We know Stéphane Archambault for quite a few things: as the singer of the folk-trad group Mes Aïeux, of course; but also as a host (La grande veillée and Pour un soir seulement on ICI ARTV, Vraiment top on ICI Musique) and as an actor (4½, La vie, la vie and Rumeurs on ICI Télé, Laurel et Hardy and Yvon Deschamps raconte La Shop on stage). Sparkling, sharp-minded and curious, with a love for storytelling, he has left a mark on Quebec culture by building bridges between tradition and modernity, between the fringe and the mainstream.

Drawing on that wealth of experience, he returns to the spotlight for the first time since the end of his aforementioned band — solo, taking a leap both into the unknown and into your arms. He needed to write, though he hadn’t planned on making music again; yet here he is, with a new show and an album inspired by breakups and renewal. Influenced by the French golden age, with a phrasing that gently nods to traditional music, and supported by folk legend Joe Grass, Archambault offers songs that are plural and generous — at once reverent and a little rough around the edges. It’s the indie reimagining of a rich francophone musical legacy — a personal update of who he is and where he stands today, shifting from we to I.

At 55, setting out on such a new adventure takes boldness — to build a new creative identity from the ground up. For two decades, Mes Aïeux was a cornerstone of the Quebec music scene: winner of 13 Félix Awards (including six for Group of the Year), creators of the now-classic provincial anthem “Dégénérations,” a radio staple still echoing through homes, parties, and national celebrations. Across five studio albums (Ça parle au diable! in 2000, Entre les branches in 2001, En famille in 2004, La ligne orange in 2008, À l’aube d’un printemps in 2012) and a live album (Tire-toi une bûche in 2006) — most of them certified gold, platinum or even double platinum — the group toured Quebec extensively, with a few shows across the Atlantic as well. A stellar journey, quite literally: astronaut Julie Payette even took their album La ligne orange into space.

Energetic, curious, and eager to share, Stéphane Archambault always keeps busy: this summer, he filmed the fourth season of La grande veillée and performing in La Shop, a play that revisits the great monologues of Yvon Deschamps. And through it all, he’s carving out time for this new project — his own. The album was released on May 23, followed by a tour extending into 2026 — a joyful reunion charged with shared excitement.