I thought I was in heaven when I heard Dominique Fils Aimé’s latest album, Our Roots Run Deep (Ensoul Records), but I had no idea that hearing her sing it live would be even better.
On Tuesday night at le Théâtre du Nouveau Monde, Dominique took it to the next level with a transcendent performance that left me both elated and mournful.
I’ve seen enough shows to know that any other concert that I go to after this one will pale in comparison. As I’m writing this, I’m fully aware that my dull and clumsy words will fail to capture the mystical experience that was so carefully created by Dominique and her masterful musicians.
As soon as the curtains were lifted, the dark theatre was illuminated by Dominique’s magnetic presence. She commanded our attention, using only her voice. Sitting perfectly still, yoga style, surveying her queendom.
Dressed in black, with long black braids cascading down her shoulders, her jewellery twinkling under the spotlights, and her smile radiating her light.
Opening with a cool mash-up of Feeling Good/Feeling Like a Plant, Dominique slowly crafted a magical bubble where she generously allowed us to enter her world. An enchanted forest where elements of nature were brought to life through sensations of synesthesia.
Acting as a spiritual conduit, using the textures and colours of her voice, she led us on a journey that I will never forget.
I loved how she spoke to us in her soothing voice between songs. (In perfect French) Part spoken word poetry, part meditation it was like ASMR for the soul. She dropped some pretty deep gems and light musings about nature, the elements, and love. She compares herself to a plant, saying that we all need water and sunlight and, of course, love.
She humbly declared that she was nervous, taking deep breaths and advising us not to clap after every song because she didn’t want us to interrupt the flow.
Dominique introduced the band early on in the night, joking that when you go to a party, you introduce yourself as you enter, not when you exit, which made a lot of sense. I never thought about it that way until now.
- Etienne Miousse on guitar
- David Osei-Afrifa on keyboard
- Hichem Khalfa on trumpet
- Salin on drums
- Eli Miller Maboungou on drums
- Danny Trudeau on bass
She continued with My Mind At Ease, her voice getting stronger though she remained seated. Dominique’s vocal and emotional range was as variable as Montreal weather. She would growl and moan and whisper, and holler, morphing and shifting as though she was channelling the voices of all her ancestors, feeling and sharing each of their stories. I’ve never witnessed anyone exude so much emotion while retaining so much control.
She stood up for Old Love, which I preferred to her original version. Dominique adds a whole new dimension to her songs during live performances because she’s consciously offering us a part of herself in that moment.
The entire performance was very tight yet flowed like an impromptu jam session.
Shaping each note with her graceful hands, her long fingers would curl and unfurl, capturing and releasing energies or spirits, drawing us deeper into her magic.
I don’t like comparing artists, but she did remind me of Sade when she sang Just Let Me Go.
The band did not exit and return for an encore. Instead, Dominique thanked the crowd and her musicians. She humbly expressed that she did not like leaving the stage to wait to see if the audience would want her to come back. As if we wouldn’t.
With fiery, red spotlights and a deeper voice, she ended her set with the dramatic Or Let It Burn and Our Roots Run Deep. Dominique embodied every instrument, her fingers touching imaginary keys and her vocals mimicking every note, echoing Hichem Khalfa’s trumpet, “glorious, victorious”
I’m so glad that I brought a very good friend with me to witness such a rare and memorable event. Watching Dominique express her art is something that needs to be shared, like love.
- Feeling Good / Feeling Like a Plant
- My Mind At Ease
- Home
- Birds
- Fall and All
- Old Love
- Love Will Grow Back
- Love Take Over
- Mind Made Up
- Big Man Do Cry
- Free Dom
- Just Let Me Go
- To Walk Away
- Give Me a Reason
- Cheers To New Beginnings
- Or Let it Burn
- Our Roots Run Deep
Review – Annette Aghazarian
Photos – Steve Gerrard
