Here’s a tagline to save the music industry: See a show, learn a language! Even if it really only works with a group like French Canadian band Malajube, it’s still an interesting concept. After all, how did a small, French speaking indie band from the Montreal break into a market that STILL makes a huge deal about Selena and what a crossover sensation she was? Witness a Malajube show, and you’ll understand - a roomful of young American music fans enthusiastically butchering the French language as they sing along to the animated performance in front of them. You might not know what the hell you’re saying, but after a certain point, words in music don’t really matter anyhow. Mathieu Cournoyer (bass) and Thomas Augustin (keys, vocals) spoke with me about this phenomenon, and a few other issues (including bear hats!) at their show at Johnny Brenda’s in Philadelphia. More pictures after the jump.
You guys have been on tour for almost two years now. How has the experience been for you?
Mathieu: Oh, great. We’ve seen so much, so many different countries. Kind of tired though.
Understandable. I saw that you’re playing a bunch of shows in Quebec coming up – are you all excited to be going home for a bit?
Mathieu: Yes, definitely. We have kind of a bigger following there, bigger shows.
Thomas: People sing for us there. They sing so much that we don’t have to sing sometimes.
Do you even find it odd to come to an English speaking area and have people singing along who have no idea what they’re singing?
Mathieu: Yes, it’s very funny. But wherever we go, there always seems to be a couple of Quebecers in the crowd, who teach other people.
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Tags: Interview, Malajube, interview by Leah
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