Have you ever heard of the enigmatic and soul-stirring music of Aloysius Bell? If not, you’re in for a treat! Aloysius Bell is the alter ego of the incredibly talented singer-songwriter, Annick Brémault, hailing from Winnipeg and currently based in Montreal.
Annick Brémault may be a familiar name to some, known for her hauntingly beautiful vocals and evocative lyrics. But it is as Aloysius Bell that she truly comes into her own, weaving a tapestry of emotions through her music that is both raw and deeply moving.
If you’re eager to dive into the world of Aloysius Bell, you can find her music on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music. Be prepared to embark on a musical journey unlike any other, guided by the ethereal voice and poetic lyrics of this captivating artist.
When did you start writing music?
I started writing songs when I was 15 or 16. Poetry was the first step of that process for me. I had always been singing, always had music around so I didn’t think too much of it or really noticed much when I started writing/composing myself. I was focused on becoming a professional dancer at the time, which I eventually did. Music was the family business which I’d decided I wanted no part of haha. They got me in the end 😉
Who inspired you to make music?
My Mom did. She was a singer and host of a local variety show on CBC TV in Winnipeg, back when there was still a budget for local programming. I was on set a lot, and even ended up in a couple episodes. I just remember looking up at my Mom, dying to be up on that sound stage. I thought she was so cool and beautiful. I wanted to be her actually 😉
What is your creative process like?
It’s often a kind of spontaneous download of some combinations of lyrics / beat / melody / chord ideas, which I note, accumulate and then work on when I get a chunk of time. I get a lot of visual ideas – colours, patterns, movement – along with that. I often end up drawing those. I get so excited to finally get to work on making all of that concrete, sitting at the computer or piano, fleshing things out. So by the time the songs get into the shape they’ll be released in, I’ve got a solid idea of what the accompanying visuals are going to be. It kind of goes hand in hand for me.
What would you be doing right now if it weren’t for your music career?
That’s a tough one… I’d probably be making documentaries, dance films, screenwriting or doing costume design.
Do you enjoy recording and production?
Yes, I love it. My partner and I have a great home studio set-up. It’s my happy place.
What is next for you?
I’d love to do some collabs with friends, it could be sick to get some remixes of a few songs on the EP and then release a vinyl with all that stuff on it. I’d also love to perform a lot, that’s the ultimate fun for me and makes all the logistical, management stuff I do worthwhile.
Do you sing in the shower? What songs?
I love to sing in the shower, it’s all steamy and there’s that sweet natural reverb – I actually do part of my daily vocal warm-ups in there. I work a lot as a background vocalist, so I inevitably end up singing whatever repertoire I’m learning at that moment, that and whatever else I’m feeling – lately it’s been SZA and Little Dragon.
What would be the ideal food to have cooked for you on a date night?
My partner is half Syrian and cooking for each other is one of our love languages. So if he were to cook for me on a date night, it would have to be a spread of all my faves – muhammara, beet mutabal, fattoush salad, stuffed grape leaves, fattet makdous, etc.
What was the last TV series you watched on TV?
Blue Eye Samurai. It’s so good. And yes, a 2nd season is confirmed.
If you had to describe yourself as a flavor, what would it be?
Umami.
What’s your least favorite personality trait you like about yourself?
I get really really hangry (hungry + angry) when I have to wait to eat. You don’t want to be on a fruitless hunt for a restaurant with me when I’m like this. And I chronically forget that I’m made this way haha. I’m definitely one of those people who should have a stash of food with them at all times.
Which are cooler? Dinosaurs or Dragons?
Definitely dragons.
Aloysius’s debut EP Warm Thing released on February 2nd, produced with multidisciplinary Toronto artist Driftnote (Korea Town Acid, R. Flex) and mixed by David Plowman (July Talk, Dillan Ponders). Born from the interplay of otherworldly realms and her imagination, she artlessly melds her distinctive songwriting with pop, R&B and electro influences.
“Sometimes you just don’t get along with your person, and you have to vent,” Brémault remarks about the universal sentiment that resulted in the soulful track “Wreckage” after an argument with her partner. “I guess I find it funny how we can become so petulant and childish in times of conflict with the people we love – in the moment you can be furious and the next day you can barely remember why.” Warm Thing reveals both the poetic and the ugly. “I feel like every time we go into that kind of vulnerability as artists, we signal to other people that they can too. We normalize it and make it accessible.”