From Oct. 11-13, 2023, SOCAN was on-site at the MaMA Festival, a not-to-be-missed music convention in Paris. The event brought the neighbourhoods of Pigalle and Montmartre to life through three days and nights of conferences, professional networking events, and concerts open to the general public.
The 2023 edition put Canada in the spotlight thanks to the “Focus Canada” series, celebrating our country’s diverse music scene, and strengthening ties between Canada, France, and the rest of the world.
SOCAN played a key role in supporting more than 20 Canadian artists, who performed in various showcases. These talented Québécois and Canadian representatives received a warm welcome from the Parisian public, and SOCAN was proud to be there to support them, thousands of miles away from home.
We seized the opportunity to chat with four of our French-speaking members, and give them a platform to discuss their aspirations when it comes to exporting their music to France, and the world.
FREDZ
Select the image to play the YouTube video interview with Fredz
“Fredz is a 21-year-old rapper from Longueuil, a Montréal suburb, who’s rapidly turning a lot of heads, and who makes no bones about his determination to conquer the hip-hop market in France. He discussed his ambitions, challenges, and tips for success, and serves as a source of inspiration condensed into a few minutes.
MAYFLY
Select the image to play the YouTube video interview with Mayfly
We caught up with Charlie and Emma, who form the duo Mayfly, to discuss their creative process, their desire to export their music, and the challenges for a bilingual band looking to develop their audience in Québec.
MIMI O’BONSAWIN
Select the image to play the YouTube video interview with Mimi O’Bonsawin
We also met Mimi O’Bonsawin, an artist from Greater Sudbury, born of a Franco-Ontarian mother and an Abenaki (First Nation) father. She recently released Boréale, her first album in French, after five projects in English. She shared her desire to export her music while preserving her authenticity.
ARIANE ROY
Select the image to play the YouTube video interview with Ariane Roy
We caught up with Ariane Roy backstage at her showcase, and she told us about her ambitions to export to Europe, having already taken a number of steps in her strategy to make a name for herself over there.
The Focus Canada series at MaMA Festival was a unique opportunity to showcase Canadian talent and promote artistic and professional exchanges between Canada, France and the rest of the world. Once more, SOCAN has proved its essential role in supporting the music from Québec and Canada on the international stage.