Jean-Michel Blais

Jean-Michel Blais is a Montreal-based pianist, composer and performer signed to* Arts & Crafts* and Mercury KX (Decca).

Growing up in rural Quebec, he only began to tinker with the family organ at a late age before delving into composition and piano lessons. He played at masses, weddings, and funerals. Gifted with natural talent, he entered the Conservatoire de musique de Trois-Rivières, where he began his classical piano training. The constraints of this training limited him as he started gravitating towards improvisation and experimentation. He left the institution to embark on a journey, interrupting his musical path.

He volunteered at an orphanage in Guatemala before exploring the far reaches of Europe. Upon his return to Canada, he underwent specialized education training and worked for five years assisting disadvantaged and immigrant families in Montreal. Eager to continue his academic journey, he pursued a bachelor's degree in liberal arts and psychology, which he completed in Buenos Aires. In the meantime, he continued to explore the old continent, spontaneously moving to Berlin, where he became passionate about the electronic music scene. Settled in Montreal since 2010, he rediscovered his love for composition and performance.

Noticed by the Toronto label Arts & Crafts, Blais released his first album, "Il," in 2016. It was composed after two years of daily improvisations and recorded in his Mile-End apartment. The album reached the Top 10 of Time magazine's best albums of the year, emphasizing that* his music breathes*, invites one to take a moment, and acknowledges that there is still much beauty in the world. The album received over 75 million online streams, ranked #1 on the Billboard classical chart in Canada fourteen times, and made it to the long list of the Polaris Prize.

In 2017, Blais performed at the Red Bull Music Academy in collaboration with Grammy-nominated electronic producer CFCF. Initiating a partnership between them, the concert gave birth to "Cascades," a collaborative EP that received praise from BBC (Radio 6) and Pitchfork, highlighting the thrilling synchronization of piano and electronics.

After touring through Europe and North America, he released his second album, "Dans ma main", in 2018. Affected by Tourette syndrome, he drew inspiration from the ambient and new age music his parents played for him as a child to alleviate his symptoms. The result was an album imbued with minimalism, sampling, and electronic elements. This time, the album found a place on the shortlist of the Polaris Prize, received the Libera Awards for Best Classical Album (American Association of Independent Music), and was described by Radio-Canada as a spiritual journey, with each track revealing a different palette of sounds, alternating between tension and relaxation. Two EPs followed, compiling both stripped-down versions, “Eviction sessions,” and remixed tracks, “Dans ma main (remixes).”

In 2019, he signed internationally with the London-based record label Mercury KX (Universal/Decca) and released "Matthias & Maxime," the soundtrack for the eponymous film directed by Xavier Dolan. Acclaimed by critics, Blais received a disque d’or d’honneur from the Cannes Soundtrack Award for* his remarkable work*, as well as the Iris award for Best Original Music from Gala Québec Cinéma.

In the spring of 2022, Blais released his third album, "aubades." For the first time, he wrote for a chamber orchestra, transitioning from pianist to a full-fledged composer. The album garnered over 75 million streams, won the Félix award for Best Instrumental Album (ADISQ), made it to the Polaris Prize longlist, and was considered for the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.

The following he released, "sérénades”. Recorded in Berlin, the EP, considered by Jean-Michel like the perfect companion for a good nap, features a collection of twilight pieces to be enjoyed on repeat. The album was considered for three Grammy Awards (Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album, Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella, and Best Instrumental Composition). In the summer of 2023, Jean-Michel performed in an outdoor concert at the Montreal International Jazz Festival in front of over 40,000 spectators, making it the largest neoclassical concert in history. In the same year, he also composed the music for "Wonderfall," a permanent installation by Moment Factory, playing his music every half-hour, round the clock, at Singapore's Changi International Airport.

Concluding his aubades cycle, Jean-Michel commenced 2024 with three sold-out symphonic concerts, while retreating to compose his new opus.