Newsletter February 2010
Wow, I am at the tail end of the Olympic marathon of shows, jobs, rehearsals and general business of this Olympic month. I played some incredible shows with Leoffenders: the Experience BC Stage, LiveCity Vancouver, Place de la Francophonie and at this point there is one more show on February 26th again at the Place de la Francophonie on Granville Island. One of the highlights was to sing the anthem in front of 30 thousand people for the Olympic Torch Relay in Richmond... Whoa.. such energy! I was practically out of my body!

I have to admit that the fever surrounding the Olympics conquered me and I loved seeing this town coming to life. Vancouver has never been so beautiful, so vibrant and enticing. So much going on, arts, people, sports, fervor it will be a time to remember.

I guess I have not talked about it yet but there was some amazing news for me that came on the heels of my recording sessions in Nashville in January. Out of those sessions came a recording deal. Yes, when I had decided that I was going to go and self-produce this new solo project comes hell or high water, the studio stepped in and they offered me a deal.

I return to Nashville on March 17th for a about 20 days to record these new songs. I am feeling incredibly good about it all. I have been intensively writing since November in a very focused manner. Right now I am about 2 -3 songs away from being done and it is really starting to shape up as a project.

I have already talked to photographer extraordinaire Paul Mc Dermott to do a photo shoot for the album cover, that should be fun too!

So here it is for now. Enjoy the last week of these Olympic celebrations, the sunshine (for those on the West Coast!) and talk to you soon!


Newsletter January 2010

The year started with a flight, I was somewhere in the skies between Seattle and Nashville when the new year was rung in New York, I was on my way to record tracks with Perry at his new digs, a wonderful studio on the outskirts of Nashville. I spent 12 days there and I did not even manage to see Music City as I spent my time either recording, getting ready to record, eat or sleep. the sessions were a big success. We recorded 5 songs for Leoffenders and 4 songs for an upcoming solo project of mine. I am planning to go back in March to record more of my material. Yes, it is definitely in the air.

The new music is positively rocks. Those who've known me for a long time know that there is no musical territory I am not willing to traverse and that I am no stranger to rock, and this is a return to the source and a chance to let it rip on the guitar.

For this new year I would still like to put together a compilation of some of the theatre music I have composed, that is if I can find the time later this year between shows and recording sessions.

With Leoffenders, my duo with Josee Allard, we've just been awarded a Musicaction grant to record four songs, hence the tracking in Nashville. We've also got some Olympic gigs in town.coming up with Leoffenders, see the calendar on the left for details

I am honored to be invited to sing the national anthem for the arrival of the Olympic flame in February in Richmond BC, where I live. I will sing a bilingual version. Everything still has to be confirmed by the powers in place, I cannot say much more at this point as this being an Olympic-vanoc event, they are pretty serious about what is being said or written on any media, even personal blogs .

So these days my job is mainly to compose new songs for my solo project. I've got 7 done, and have some sketches right now for at least 8 more. I've been the total night owl, as I find it the best time to write and work on music. No phones, emails, people at the door, Skype and everyone else in the neighborhood is sleeping.

In the world of sculpture, I sold a piece last week, the Sable Island Trio, it is going to a new home in California to a lady who runs a multimilion dollars facility for show horses. Couldn't ask for a better home for my work!

I wish you all a fantastic new year, with discoveries of the soul, adventures and awesome friends along the way.

danielle

December 2009

In December I will play a few shows then head to Ottawa for another surprise invitation, I was asked to be on a Canada Council for the Arts Jury and accepted, I will be there between the 6th and the 12th.
Then on December 31 I will be heading to Nashville to record some new material of mine for an upcoming new solo album.

An interesting gig will be on December 4 at the Vancouver's CBC, I will play a show with François Houle and Andre Lachance, we will perform old classic French songs from Brel, Piaf, Ferré. It is at 6pm, 700 Hamilton St in Vancouver

and on December 5th I am back at the Wired Bean this time with Leoffenders, showtime 8PM


November 2009

November was busy with the video shoot for Leoffenders for the song Demain, that was two days (Nov 4 and 13) we also had Luvia Petersen as an actor and she was amazing!

I played the Wired Bean in North Van and totally enjoyed myself, it is one of the rare venues where people actually come to listen, it was a true gift!


We also had two suprise and very welcome shows as part of Coup de Coeur 2009, a major coast to coast francophone festival. We played two Vancouver schools to thundering applause and screams!

Still riding the motorcycle, it's getting really cold but I just love it!


October 2009

I did not see much of October as I was writing the music for the play Le Perimètre. It is always a really engrossing task that I just adore. The play was really well received and so was the music. I also found time to get my first tattoo, I just love it, a horse... it figures!
And not not forget, I was a performer on the hundredth anniversary of Maillardville extravaganza show produced by Isabelle Longnus. I sang harmonies for almost all the special guests, sang one of my songs : the Friendship song (sans guitar which allowed me to really 'use' the stage!) and had a mini acting part as a nun-school teacher... getting in one of those costumes is truly a claustrophobic experience...

May 1st 2009

On May first the event : Le mai de la chanson commence aujourd'hui ( the month of may in song starts today) gets underway.

Josee and Danielle have been selected to be part of this event sponsored by Radio-Canada, ANIM, and "Operation Chanson". From May first to June 12 this event will showcase western Canada's francophone artists.

Radio Canada will prioritize the repertoire of the chosen artists, interviews will be aired and an interactive site is available. for more information visit :
www.radio-canada.ca/maidelachanson (sorry it's all in French!)

April 29 2009

Leoffenders (danielle's new group with Josee Allard ) just learned that they have won the Muziklip contest organized by the Radio Canada Vancouver. The contest gives the winners the chance to record a new song and shoot a music video for that same song. Amazing!

April 26 2009

Leoffenders just came back from a wonderful concert in Ottawa. The group represented BC in the BC Scene festival organized by the National Arts Center of Canada. Josée and Danielle were joined by St Pierre and drummer Elliot Polsky and keyboardist Mathieu Dion. The show was a total success. Thanks to Michel Dozois from the CNA for the invitation and the superlative accomodations, dinner and fun all around.

April 19 2009

Leoffenders shot short videos for the "Mai de la Chanson" event organized by Radio Canada Alberta. The event showcases a number of Francophone artists from Western Canada. Interviews and songs will be aired on the radio, a web site with the clips will be set up and more events are set around this celebration of music.

April 7 2009

Leoffenders is really honored to play the Just Singing' Round showcase at the Stanley Park Rowing Club in Vancouver.Thanks Yvonne!

April 4 2009

Danielle, Josee Allard and St Pierre play a concert at the Spectacles Nouvelle Scène presented by Maison de la Francophonie de Vancouver.

March 9 to 16 2009

Les rencontres qui chantent Wow... what a week...the Alliance nationale de l’industrie musicale (ANIM) and the Festival en chanson de Petite-Vallée join forces with the Francophone Cultural Centre of Vancouver and the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad, to present Les rencontres qui chantent in Western Canada.

This project targets emerging artists starting a career in Francophone Canadian music. For a third year in a row, a group of 12 artists coming from different Canadian provinces, have been selected by ANIM and the Festival en chanson de Petite-Vallée in the Gaspé peninsula, where they participated in a creative residency in June 2008.

Two artists from British Columbia will take part of the selection. Beginning on March 7th 2009 the group will travel to Vancouver to receive artistic mentorship with professionnal as Marc Chabot for writing, Marc Pérusse for musical arrangement and Isabelle Longnus for stage presence. that work will culminate in a show that will be presented on Sunday, March, 15 at the Shadbolt Centre For the arts in Burnaby at 7:30pm. Marc Pérusse is the musical director and Isabelle Longnus is the executive director of this show. It will be broadcast on the francophone stations of Radio-Canada throughout the country at a date that remains to be determined..Les artistes présents :Josée Allard (Colombie-Britannique), Nadia Gaudet (Manitoba), Charles Henderson (Québec), Danielle Hébert (Colombie-Britannique), Queen KA (Québec), Christian «Kit» Goguen (Nouveau-Brunswick), Joey Mallat, CONNU ? (Québec) Andréa McIntosh (Ontario), Mireille Moquin (Alberta), Benoit Morier (Manitoba) Simon Poirier (Québec), Sarah Toussaint-Léveillé (Québec), Hélène Godin (Nouveau-Brunswick), Jérémie Gosselin (Manitoba)

March 4 2009

Première of the play Lentement La Beauté produced by the théâtre la Seizième in Vancouver in co-production with the Edmonton Francophone theatre. Danielle composed the music for the play and the show and the music were a huge success.

February 20th 2009

Leoffenders plays its first official vancouver show at the El Barrio restaurant!

Décember 2008

Danielle &  Josee's Leoffenders records 5 original songs, does a photoshoot with the most awesome photographer Paul Mc Dermott, and launch the first official Leoffenders website.

Octobre 2008

Danielle & Josee play an artist showcase at the Western Canadian Music Awards in Edmonton. The showcase is received with wild enthusiasm and this is the historical moment when the girls decide to call the group Leoffenders.

April 16 2008

Danielle is going on tour!!
Yes after a few years away from touring and live performing Danielle is heading on the road with two other women for the Women In Song tour. Danielle will be sharing the stage with singer songwriters Melonai Brisdon and Josée Allard and with musicians Davidian Chorley and Jose Sanchez. The tour will span Northern BC, Vancouver Island and a final show in Vancouver. Here are the dates :

Prince George May 5th, School concert

Vanderhoof May 6, school concert

Prince Rupert may 7th School concert

Terrace May 8th Community concert

Kitimat May 9th Community concert

Prince George May 10th Community concert

Victoria May 12th School concert

Powell River May 13th, 14th

Vancouver May 23rd at the Studio 16 on West 7th
more details to come or you can go check www.myspace/femmesenchanson.com

Also...

À L'Infini Communications' announces the release of the CD : J'ai Trouvé Dans Une Chanson honoring East Coast artist Ronald Bourgeois. Danielle recorded the song : 'Pour Eve' for this compilation. The release will take place May 22nd a the Musée Steward in Montreal.
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March 26 2008

Danielle records a song for a compilation CD honoring East Coast francophone singer songwriter Ronald Bourgeois. Danielle wrote an arrangement and then recorded voice, guitar and back up vocals for a song titled : Pour Eve (for Eve). The compilation is produced by À L'Infini Communications' Martine Girard, produced by Patrice Boulianne (Blou) and Denis Gendron. The album will be released some time in 2008.

February 8th 2008

Danielle plays the Richmond Carnaval with Elliot Polsky, Chris Percy and Kerry Galloway. The set consisted of mostly French material from her 3 CDs.

January 30th 2008
Danielle plays a live broadcast for Radio Canada from the Hotel Vancouver. The event was celebrating 40 years of French radio broadcasting in BC. Danielle performed a Pauline Julien song : L'àme à la tendresse and her song 'l'Araignée' (the spider song)

December 2007

In 2007 Danielle re-recorded the song Zee from her CD Aventurière Accidentelle, this time with new lyrics for a compilation CD titled Dances and Dreams produced by CBC. The CD is part of a program for new mothers in BC where books and music are sent out to new moms across the province. Danielle's lyrics were inspired by her new nephew Maxime. The CD was released in late 2007 by CBC.

March 2007

the jazz CD 'Paris is for Lovers with Danielle Hébert and Phil Dwyer' was released by the label Sommerset Entertainment. Danielle sang jazz covers arranged by Phil Dwyer. The CD is available for purchase directly at Avalon Records

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