Music

CMW QUESTIONNAIRE: JF Robitaille's giving away apples, cigarettes, and songs

by Mark Teo

At CMW, you can wander into any given venue on any given night to catch any number of high-cheeked, doe-eyed, singer-songwriter types. Most—if we’re being quite honest—will not be memorable. So, what sets Montreal songsmith JF Robitaille apart? Quite simply: songwriting. Poetic without being dense, sincere without being saccharine, and literary-minded without feeling academic, Robitaille’s brainy songs have had fawning reviewers whispering his name alongside giants like Cohen and Dylan. We won’t go that far, of course, but we’ll say this: It’s a mistake to lump Robitaille in with the white-washed Joshs, Calebs, and Devins of the Tide-fresh folk world. We caught up with him to talk about his facial hair, the joy of discovery at large-scale festivals, and why he’s NOT going to see your band play.

What’s new with you? Can you tell us what you have planned for the year?

Well, right now I’m recording a new record that will be coming out on Sparks/Universal Music sometime this summer. And I’ll be playing a lot of shows, as usual, and working on my facial hair. [ED: No small task, there.]

It’s been a while since you’ve been to Toronto—you had a residency here last year, though, so you’re plenty familiar with the city. What are you looking forward to seeing / doing here?

I’ve actually been spending a lot of time in Toronto lately, it’s become  pretty much my second home. Most of the musicians I work with live there, and a lot of my friends have moved there in the last couple years, so it’s nice to see them. What’s not to love about Toronto? Just kidding.

Is there anything you’re adamant about seeing this year at CMW?

No, my favourite thing about these big festivals is just wandering into shows and seeing bands I’ve never heard of. I saw a band play last year in a basement bar during a power outage, just candles and acoustic instruments and I’ll never forget it. Well…. I forget everything except the part I just described. But it was probably good.

What’s the best and worst thing about a festival like CMW? Does it compare to others you’ve played or attended?



I’ve played a lot of these things over the years, and generally, the smaller ones are the best. I like CMW because usually I get to tell a lot of my friends I’ll be at their show—and then disappoint them.

Who are your favourite Toronto musicians or artists—and why?

Pink Moth and Octoberman because their songs are great. That’s the only reason I like any musician or artist. Toronto has a very vibrant music scene right now, so it’s hard to choose just a couple.

Tell us why your show is the show everyone should make sure to see.

I’m playing a ton of new songs, I’ll be doing duets with Cole Porter and Randy Newman and there will be a light show, fireworks, and I’ll be handing out newspapers and cigarettes and fresh apples…

What else are you up to that we should know about? Do you have any other projects on the go?

Just this upcoming album and tours. I am looking for title suggestions though, so come yell them at the stage on March 23rd… and “sing louder” has already been submitted.

JF Robitialle plays at Czehoski on Saturday, March 23.