From the Conservatory to the international stage
Photo credit : Les DeuxLuxes - JF Galipeau
Coming from a family background of musicians, Étienne Barry was drawn to the piano from the age of 5. As a teenager, he studied pop and jazz piano (Sébastien Beaulieu), guitar (Dany Nicolas) and jazz combo (Pierre Richard) at the Conservatoire de musique de la Montérégie. In 2010, during the first CMM fundraising evening, Étienne made his mark with his group, Captain T and the Boogie Bandits. He was awarded the “CMM Excellence scholarship” during that evening.
With his training at the Conservatory, he felt ready to continue his studies in jazz piano - composition, arrangement, and interpretation at Cégep St-Laurent. As far back as he can remember, Étienne has always seen himself making music and his parents were supportive of his choices.
While pursuing his studies, he began a musical career with his partner and co-creator, Anna Frances Meyer, playing in the metro and public markets. In 2013, they created the rock group Les Deuxluxes together. Quickly hailed by critics and Quebec rock-loving audiences, the group toured Quebec, the United States, and South America. A European tour was planned for 2021 but the pandemic has unfortunately slowed this good momentum.
For this music lover, one band is not enough. In 2017, he launched the Barry Paquin Roberge(BPR) group with Sébastien Paquin and Alexis Roberge. For their second album released in February 2021, “Exordium to Extasy”, the group brings together 6 musicians and offers… “positive, dancing and fun music”, as Étienne says, music that feels good in the context we know.
Two very lively and productive groups, that's great, but Étienne doesn't stop there. He occasionally guest stars in the group Orkestar Kriminal, a very original group of folk music from the 1930s with Russian, Yiddish, and other influences and a contemporary punk look.
Étienne thoroughly explores all facets of his artistic life by also taking an interest in costume design, styling, stage performance, photography as a background for his music. He is also aware about working with limited resources to fund his tours and activities. In his words: “Style does not have to be expensive”. He can be seen regularly browsing for vintage clothing in thrift stores from which he has built a collection of vintage articles which are in big demand. In fact, Étienne and his partner Anna, are regularly solicited for their advice on music video film sets where they also take on the role of stylistic and artistic advisors for up-and-coming music groups.
A lover of vintage instruments and clothing, he plunges into the musical worlds of the 70s to inspire himself and then creates new compositions with his personal mark and overflowing originality.
To follow Étienne, see the following links:
