CHIC GAMINE
Chic Gamine, the roguishly charming Winnipeg/Montreal-based vocal quintet, has been serenading its audience since the summer of 2007. By complete coincidence, the group is composed of the 5 “A’s”: singers Ariane Jean, Andrina Turenne, Alexa Dirks, Annick Brémault and drummer and percussionist Alexandre Sacha Daoud. Over the years, its members have been integral parts of a multitude of projects, notably, R’n’B/Soul sensation little boy boom, Brazilian Funk/Pop flavoured Gaïa and World Vocal ensemble Madrigaïa.
With a solo percussionist as their main musical support, Chic Gamine use their voices as instruments, effortlessly launching into intricate string arrangements, bass-heavy rhythm sections and lush harmonies. United, these multifariously talented songwriters create a sound that resonates with soul, passion and their own particular brand of humour that leaves audiences begging for more. Gospel, Soul, R’n’B, 50’s Doo-Wop, Brazilian forro and French Chanson are infused into the voices and rhythms of these 5 schemers and effervescent songmakers. And the whole is liberally dosed with the most total, sibylline insouciance unique to Chic Gamine...
With less than one year under their stylishly coordinated belts, they celebrated the June release of their first album, the self-titled, Chic Gamine. In summer of 2008, they hit up some important festivals in Canada (Winnipeg Folk Festival, Mission Folk Festival, etc.) and in the U.S. (California Strawberry Festival, California World Fest, etc.). And to their utter delight, they have been given the honour of opening up for the legendary Smokey Robinson in Idaho in early August.
Individual Biographies
ANNICK BRÉMAULT
Music is Annick Brémault’s true love. Born into a family of musicians, Annick has been mixing melodic hooks, lyrics, harmonies and beats together for as long as she can remember. She sings and writes soulfully, tapping into the deep well of her innate musicality. Annick has performed solo, been part of numerous musical projects, notably Madrigaïa, and has sung on a variety of recordings as a backup vocalist. She loves the colour green, all brands of Soul music, touring the world with those she loves and such fantastic animals as the platypus. Annick has travelled extensively, lived and performed in Japan for several years and loves to write about her life experiences. A trained dancer and a student of the pandeiro, she carries on a long-time love affair with the country of Brazil, its music, its dance and its language. Annick has been blowing kisses to the audience since the age of four.
ALEXA DIRKS
For Alexa Dirks, music is not just a hobby, it\'s a lifestyle and a language she has been singing in before she could even speak. Starting as a backup vocalist for other touring artists, Alexa now finds herself - at the tender age of 20 - working with some of the most respected musicians in Winnipeg’s musical community. Her husky, powerful voice, instinctive sense of melody and harmony, crystallize with her love of different styles of music and infuses every one of her vocal performances with breathtaking abandon. She has experience well beyond her years, as evidenced by her innately creative and disarmingly mature songwriting abilities. With a voice so soulful and true, it\'s no wonder she\'s fronting Winnipeg’s R&B/Soul band little boy boom, and sharing the spotlight with the ladies (and beats) of the genre blending quintet Chic Gamine.
ARIANE JEAN
Beneath Ariane’s soft exterior lies a beguiling jokester that pops up every once in a while. A dancer and singer-songwriter at heart, Ariane’s love of music has carried her to many a venue, allowing her to shine from such stages as her grandmother’s living room, and concert halls and festivals across the world. A true gamine, Ariane loves to laugh and carries her laid back approach to life - along with her (portable) glockenspiel and sturdy walking shoes - wherever she goes. Ariane’s natural musical abilities and her knack for thinking outside the box have led to her success with such groups as Chic Gamine, Madrigaïa and Moses Mayes. Showcased on over a dozen professional recordings, Ariane knows how to deliver a melody with warmth, soul and heart.
ANDRINA TURENNE
Andrina’s undeniable joie de vivre spreads like wildfire. A natural performer since childhood, she finds her greatest love in music and her biggest comfort standing in front of an audience. Her teenage years saw her honing her southern-rooted vocal style fronting local funk and blues bands, which led her to tour extensively with acclaimed vocal group Madrigaïa. Committed and driven, Andrina is a self-taught guitarist who has also been perfecting her piano and percussion skills to aid in her soulful and honest songwriting. Recent solo travels to Mexico have led her to experience joyful bouts of soul-searching and given her the chance to perfect her Spanish, a language she has long studied and in which she is now writes songs. An eternal student of life, this multi-talented and courageous songstress is proud to be a part of Chic Gamine, where her best friends and the road are her teachers.
SACHA DAOUD
Sacha Daoud is an explosively expressive drummer, whose playing stands out for its intense creativity, feel and emotion. A student at two prestigious music schools, McGill University and the University of Montreal, Sacha is an inspired artist whose musicianship is as remarkable for its versatility as it is for its technical precision. Inspired by his Syrian/Brazilian heritage, he has undertaken intensive research and study of Brazilian percussion and Asian rhythms. Recent forays into composing and producing music for film, TV and animation have met with glowing success, as his considerable musical knowledge comes to the fore. Sacha frequently plays with a wide range of artists and groups, including Montreal’s Brazilian staple, Paulo Ramos, Haitian-Canadian vocalist Luck Mervil, Franco-Brazilian songwriter Bia and the Cirque du Soleil.
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