Jonathan Personne

Jonathan Personne appreciates simple things that can be transformed into something more. His natural affinity for lo-fi sounds has led him into uncharted territory at the crossroads of dream pop, psychedelic rock and krautrock.

No one - not even himself - expected such an accomplished musical career. Initially drawn to illustration and animation, the Montreal artist began to see the prospect of a musical career through Corridor, a rock band in which he sings and plays guitar. The band has grown in popularity over the past decade, signing a contract with the legendary American label Sub Pop Records and being nominated for Group of the Year at the ADISQ gala.

Looking for a more instinctive and intimate way to compose, Jonathan Robert swapped his family name for an anonymous nickname - a clear indication of his willingness not to become someone. Initially, it was his girlfriend who motivated him to move forward with a solo project, giving him a four-track recorder. Playing around with samples and footage, the singer-songwriter took his time before unveiling a collection of patchwork-like tracks entitled Histoire naturelle in 2018.

This first album lays the foundations of Personne's sound: epic music inspired by the grandiose body of work of brilliant soundtrack composers like Moroder and Morricone, but assembled with the means at hand. The influences and aesthetics of the last four decades of the 20th century are blended with a fondness for languor and a well asserted allegiance to anachronism.

Two years later, the singer and multi-instrumentalist returned with Disparitions, a second effort with classic rock influences and a "mid-fi" aesthetic, a term he jokingly uses to describe the more polished side of his recording process. Written in a state of haste following a professional burnout, just as Corridor was rising to fame beyond Quebec, his breakthrough album received a highly enthusiastic reception. Several French media outlets also praised the album, including Libération, who gave it a glowing review: "He is one of those individuals capable of surpassing himself every time he does something new."

In 2022, Jonathan Personne unveiled his self-titled third album which revealed a slightly more polished and refined sound, finely orchestrated with the help of talented producer Emmanuel Éthier. The album, which he presented live at festivals such as Les Francos de Montréal and La Route du Rock in Saint-Malo (France), was once again acclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic.

Still driven by a desire to make simple things more complex, without asking himself too many questions, the singer and multi-instrumentalist released his fourth album, Nouveau Monde, in March 2025.