Philippe B is one of our most brilliant singer-songwriters. His precious and vibrant folk songs have been resonating on our music scene for over 15 years.
The Abitibi-born singer-songwriter established the foundations of his repertoire on his first two albums, Philippe B (2005) and Taxidermie (2008), and then further honed in on his style on his third opus, Variations fantômes, in 2011. Enriched by the work of famous classical music composers, which he sampled with finesse and ingenuity, his sound grew in density with the addition of a complex and refined orchestral backdrop. On stage, the album's spellbinding musical direction came to life with some memorable performances featuring the Molinari Quartet and a chamber orchestra.
An instant classic of the chanson Québécoise, Variations fantômes found itself on the end-of-year lists of several reputable media outlets (Le Devoir, La Presse), in addition to being listed in the top 25 best Quebecois albums released since 1990 by the Journal de Montréal and being named best album of the 2010’s by CISM.
In 2014, Philippe B offered the logical follow-up to Variations fantômes with Ornithologie, la nuit. Carried by original arrangements for wind instruments, the album allowed its creator to get his hands on the prestigious Félix award for Author or Composer of the Year at the 2014 ADISQ gala, in addition to garnering a first nomination at the Juno Awards (for Francophone Album of the Year) and a first mention on the Polaris Prize Long List.
Over the course of his career, Philippe B collaborated with several renowned Quebec artists, specifically as a writer (Safia Nolin, Vincent Vallières, Pierre Lapointe, Salomé Leclerc, among others) and producer (Les soeurs Boulay, Émile Bilodeau, Isabelle Boulay), in addition to his role as a guitarist for Pierre Lapointe in the 2000s. He also made his mark in the film industry, composing the soundtrack for two films by Éric Morin, Chasse au Godard d'Abbittibbi (2013) and Nous sommes Gold (2019), as well as Dominic Leclerc's documentary, Les chiens-loups (2019).
Philippe B is now preparing to unveil his sixth album, Nouvelle administration. On this first new record in six years, the singer-songwriter evokes with modesty and sensitivity the events that have transformed his life lately, notably becoming a father and leaving Montreal. Written, composed, arranged, mixed and produced by Philippe B, Nouvelle administration will be released in May 2023 via Bonsound.
