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alexrobshaw · 6 years

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Fanie, my fairy godmother, and Violette, my fashion dream come true

I haven't updated my blog in forever.

Sorry. I know you like it.

The truth is I got back from that vacation in Spain and it turns out I never fully recovered from my burnout. As soon as I got back I got overloaded with way too much stuff, and truth be told I'm still exhausted.

The best thing that could happen to me has happened to me though.

When I got back from my trip it turned out to be my friend Fanie Gregoire's birthday, which I decided to attend out of pure desire to socialize (being secluded for 10 days in the mountains in Andalucia does ultimately bring you that). It was a fun time, I couldn't stay long, and when I left, Fanie was like Hey let's go for a drink or coffee this week some time.

I held her up to it. A few days later I invited her to join me to catch 2 of my bandmates' band Les Funktionnaires. They were playing a gig at a tiny venue on the Plateau. We got there early and started talking. Oh, actually before that, like a day or 2 before that, we were chatting about me needed some PR help and not wanting to handle the business stuff related to my music anymore, because a lot of the root cause of my burnout had been about that, and Fanie had been like Hey I can take care of sending press releases and stuff for you, when you need. And then I was like Well hey how about you do this on a bigger scale for me, I can pay you to handle the PR, major booking and media/press stuff, and I can Be An Artist u know.

So we chatted over drinks that night and it was settled. I told her what my game plan was, I told her about the new album I've got in the works, I told her what my struggles had been and what I've been and haven't been doing.

True to her fairy-godmother-self, she told me not to worry 'bout a thing anymore, that she could take care of it all for me, and that a big part of her has been wanting to do that as a living. We settled on the title of Assistant, for her, because somehow the word Manager didn't quite ring too well as of right now, but well now we're over a month in and I couldn't be happier to finally annouce this to the world.

Ms Fanie Gregoire is now my assistant, and any/all media, booking, PR or business inquiries must be sent to her at [email protected]

Fanie was the one who bodypainted me for my Original Game photoshoot, and right there and then she had come as a blessing, being not only uber-professional and ultra-efficient but also extremely helpful. When placing the sets she was like Hey just give me that, Tell me what to do to help, Let me do this, and so on. I deemed her Fairy Godmother in the credits of the album, and it's like the title stayed -and suits her well indeed.

So far I've been sending her message upon message of ideas and people to get in touch with and events to make notes of and festivals to apply to next year, and remarkably, magically, wonderfully, she keeps up and takes the reins rather impressively. I know I'm in the right hands now. And with all that's coming up, I better be.

One of the fabulous things she's been able to accomplish for me was to get me a partnership with Violette -a most original and fascinating designer from Quebec city.

When Fanie started working for me, I made a spreadsheet for her with a bunch of websites and contact information. There was a column in there for business partnerships, and Violette's website was there. I had been introduced to her clothes at Creatures, Montreal's alternative fashion emporium, started following her in instagram, and had been completely mesmerized by her work ever since.

Her style is a culture of its own. Modern and easily wearable, yet rooted in that which is sacred and that which is timeless. She manages that perfect balance of presenting elements of the many cultures we all stem from with grace, utmost respect and devotion to their own source -nature and lore.

"The main thing that influences the way we dress has always been climate", she was telling me last Saturday while I was trying on clothes in her workshop. "No matter which country, which culture you're from, it's always began with dressing up according to climate. Then you add the other elements in". In one of her most recent pieces, inspired by the Slave and Nordic cultures, she put (to my utmost delight when I noticed) tiny bells hanging from the belt of the outfit. "They used to do this to ward off evil spirits", she explained to me. Which of course makes sense. Which of course is something you can catch from cultures around the world. The sound of a bell, of many bells, or anything jingling, will indeed keep them bad spirits at bay, when you're walking along in the woods -whether it's the Canadian Great North, the jungle or the Dark Forests of Eastern Europe.

Emilie Picard, the woman behind the Violette brand, thus presents a fresh, most unique style for today's alternative fashion aficcionada. The clothes make a statement, and each piece has a story, a name, a reason and purpose. Her pieces make the boldest statement, through their remakable balance of simplicity, detail and ode to the female body. Seems like her clothes are meant to bring out the best in every woman, on every scale possible, and there's a regal quality to all her pieces which ultimately makes you feel like a queen with every outfit.

Through a perspective of modern fashion that unifies all cultures, celebrating the lore of the wild, wise women who have paved the way before us, Violette stands as forerunner, visonnary and leader (imho) of the alternative fashion of today and tomorrow.

I mean. I love it. All her stuff. I LOVE it.

So, when Fanie told me that Émilie Picard had said YES to forming a partnership with me, I was absolutely, incredibly, utterly, amazingly delighted.

This is literally one of my little-girl dreams coming true. For as long as I've been actively performing and even before that, like in my teens, I've been dreaming of teaming up with a local designer for stage clothes, photoshoots and any/all public appearances. To me, to proudly present myself wearing the remarkable fashions of an independant desinger straight from where I come from makes my own statement of independance as an artist all the more brighter, stronger and bolder.

Cross-promotion has always been a huge thing in the art world, and now possibly more than ever. I thus couldn't be more grateful for this opportunity to have been bestowed upon me.

Émilie and I have settled on 3 pieces of hers, for a start, which I'll be wearing for my upcoming live shows over the next few months, as well as public appearances and photoshoots.

Needless to say this is only the beginning. Over at her workshop this Saturday I let her in on the details of my 3rd album, and she was absolutely IN. I daresay this will be a fabulous, incredible project for us both to work on, when the time comes.

We spent a lovely afternoon together, introducing ourselves, taking about both our backgrounds, sharing insights about our respective cities' alternative cultures, and typical witch-talk of our craft, our inspirations and why we're doing what we're doing.

Beyond forging an incredible artistic partnership which will definitely blow your mind, I daresay I've made a wonderful new friend.

Find her stuff here, on her website, and indulge in her incredible take on fashion.

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