Pleased To Meet Me: La Sécurité
Photo: Marc Antoine Barbier
F: Hi! I’m Félix, originally from Saint-Eustache but, I’ve been living in Montréal for the last 10 years. I’m a member of Choses Sauvages and La sécurité and I’m currently working on my solo project. My favorite food is pizza and my favorite animal is dogs.
É: Hi! I’m Éliane. From Edmonton, Alberta but I’ve benn living in Montréal for over a decade. Currently singing and playing keys in La Sécurité.
M: Melissa. I’m from Montreal, I play guitar in La Sécurité. I also play keys and percs in Jesuslesfilles and Penny Diving.
K: Hey! My name is Kenny, from Ontario. I’m a member of both La Sécurité and Pressure Pin (my own band).
L-A: Hi. I’m Laurence-Anne. I have a band called Laurence-Anne. Also had a band called Bitch Goddess. But we were just surfin’ on the buzz, never got a song out.
Why do you play music?
F: It’s very therapeutic and it’s the most direct and sensible way of communication.
É: Cuz it’s fun? Also because I would like to be rich.
M: Melissa: Coz I can’t skate
K: It’s what I’m best at.
L-A: Coz it’s a good alibi when you’re a spy.
What was a major influence on you as an Artist/Band?
F: Lcd Soundsystem, Kraftwerk, Talking heads…
É: In no particular order: riot grrl bands and mentality, super mario, crass drum beats, 80’s new wave fashion and music, old musicals, DIY in general, Lalala Human Steps.
M: Devo!
K: DIY culture, and various people that make whatever they want in spite of what’s trendy or acceptable.
L-A: Cocteau Twins
What’s a favourite book or film?
F: Ponyo, fucking love it!
Félix loves it.
É: Book: Please Kill Me Movie: Cry-Baby (haha).
M: Melissa: I could watch many more times Terry Zwigoff’s Ghost World and never get tired of it.
K: I haven’t really decided.
L-A: Old Star Wars movies.
Do you prefer the recording process or performing live?
F: Both equally, like drinking and eating.
É: No preference! I like recording to exploit all the possibilities that are not possible live (layering parts on top of each other, effects, ect…) And I like performing live for the energy exchange with the crowd and the fact that no show will ever be the same!
M: Melissa: I find pleasure in both experiences
K: Recording is more difficult but also more rewarding.
L-A: I would say live performances, coz it brings feelings I can’t get anywhere else.
What would be a dream collaboration?
F: James Murphy
É: ESG or Geneva Jacuzzi
M:Kim Gordon
K: Burt Bacharach.
L-A: Meghan Remy (U.S. girls) and Pantayo.
Describe a favourite album.
F: Éliane bought me this amazing compilation of german post-punk sub-culture from 80 to 84 and really like now days! Kreaturen der Nacht.
É: Pussy Whipped by Bikini Kill. I just kinda changed my world when I heard it for the first time as a pre-teen. It introduced me to feminism and made me wanna be “bad-ass” or something haha. The whole thing just has such a raw, unapologetic energy. Love it.
M: siiiiiiick
K: Teenage Head, self-titled. Every song is catchy, the recording sounds great, and the energy of the band is high from start to finish.
L-A: Has to be weird and edgy, but listenable.
What's your favourite local haunt?
F: Backstreets
É: 180g
M: the Dép
K: Renaissance.
L-A: Desert Softball fields
What's your strangest experience while performing live?
F: Fainted in the crowd, woke up bodysurfing.
É: I used to drum and sing in my old band called DATES. Our guitarist’s amp started smoking and caught on fire during this show in Toronto. Half the band stopped to deal with that while the other guitarist and I kept going till they plugged in to another amp and we all finished the song together. People clapped and we just went on to the next song. That was kinda weird.
M: When playing with my former band Meta Gruau in Lyon (France), I stupidly fried my keyboard by plugging it in without a converter the night before our gig. It luckily could also run on batteries so that saved the day. Phew!
K: Nothing strange has happened to me thus far.
L-A: When I launched my first album, I did bodysurfing next to a giant inflated dinosaur. Don’t know how, but it ended up in a 69 position in the air.
What are some of your favourite aspects of being a musician in Montréal?
F: The community and the whole spectrum of music genres.
É: The mutual support in the music scene. Also the anglo/franco scenes. It’s like two worlds in one city. So many interesting and cool things going on!
M: Being around musicians, it’s a great feeling, it’s like a broad dysfunctional family.
K: There’s very little pressure. Things move slowly here.
L-A: Great music community. The music projects in Montreal are high fucking quality.
Has the current COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine influenced your creative process?
F: Big time, never wrote so many songs.
É: Kind of! I guess this band started because Félix and I had time to kill! We work in really different ways while writing songs and have pretty different influences so it was neat figuring out how to put out best strengths forward.
M: For sure, lots more time to noodle around.
K: It gave me more time and money, I guess.
L-A: Nop. Got an album out and composed another.
If you weren’t playing music in montreal where would you be ?
F: In a bunker, trying to get my degree online so I can become a dentist for babies.
É: Taking care of a lil cabin house in the Rockies probably. Nature is pretty chill :)
M: Lliving in a van down by the river.
K: Eating burger at McDonald’s.
L-A: Livin in the countryside somewhere with goats and ghosts like Casper.
Any sage advice for young musicians?
F: Do your thing, don’t be cocky and stay safe.
É: Stay Humble and be nice! It's a small world. Also, drink water.
M: Do it, don’t be a jerk and…. stay safe !
K: I shouldn’t give out advice because I’m still young.
L-A: Stay Safe.