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Bio
After releasing several albums, and evolving increasingly from folk, to folk-pop, Gabrielle Papillon’s Shout is a triumph that finds her landing squarely in the alt-pop realm, with not a banjo or acoustic guitar in sight. Co-writing for others allowed her to write differently for herself. Shout starts with the inner rumblings of the mind of an anxious person, someone who struggles with crowds and big groups of people, someone who craves solitude but does not really want to be left alone too long. It becomes the burst of energy and the surge of feeling that comes from the heart’s willingness to fight to be understood, to be less alone. Shout is propelled by equal parts synth, big pianos, and anger, exploding in thoughtful, danceable art-pop anthems of uprising, hope, and a delirious celebration of self.
Here’s to the ones who are itching to bust out of their shells, and the boxes other people have built for them. This is for the awkward dancers, and the crowd-averse. For everyone who ever does anything brave even when it is hard.
Team
Label: The state51 conspiracy, London UK
Publicity: Trevor Murphy, Pigeon Row
Music
For downloadable music files please contact mail@gabriellepapillon.com
Press Quotes
“One of the finest songwriters in the country right now.” -
Tom Power, host of CBC’s q, introducing ‘What Do I Know’ on ‘q’ April 3, 2019
“Put away expectations: This is a new direction for Papillon.”
-Kaitlin Ruether', -Exclaim! Review of ‘Shout’. October 2019
“On “What do I Know,” [Papillon’s] opening vocals and keys tiptoe toward a big sound that feels like something altogether different for the Halifax singer-songwriter.”
-Holly Gordon, CBC Music’s Songs You Need to Hear. April 3, 2019
"...one of today’s best singer/songwriters."
-Paste Magazine, The 10 Best Albums of October 2017
“Papillon's lines fit together like golden bricks. It's a song like an enchanted road and you can imagine whole armies, communities, pouring down it. Papillon's a great singer, but she's also one of Canada's strongest pop songwriters - I hope hitmakers will try giving her a ring.”
- Sean Michaels, Said the Gramophone, 2017 Best Songs
“She is an incredible songwriter and has a transcendent voice.”
-Sarah Polley, Actress/Director/Writer, in an interview for the Globe and Mail, July 26, 2017.
“I was wearing socks before listening to Gabrielle Papillon's "Keep the Fire." Now I am not. I think we can reasonably assume the Halifax songwriter has knocked them off.” -The Globe and Mail’s Brad Wheeler via Twitter
“Youngsters, do not be fooled by her petite-ness. She is a song avalanche.”
–Jenn Grant, via CBC Music
"If there's one unsung Canadian songwriter whom I can imagine as a Sia-like multimillion-dollar pop songwriter it's probably Gabrielle Papillon."
- Sean Michaels, Said The Gramophone
"With its boisterous and dynamic arrangement, catchy chorus, and engaging sentiments, ["Keep The Fire" is] guaranteed to ignite something meaningful within you, too."
- PopMatters
"Filled with both charming introspections and catchy outcries....it’s a true gem." (Keep the Fire Review)
- Paste
"It’s big, and it’s dramatic." (Keep the Fire Review)
- The East
"...a sweeping, ambitious album that swells with strings and heart." (Keep the Fire Review)
- CBC Music
Awards & Nominations List
2019 Music Nova Scotia Awards, SOCAN Songwriter of the Year (nominated)
2018 Music Nova Scotia Awards, SOCAN Songwriter of the Year (Award Winner)
2018 Music Nova Scotia Awards, Recording of the Year, Solo Recording of the Year, and Pop Recording of the year (Nominated- Keep the Fire)
2018 Canadian Folk Music Awards, Contemporary Album of the year (Nominated - Keep the Fire)
2018 East Coast Music Awards Song of the Year (Nominated)
2015 Canadian Folk Music Awards, Contemporary Album of the Year (Nominated)
2015 Music Nova Scotia Awards, Recording of the Year (Award Winner)
2015 Music Nova Scotia Awards, Artist of the Year, Solo Recording of the Year, SOCAN Songwriter of the Year (Nominated)
2013 East Coast Music Awards Folk Recording of the Year (Nominated)
2013 Music Nova Scotia Award, Female Artist of the Year, Folk Recording of the Year, SOCAN Songwriter of the Year (Nominated)
2013 Semi-Finalist International Songwriting Competition’s ‘Unsigned Only’ in Folk and Adult Contemporary
2012 Mountain Stage Newsong Regional International Finalist
2010 One Fret Less Award finalist, Ottawa Folk Festival