Montréal singer-songwriter Stéphanie Boulay is set to release her second solo album, Est-ce que quelqu’un me voit?, on April 11, 2025. This marks her first solo effort since 2018’s Ce que je te donne ne disparaît pas, a record she quietly stepped away from, citing feelings of modesty and apprehension. Now, Boulay returns with a renewed sense of confidence, offering a collection that is both deeply personal and intentionally unfiltered.
The album’s first two singles, Si l’essentiel c’est d’être aimé and La mauvaise question, provide an early glimpse into Boulay’s introspective yet bold exploration of identity and societal expectations. Si l’essentiel c’est d’être aimé serves as a dialogue with her mother and a reflective nod to Ginette Reno’s 1990s classic of the same name. “It’s the first song on the album, and it was important for me to tell a story in chronological order,” Boulay explains. “I address nulliparity because it’s a fundamental part of my identity, but I do so in a more agentive, nuanced way—not as a victim.”
Watch the video for Si l’essentiel c’est d’être aimé below:
Meanwhile, La mauvaise question shifts gears with its sharp, pop-leaning sound. Boulay describes it as a breakup anthem designed to be belted out “at the top of your lungs, in the car with friends, hair blowing in the wind, tears in your eyes.” It’s an unapologetic and cathartic track, tapping into collective feelings of frustration and release.
The album delves into themes of femininity, childlessness, intergenerational trauma, and the passage of time, reflecting Boulay’s ongoing exploration of self and societal roles. This introspection feels like a natural evolution for Boulay, who first rose to prominence as one half of the platinum-selling folk duo Les sœurs Boulay. Her creative path has also included literary pursuits, with works like À l’abri des hommes et des choses and the TD Prize-winning Anatole qui ne séchait jamais.
For this project, Boulay collaborated closely with producer and guitarist Alexandre Martel, alongside musicians PE Beaudoin (drums), Cédric Martel (bass), Camille Gélinas (keyboards), and Charles Blondeau (guitars).
Tour Dates:
17 April – Lasalle – Centre culturel et communautaire Henri-Lemieux
8 May – Jonquière – Côté-Cour
9 May – Québec – Théâtre Petit Champlain
24 May – Frelighsburg – Beat & Betterave
10 October – Val-Morin – Théâtre du Marais
17 October – Otterburn Park, QCCA – Les Diffusions Pointe-Valaine
