before [de monter sur scène]we removed 30 minutes of songs. […] I was soaked. My guitars were all soaked. It’s one of the most beautiful evenings of my life.”
With the release of his album, Édouard Tremblay-Grenier hopes to do some festivals. Alongside music, he also wants to pursue his acting career.
“It’s always been a passion since I was little. I think that being able to make music at the same time will allow me to just be able to choose the projects that I like in game and those that I like in music. It will allow me to flourish more.”
The album by Édouard Tremblay-Grenier, Francois Robergeis currently available. He will perform launch shows in Montreal (Quai des Mignes, February 10), in Victoriaville (Cactus Resto-Bar, February 11) and in Quebec (Local du District Saint-Joseph, February 13). For information: edouardtremblaygrenier.com.
date: 2026-02-07 17:03:00
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