From the very beginning, the personal story of Montreal singer-songwriter Corneille fleeing the Rwandan genocide has always dominated his message. But even though his tale of survival and resilience is deeply at the heart of his music, his languid R&B sound is just as important. "It's weird, I've always liked to tackle more serious, heavier subjects, even if my music isn't like that," he says. "In fact, I just can't make depressing music."
His quest for lightness reaches its peak on Encre rose (Pink Ink), an album in which he delves into the music of his childhood in Rwanda. “Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, Shalamar, Kool & the Gang, The Gap Band, Marvin Gaye—all the music I played when I arrived in Montreal in 1997 and was just starting out,” he says. “I’ve always dreamed of immersing myself in this sound, but this is the first time I’ve allowed myself to give it my all.” While there’s a lightness to the songs, Encre rose remains true to Corneille’s modus operandi: he knows that you can groove intelligently. “I’ve been writing with my wife, Sofia, for about 15 years now, and every project begins with our conversations, the questions we ask ourselves,” he says. “It’s clear that what we’ve just experienced, all this collective questioning, has led me to imagine the world after all this, which I hope will be better.”
