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Angèle Desjardins is a rising star in Canada’s folk music scene. Over the past decade, she’s graced stages from Halifax to Montréal, captivating listeners with her soulful, silky voice and powerful range. Fortunately for Ottawa, this prolific singer-songwriter and gifted painter recently landed in the Nation’s Capital and will be performing weekly at Xpresso Café.
Almost before Angèle could walk, it was clear she’d inherited her father’s musical talent. As a toddler in Kapuskasing, Ontario, she would sing along at the top of her lungs with her musician cousins. Once she’d mastered walking, she moved on to bigger challenges—like playing the piano and guitar. After spending her adolescence performing in local festivals and competitions, Angèle decided to explore her future as a painter and enrolled in a BFA in Visual Arts at the University of Western Ontario. But she never strayed too far from the music scene, and performed several gigs with a local band during her studies.
Since graduating, Angèle has explored her artistic and musical talents across Eastern Canada. She’s written more than a dozen original songs—three of which have been featured in Montreal playwright Joel Fishbane’s play Short Story Long—and performed at many popular events and venues, including the Montréal Fringe Festival, The Green Room and Rasputin’s Café.
These days, Angèle continues to pursue painting, and is recording her first album in collaboration with some of her favourite artists from Ottawa, Montréal and Halifax. She’s also looking forward to writing more original music, including for Ottawa filmmaker Amanda Sage’s upcoming movie, Bliss (www.amandasage.ca/film).
written by Amanda Sage
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