"I have been on the marquees in more than 140 countries."
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May 16, 2011
WORLD MUSICIAN
Eric Vincent
Daron Interview
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The interview
Eric Vincent is a world musician. He lives in Paris, France.
DS: What are the most memorable years of your life and what happened to make them so memorable?
Eric Vincent: In 1979, something very special…I was invited to perform at the South Pole: Kerguelen Island, Crozet and New-Amsterdam. The gig consisted of singing for the scientific missions, actually the only population of that part of the globe, besides penguins, sea lions and albatross. I will never forget the magic scene when, alone with my guitar, I was singing on the beach of Crozet, surrounded by one million penguins. The trip was very unique. The only means to reach those islands, was the " Marion Dufresne", a boat specially built and equipped to cross the "roaring forties". The boat made a round trip only three times in the year during the good season (between October and March). After a flight from Paris to St Denis de la Réunion (Bourbon Island) in the Indian Ocean, I took the boat for "Crozet", crossing four days later the "roaring forties". It was a terrible and exciting experience at the same time, to be in the middle of nowhere, on this ocean, with such high waves. To this day, I am the only singer in the world who has done that.
Eric Vincent: In 1979, something very special…I was invited to perform at the South Pole: Kerguelen Island, Crozet and New-Amsterdam. The gig consisted of singing for the scientific missions, actually the only population of that part of the globe, besides penguins, sea lions and albatross. I will never forget the magic scene when, alone with my guitar, I was singing on the beach of Crozet, surrounded by one million penguins. The trip was very unique. The only means to reach those islands, was the " Marion Dufresne", a boat specially built and equipped to cross the "roaring forties". The boat made a round trip only three times in the year during the good season (between October and March). After a flight from Paris to St Denis de la Réunion (Bourbon Island) in the Indian Ocean, I took the boat for "Crozet", crossing four days later the "roaring forties". It was a terrible and exciting experience at the same time, to be in the middle of nowhere, on this ocean, with such high waves. To this day, I am the only singer in the world who has done that.
I participated in song contests that I began to win. Once, the reward was to perform with Jacques Brel.
DS: Where were you born and where do you live now?
Eric Vincent: I was born in a small village next to Laval, in the western part of France. I now live in downtown Paris on a "péniche", a large river boat, moored in the Port of La Bastille.
Eric Vincent: I was born in a small village next to Laval, in the western part of France. I now live in downtown Paris on a "péniche", a large river boat, moored in the Port of La Bastille.
DS: How would you best describe yourself?
Eric Vincent: Just a human being who is trying to communicate with others. I have the feeling that our salvation depends on our capacity to communicate and to reach a universal ego in the fusion with others. We need others, through their differences to help us discover the beauty of complementary differences between human beings, and how this makes us better, and richer persons. Being a professional singer, songwriter and performer is a great privilege. I live with something I like. I don't want to be an exception, I just want to recover the singularity of my original condition, to become again a unique atom, a part of all and everything.
Eric Vincent: Just a human being who is trying to communicate with others. I have the feeling that our salvation depends on our capacity to communicate and to reach a universal ego in the fusion with others. We need others, through their differences to help us discover the beauty of complementary differences between human beings, and how this makes us better, and richer persons. Being a professional singer, songwriter and performer is a great privilege. I live with something I like. I don't want to be an exception, I just want to recover the singularity of my original condition, to become again a unique atom, a part of all and everything.
CONTACT HIM
DS: What are the must-haves in your daily wardrobe?
Eric Vincent: A pair of red leather shoes, leather pants and leather jackets, a pair of jeans and sweaters...
Eric Vincent: A pair of red leather shoes, leather pants and leather jackets, a pair of jeans and sweaters...
DS: Who do people tell you you look like?
Eric Vincent: Sometimes Harpo Marx… but most of the time like Eric Vincent.
Eric Vincent: Sometimes Harpo Marx… but most of the time like Eric Vincent.
DS: What is the compliment you most frequently get?
Eric Vincent: « You're so cool man! » And from very old women (only over 99 with glasses) - "You're so cute!"…
Eric Vincent: « You're so cool man! » And from very old women (only over 99 with glasses) - "You're so cute!"…
Photo: Marie-Claude Barbin
DS: How did you end-up being a world musician?
Eric Vincent: I began playing banjo-mandolin when I was 6. I was skilful on this instrument, so my parents bought me a violin and I began classical studies, which gave me a great musical basis and the indispensable confidence to believe I could become a professional musician. As far as I remember, I always liked to sing, and when I got my first guitar I sang the hit songs of the day at every family meeting. Encouraged by their enthusiasm, I became more and more confident that I would become a professional singer and musician. As a teenager, I began playing with an amateur rock group and started writing tunes. I participated in song contests that I began to win. Once, the reward was to perform with Jacques Brel. This exceptional singer encouraged me to carry on, and a few months later, I decided to try my luck in Paris where I rapidly signed my first contract with "Barclay", one of the major record companies at that time.
Eric Vincent: I began playing banjo-mandolin when I was 6. I was skilful on this instrument, so my parents bought me a violin and I began classical studies, which gave me a great musical basis and the indispensable confidence to believe I could become a professional musician. As far as I remember, I always liked to sing, and when I got my first guitar I sang the hit songs of the day at every family meeting. Encouraged by their enthusiasm, I became more and more confident that I would become a professional singer and musician. As a teenager, I began playing with an amateur rock group and started writing tunes. I participated in song contests that I began to win. Once, the reward was to perform with Jacques Brel. This exceptional singer encouraged me to carry on, and a few months later, I decided to try my luck in Paris where I rapidly signed my first contract with "Barclay", one of the major record companies at that time.
DS: Can you tell us more about your job?
Eric Vincent: I give concerts all around the world. I consider this the luckiest and most fulfilling part of my career. I am often on a plane or in a car traveling to my next concert, and in the process, I meet interesting people and have made friends all over the world. Most of the time, my audiences don't understand French, but it's always a great success despite that. I have been on the marquees in more than 140 countries. All my tunes are in French, but on stage, I speak either the language of the country or a language that my public can understand. The lyrics of my songs are as important as my music, so it's amazing to get such a great enthusiasm everywhere, from audiences that don't understand French. I feel that the communion I have with the audience during a concert puts us on the same wave length, and it allows us to get rid of the language barriers, a kind of transcendental communion that feeds us totally. My music has been very much embraced in the United States, and for several years now I have been doing an autumn tour in the U.S. of around 30 shows, playing for at least 20,000 fans or more each tour year. Many of the stops are for high-school and college audiences. Several French language programs around the states use my music as a teaching aid as well, and they have developed curriculum around the lyrics. Music is really a great tool for learning!
Eric Vincent: I give concerts all around the world. I consider this the luckiest and most fulfilling part of my career. I am often on a plane or in a car traveling to my next concert, and in the process, I meet interesting people and have made friends all over the world. Most of the time, my audiences don't understand French, but it's always a great success despite that. I have been on the marquees in more than 140 countries. All my tunes are in French, but on stage, I speak either the language of the country or a language that my public can understand. The lyrics of my songs are as important as my music, so it's amazing to get such a great enthusiasm everywhere, from audiences that don't understand French. I feel that the communion I have with the audience during a concert puts us on the same wave length, and it allows us to get rid of the language barriers, a kind of transcendental communion that feeds us totally. My music has been very much embraced in the United States, and for several years now I have been doing an autumn tour in the U.S. of around 30 shows, playing for at least 20,000 fans or more each tour year. Many of the stops are for high-school and college audiences. Several French language programs around the states use my music as a teaching aid as well, and they have developed curriculum around the lyrics. Music is really a great tool for learning!
DS: Let's talk more about you and your tastes. Any hobbies? What do you like to do in your free time? Any thing you like and recommend?
Eric Vincent: I play my instruments…piano, violin, guitar. I like to spend long evenings, around the table with my friends, to share a good dinner with a great wine on my boat in Paris… I read. I play chess. I practice a few sports: I did play a little bit of tennis, but now I play more often ping pong… I like swimming and windsurfing. During summer, I go with my boat on the River Seine, and with friends we watch the sunset above the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, with a good cocktail in our hands.
Eric Vincent: I play my instruments…piano, violin, guitar. I like to spend long evenings, around the table with my friends, to share a good dinner with a great wine on my boat in Paris… I read. I play chess. I practice a few sports: I did play a little bit of tennis, but now I play more often ping pong… I like swimming and windsurfing. During summer, I go with my boat on the River Seine, and with friends we watch the sunset above the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, with a good cocktail in our hands.
DS: What is a typical week for Eric Vincent?
Eric Vincent: There is no typical week... It's different if I am on tour or if I am in Paris or in my house in the country… On tour, after getting up and showering, I watch the news on internet or on TV in my hotel room. Then, I have my breakfast and, back in my room, I play and sing a few songs with my guitar. I like to go for a walk in the city, I like bumming around. A few hours before my concert I make the sound check and I rehearse before I relax a while in my room backstage. After the show, even if I am totally exhausted, I like to meet my audiences to sign autographs. Then after a good shower, I love to have a late night dinner in a good restaurant with a good wine. Most of the time, I go to bed around 2.00am, and when I am in Paris, even later, usually around 3 or 4 in the morning.
Eric Vincent: There is no typical week... It's different if I am on tour or if I am in Paris or in my house in the country… On tour, after getting up and showering, I watch the news on internet or on TV in my hotel room. Then, I have my breakfast and, back in my room, I play and sing a few songs with my guitar. I like to go for a walk in the city, I like bumming around. A few hours before my concert I make the sound check and I rehearse before I relax a while in my room backstage. After the show, even if I am totally exhausted, I like to meet my audiences to sign autographs. Then after a good shower, I love to have a late night dinner in a good restaurant with a good wine. Most of the time, I go to bed around 2.00am, and when I am in Paris, even later, usually around 3 or 4 in the morning.
DS: Some quick questions: What is the first thing you do in the morning?
Eric Vincent: It depends… have a cup of coffee with milk… sometimes tea, depending on the country where I am. When I am on my boat, in Paris, I play a prelude of JS Bach, on the piano, while Claudine, my wife, is preparing our breakfast. Sometimes I awake very early with an idea, and I get up to write a new song.
Eric Vincent: It depends… have a cup of coffee with milk… sometimes tea, depending on the country where I am. When I am on my boat, in Paris, I play a prelude of JS Bach, on the piano, while Claudine, my wife, is preparing our breakfast. Sometimes I awake very early with an idea, and I get up to write a new song.
DS: What is your favorite word?
Eric Vincent: Harmony.
Eric Vincent: Harmony.
DS: What it your favorite quotation? Or make your own for posterity...
Eric Vincent: To go into the unknown - take ways unknown.
Eric Vincent: To go into the unknown - take ways unknown.
DS: What is your favorite "drug"?
Eric Vincent: A smile on the lips of a beautiful girl… Also, a crowd of people standing up in a theater who are clapping their hands asking for an encore at the end of my show.
Eric Vincent: A smile on the lips of a beautiful girl… Also, a crowd of people standing up in a theater who are clapping their hands asking for an encore at the end of my show.
The photo shoot
DS: What magic power would you like to have if you could choose one?
Eric Vincent: I would like to have the power to make all the people of the world understand that they should stop killing each other and that they need to love each other despite their differences to save the life of the planet as well as their own.
Eric Vincent: I would like to have the power to make all the people of the world understand that they should stop killing each other and that they need to love each other despite their differences to save the life of the planet as well as their own.
DS: If not yourself, who would you be?
Eric Vincent: Maybe an albatross.
Eric Vincent: Maybe an albatross.
DS: What is in store for you? Any key projects for the next months? Anything you want to share? Can our readers help you with anything?
Eric Vincent: I have recently recorded a new CD "L'or de l'Instant". (The Gold of the Moment) I feel that I put the essence of my personality in its compositions. One of the songs, "Etrange Mélancolie", was written with my friend, Georges Moustaki, who had written "Milord" for Edith Piaf before his famous, "Métèque," which sold millions of records. Beyond the quality of the songs, I think that we did a terrific job with my team of musicians: Billy Drewes, Sylvin Marc, Tony Rabeson, Jean-Philippe Audin, Roland Romanelli, Vincent Bruley and others... Everyone invested themselves totally in the recording. We first had a pre-release version of the album with a special cover available including a booklet with the lyrics and a few drawings by Georges Moustaki and now, this May, we are releasing the album in France and world-wide. The limited number of pre-release albums and the regular release versions will both will now be available on CDBaby at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/ericvincent6.
Eric Vincent: I have recently recorded a new CD "L'or de l'Instant". (The Gold of the Moment) I feel that I put the essence of my personality in its compositions. One of the songs, "Etrange Mélancolie", was written with my friend, Georges Moustaki, who had written "Milord" for Edith Piaf before his famous, "Métèque," which sold millions of records. Beyond the quality of the songs, I think that we did a terrific job with my team of musicians: Billy Drewes, Sylvin Marc, Tony Rabeson, Jean-Philippe Audin, Roland Romanelli, Vincent Bruley and others... Everyone invested themselves totally in the recording. We first had a pre-release version of the album with a special cover available including a booklet with the lyrics and a few drawings by Georges Moustaki and now, this May, we are releasing the album in France and world-wide. The limited number of pre-release albums and the regular release versions will both will now be available on CDBaby at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/ericvincent6.
DS: Anything you want to add to close this interview?
Eric Vincent: When I see what happened to the nuclear power station in Fukushima, I like suddenly the glow of a candle and the sun that gives us such a beautiful and clean energy. Let's think about that!
Eric Vincent: When I see what happened to the nuclear power station in Fukushima, I like suddenly the glow of a candle and the sun that gives us such a beautiful and clean energy. Let's think about that!
DS: Thank you Eric Vincent
Eric Vincent: My pleasure. Hope to see you on my web site: http://www.eric-vincent.com and on my facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eric-Vincent/157270807654858, and over all, I wish to meet you, one day, somewhere at one of my concerts…
Eric Vincent: My pleasure. Hope to see you on my web site: http://www.eric-vincent.com and on my facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eric-Vincent/157270807654858, and over all, I wish to meet you, one day, somewhere at one of my concerts…
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