French Singer Vianney Builds Wooden Cabin Alone and Records New Album
French singer Vianney spent nine months building a wooden cabin by hand, a project that required stepping back from his music career and led to physical strain and family tensions, TV Magazine reported.
The artist announced a break from his career in June 2025. He declined concerts, festivals, and his coaching role on the television show The Voice to focus entirely on constructing the isolated refuge. The construction concluded on April 12, 2026.
Inside the Handmade Refuge and Studio
The completed wooden structure serves as both a private retreat and a minimalist recording studio. Vianney chose to record his upcoming album, titled Les évadés and scheduled for release on November 6, 2026, inside the cabin. Eschewing modern computers, the singer utilized only instruments and a tape recorder to produce the new songs, Closer reported.
To promote the release, Vianney welcomed presenter Laurent Delahousse and the camera crew of the program 20h30 le dimanche to visit the forest hideaway. While preview clips were released on Instagram on October 30, 2026, the complete broadcast was scheduled for Sunday, November 1, 2026, on France 2.
Public Skepticism and Physical Toll on the Artist
The solo construction project drew public doubt online, prompting amused reactions from the singer. “When I saw people saying, ‘impossible that he did it alone’, well, in truth, it flattered me. I told myself, ‘you bunch of idiots, I really did it alone.’ So that made me a bit proud,” Vianney told France 2, as reported by TV Magazine.
However, the demanding daily routine took a heavy physical and personal toll. Working from sunrise to sunset left the artist exhausted. “I had pains I had never had before,” Vianney stated.
Impact on Family Life With Catherine Robert
The intense labor schedule created friction at home with his wife, cellist Catherine Robert. Closer noted that while Vianney felt a sense of accomplishment, his wife grew frustrated watching him leave every morning and return exhausted after grueling days on the worksite.
The couple welcomed a daughter named Rita in September 2026, adding to a household that includes their son Edgar (5 years old) and Catherine Robert’s daughter from a previous relationship. Vianney previously dedicated his 2020 track Beau-papa to his role as a step-father.
Burnout Prevention and Career Pace
In an interview for the podcast Les Lueurs, Vianney explained that building the cabin was a vital response to a difficult personal phase. Facing intense industry pressures, he recognized symptoms that could have led to depression or burnout, prompting him to alter his professional momentum.
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