Florent Vollant

Brief Biography

This Innu writer-composer-performer was half of the duo, Kashtin, one of the most commercially successful musical groups in First Nations history. Kashtin’s three albums earned Florent Vollant 4 Félix Awards, and would take him across Canada and to France, Belgium, South Korea, USA and Bolivia. Florent has collaborated on many musical projects since Kashtin including Robbie Robertson’s The Native Americans album. His serene Christmas album, Nipaiamianan, sung in Innu, earned him his first Juno Award as well as an apostolic blessing from Pope John Paul II. He was also the driving force behind a recording studio that doubles as a training and production centre for young native musicians.

Sur la Côte-Nord, un peu à l’est de Sept-Îles et pas bien loin de la rivière Moisie, on retrouve une réserve nommée Maliotenam. C’est là que s’installe et grandit Florent Vollant après avoir quitté le Labrador, où il est né. C’est également là bas que le jeune Montagnais en vient à partager son attachement pour les valeurs traditionnelles et son désir de côtoyer la modernité. Toujours porté par sa liberté de nomade et de créateur, Florent Volant à lentement et sagement mûri et nous rappelle que l’on a ici affaire à un auteur compositeur interprète au talent d’envergure...

ARTIST WEBSITE: www.florentvollant.com/english/index.html

On the North Shore, just east of Sept-Îles and not too far from the Moisie River, is situated a native reserve called Maliotenam. This is where Florent Vollant settled and grew up after leaving his birthplace in Labrador. It is also where the young Montagnais shared his attachment to traditional values and willingness to embrace modernity...

In 1984, Florent began his career as a writer-composer-performer and the very next year, he committed himself to the creation of the Festival Innu Nikamu. Since then, the festival has brought together numerous artists from many nations. Florent also had the honour of being named Artist for Peace in 1994 for his music which always advocates a deep love of life, nature, and eternal hope. It is without surprise that he went on to be spokesperson for the First Nations Garden (Montréal Botanical Garden) and to perform at the closing gala of the 13th FrancoFolies Festival in Montréal, called La Grande Paix (Great Peace).

From 1989 to 1995, Florent recorded Kashtin, Innu and Akua Tuta while part of the group Kashtin. These three albums would earn him 4 Félix Awards and the chance to give shows not only in Québec and across Canada, but also in France, Belgium, South Korea, USA, Bolivia…He certainly has worldwide appeal!

Over the years, Florent has also collaborated in many other musical projects, such as the album Instinct by Richard Séguin, Arthur Lamothe’s Le Silence des fusils soundtrack, and Robbie Robertson’s The Native Americans album. He also lent a helping hand to Marc Déry in producing his first solo album as well as co-writing the Ninanu title. As for Zachary Richard, he was offered Pagayez, a beautiful piece and one of the biggest hits from his album Cœur fidèle. Florent is also the man behind the soundtrack of the animated series Le monde perdu, broadcast on VRAK TV.

Florent is still very present in Maliotenam, and he has taken the time to launch a project that is very close to his heart: a recording studio doubling as a training and production centre for young native musicians. He also took the opportunity to produce a serene and peaceful Christmas album, Nipaiamianan, sung in Innu, for which he took home his first Juno Award.

His creative and nomadic sensibilities have lead him to produce Katak, a new album bringing together the talents of many friends and collaborators, such as Zachary Richard, Marc Déry, Rick Haworth, Luce Dufault, Richard Séguin, Willie Mitchell, Claude McKenzie, Ray Bonneville, Sylvain Michel, Lucien Gabriel Jourdain, Éric Lapointe, Claude Péloquin, Mario Légaré, Denis Courchesne, Richard Perrotte and Jeff Smallwood. Slowly and carefully crafted, this opus of warm sounds has been receiving many praises and reminds us that we have in our midst a richly talented writer-composer-performer.

"[...] This album is exquisite, warm, and in touch with the Earth. One of this year’s best..." Le Devoir

"[...] A folk-rock album mixed with warm techno rhythms coming from the very heart of the continent. [...] One of the best Americana productions." La Presse

"Well-rounded, mysterious, simplicity but always rich, the Montagnais’s music eases life. Opulent." Voir

"Showered with praise, and rightly so [...] Music as warm and welcoming as it is mysterious" Journal de Montréal

"Vollant has taken the opportunity to show his roots and honour his nomadic brothers in this superb album" Ici