Deweare
Encyclopedia
Franck Deweare also known by his stage name Deweare, and previously as Franck Marx, is a musician native to Verdun
, France
, who has been based out of Montreal
, Quebec
since 2004. Deweare's style, both lyrically and vocally, has been compared to that of Serge Gainsbourg
, due to his rough yet seductive voice and dark lyrics.
cult bands such as Bérurier Noir
and Ludwig von 88
, as well as by rock musician, comedian and poet Alain Bashung
and by American music artist Beck
—another musician to whom Deweare's vocals have been compared. Deweare stated in a 2006 interview: "It's [Beck] that inspired me to sing, to produce something aesthetic."
Prior to coming to Canada, Deweare moved to Brussels
and recorded some material under the name Franck Marx, on the same label as Belgian rock band dEUS. His work under the Marx moniker leaned towards a more aggressive rock
/grunge
sound.
By chance, Deweare struck-up a conversation with Québécoise
musician Ariane Moffatt
in 2004 during a flight delay at Charles de Gaulle International Airport
on his way to Canada for the very first time. After listening to some of his demos, Moffat connected Deweare with some local, Montreal talent—including the members of electro-jazz band Plaster
, who wound up backing him on his debut album, High Class Trauma. Since coming to Canada, Deweare has collaborated with many North American artists: He performed live with Moffat and wrote the song "Tes invectives" on her 2008 album Tous le sens, he provided vocals for Afrodizz
on their song "Fashion Terrorist" from their album Froots, and he has also worked with Cyndi Lauper
and The Herbaliser
.
On the album Deweare collaborated with many Québécois artists; Deweare received assistance from Éloi Painchaud from the band Okoumé
as well as Plaster bandmembers Jean-Phi Goncalves and Alex MacMahon. The first single off the album "The New Dawn" features fellow Montreal vocalist Béatrice Bonifassi
—the song is a cover of Nina Simone
's rendition of Feeling Good
which appeared on her 1965 album I Put a Spell on You
. The album was also mixed by Carl Bastien, who has worked with many Québécois artists such as Daniel Bélanger
, Dumas
and Jean-Pierre Ferland
.
In early 2009, Deweare collaborated with Ariane Moffatt
and co-wrote "L'homme de la situation" on Amandine Bourgeois
's first album (released June 1).
Verdun
Verdun is a city in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Verdun is the biggest city in Meuse, although the capital of the department is the slightly smaller city of Bar-le-Duc.- History :...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, who has been based out of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
since 2004. Deweare's style, both lyrically and vocally, has been compared to that of Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg, born Lucien Ginsburg was a French singer-songwriter, actor and director. Gainsbourg's extremely varied musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorize...
, due to his rough yet seductive voice and dark lyrics.
Early career
Deweare's music was greatly influenced by the resurgence of French punkPunk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
cult bands such as Bérurier Noir
Bérurier Noir
Bérurier noir is a French punk band formed in Paris in 1983 by Loran , François and Dédé . They called themselves "noir" for the color of mourning and for anarchy and "Bérurier" after the character from the novels of Frédéric Dard...
and Ludwig von 88
Ludwig von 88
Ludwig von 88 is a French punk rock and alternative rock band mostly active in the 1980s and 1990s, and which gained an important success in the underground scene of its country. The band has not released any new material since 2001, but has not disbanded and is thus officially still active...
, as well as by rock musician, comedian and poet Alain Bashung
Alain Bashung
Alain Bashung was a French singer, songwriter and actor.- Youth :Alain Bashung was the son of a Breton factory worker and French Kabyle father, whom he never knew. His mother remarried, and at the age of one, Bashung was sent to Strasbourg to live with his new stepfather's parents...
and by American music artist Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
—another musician to whom Deweare's vocals have been compared. Deweare stated in a 2006 interview: "It's [Beck] that inspired me to sing, to produce something aesthetic."
Prior to coming to Canada, Deweare moved to Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
and recorded some material under the name Franck Marx, on the same label as Belgian rock band dEUS. His work under the Marx moniker leaned towards a more aggressive rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
/grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
sound.
Move to Montreal
Deweare has stated in more than one interview that his reason for leaving France was due to the political climate and the increasing racial tensions within the country. He stated that he chose Canada because he thought of the country as "an example of integration working."By chance, Deweare struck-up a conversation with Québécoise
French-speaking Quebecer
French-speaking Quebecers are francophone residents of the Canadian province of Quebec....
musician Ariane Moffatt
Ariane Moffatt
Ariane Moffatt is a Canadian francophone singer-songwriter based in Quebec. She has won Félix and Juno Awards and has performed and collaborated with many artists such as Daniel Bélanger and Marc Déry.-Career:...
in 2004 during a flight delay at Charles de Gaulle International Airport
Charles de Gaulle International Airport
Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport , also known as Roissy Airport , in the Paris area, is one of the world's principal aviation centres, as well as France's largest airport. It is named after Charles de Gaulle , leader of the Free French Forces and founder of the French Fifth Republic...
on his way to Canada for the very first time. After listening to some of his demos, Moffat connected Deweare with some local, Montreal talent—including the members of electro-jazz band Plaster
Plaster (band)
Plaster is an electro-jazz band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Their sound has been compared to such artists as Amon Tobin, Kruder & Dorfmeister and Medeski Martin & Wood...
, who wound up backing him on his debut album, High Class Trauma. Since coming to Canada, Deweare has collaborated with many North American artists: He performed live with Moffat and wrote the song "Tes invectives" on her 2008 album Tous le sens, he provided vocals for Afrodizz
Afrodizz
Afrodizz is an eight-member afrobeat/afrofunk band from Montreal. Their music is a modern mix of afrobeat, jazz and funk, that has been described as having nuances of The Herbaliser and Tony Allen.- The band :...
on their song "Fashion Terrorist" from their album Froots, and he has also worked with Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper is an American singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT rights activist. She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the album She's So Unusual and became the first female singer to have four top-five singles released from one album...
and The Herbaliser
The Herbaliser
The Herbaliser is a jazz rap band formed by Jake Wherry and Ollie Teeba London, England during the early 1990s. Although currently signed to !K7 Records, they were one of the best-known acts from the Ninja Tune independent record label...
.
High Class Trauma
High Class Trauma was released in 2006 on the Milagro Records label, and was the first album that the artist had released under the moniker "Deweare". The album is a mixture of grunge-like guitar and electronica and is at times atmospheric, much like a movie soundtrack; the songs are all performed in English and some contain hints of trip-hop and jazz.On the album Deweare collaborated with many Québécois artists; Deweare received assistance from Éloi Painchaud from the band Okoumé
Okoumé (band)
-Members:*Michel Duguay - bass*Éric Gosselin - drums, percussion*Frédéric Lebrasseur - percussion *Éloi Painchaud - backing vocals, guitar, harmonica, flute*Jonathan Painchaud - lead vocals, acoustic guitar...
as well as Plaster bandmembers Jean-Phi Goncalves and Alex MacMahon. The first single off the album "The New Dawn" features fellow Montreal vocalist Béatrice Bonifassi
Béatrice Bonifassi
Béatrice "Betty" Bonifassi is a French-born vocalist based out of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She has a deep, contralto singing voice, sometimes referred to as "masculine", which has been compared to that of Shirley Bassey. Bonifassi has performed music of many styles in both English and...
—the song is a cover of Nina Simone
Nina Simone
Eunice Kathleen Waymon , better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music...
's rendition of Feeling Good
Feeling Good
"Feeling Good" is a song written by English singer-songwriters Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the 1965 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd starring Cy Grant, who sang the original version of the song...
which appeared on her 1965 album I Put a Spell on You
I Put a Spell on You (album)
I Put a Spell on You is a 1965 album by singer/pianist/songwriter Nina Simone for Philips Records. It features some of Simone's best known songs.- Information about songs on this album :...
. The album was also mixed by Carl Bastien, who has worked with many Québécois artists such as Daniel Bélanger
Daniel Bélanger
Daniel Bélanger is a musician/singer/songwriter. He is considered one of the best Québécois songwriters and singers to emerge in the past 15 years...
, Dumas
Dumas (singer)
Dumas is a Québécois singer and a native of Victoriaville, Quebec.- Profile :He came out with his first album Dumas en 2001, when he was 21. His second album, Le cours des jours made him more well-known. One song on the Le cours des jours album was sung by Marie-Annick Lépine, from the group Les...
and Jean-Pierre Ferland
Jean-Pierre Ferland
Jean-Pierre Ferland, OC, CQ is a Canadian singer and songwriter.-Life and career:Ferland began work with Radio-Canada in 1956 as an accountant, but his career there was short lived. Shortly after, he began taking guitar lessons with Stephen Fentock and began to fall in love with music, writing his...
.
Other projects
Deweare is currently working on a new album which will feature songs sung in French. The album's release has been planned for the fall of 2008 and the single Laisse aller can be heard on Deweare's MySpace page.In early 2009, Deweare collaborated with Ariane Moffatt
Ariane Moffatt
Ariane Moffatt is a Canadian francophone singer-songwriter based in Quebec. She has won Félix and Juno Awards and has performed and collaborated with many artists such as Daniel Bélanger and Marc Déry.-Career:...
and co-wrote "L'homme de la situation" on Amandine Bourgeois
Amandine Bourgeois
Amandine Bourgeois is a French singer. She was the winner of the 6th edition of the French version of the Pop Idol series Nouvelle Star in 2008.- References :...
's first album (released June 1).