Cirque du Soleil co-founder and DJ Guy Laliberté revisits the iconic soundtracks of Cirque du Soleil and prepares his return to the live performance arena. This Thursday he is releasing a mini-album of Alegria, which contains four remixed tracks, including two with his friend Garou.
The album, available on most digital platforms, is published by the music label Frooogs Records, founded by Guy Laliberté under the umbrella of his company Lune Rouge to bring this project to fruition.
Withdrawal from the artistic scene since the launch of his multimedia fresco Beyond the echoes, broadcast in a pyramidal structure (PY1) in 2019, Guy Laliberté admitted that he had reassessed his priorities since, but that he still had “ creative energy” to launch new projects.
“Frooogs is my new entertainment initiative,” he said. Between now and next spring, I will announce several new projects. In my difficult metaverse adventure during COVID, I realized that I am an analog, not a digital, so I return to my love of spectacle. »
Augmented reality and digital technology offer interesting “intellectual stimulation”, analyzes Guy Laliberté, but it is difficult to “touch” people with these technologies, he admits today.
At 64, the Quebec creator returns to what he knows best: live performance and music. “One, since COVID I have lost so many friends, it tempts me to work with my friends one last time. Two, look at the world we live in, we flirt with darkness, Frooogs, it’s color. I can’t not react to that. »
As for his remix project, it was Guy Laliberté who contacted the president and CEO of Cirque, Stéphane Lefebvre, “towards the end of the pandemic”, to offer to “revive” the music du Cirque, starting with Alegria, originally created by composer René Dupéré.
“It’s an extraordinary opportunity to introduce this music to all generations who did not necessarily grow up with this music,” said Stéphane Lefebvre.
“If I chose Alegria, it is first of all because it is an iconic song in the history of the Cirque,” indicated Guy Laliberté, “but it is also the purpose behind Alegria, which is a call to joy, peace. In the geopolitical context in which we live, we need a little color, and I think that that is always part of the Cirque’s mission, it is our alternative medicine. So it makes me happy that the Cirque spontaneously accepted. »
In a video broadcast during the press meeting, Garou, who collaborated on the Zarkana show, recounted the adventure he experienced during this collaboration with his “friend Guy”.
“For me, it’s a gift of life,” he began by saying. Guy who spends nights not sleeping, it’s not just to have parties, he said jokingly, it’s to organize his musical parties! » Garou confided that he was one of the first to encourage the former creative guide of Cirque du Soleil to make remixes and host evenings as a DJ. “He’s so good, I’ve always trusted his musical instincts. »
Over the next five years, Guy Laliberté intends to carry out at least nine remix projects: three that he plans to lead himself, three that he plans to entrust to Montreal DJs and three that will be produced by International DJs. Laliberté did not want to name the DJs in question.
“Our objective is precisely that there are really different styles, dancing, deep house, chill, tempo, each will have its signature. We want to have their interpretation of Cirque du Soleil plays. »