"Présent" brings together three artists from Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, in a song about growth, self-discovery, and the courage to be more at ease with who you are. This collaboration began on a single trip, where Denis Caouette composed and arranged, Gilles Routhier wrote the lyrics, and Daniel Simard performed vocals.
It's a song about self-change, and its message is about being, the process of finding yourself, and the importance of taking your place. Daniel Simard's interpretation captures that movement toward trusting yourself and not being afraid to just be who you are.
Another important dimension is Caouette's musical vision, and he wanted the music to be an elevation, to go up a mountain to a summit. The different modulations and nuances are obstacles along the way, so the arrangement can reflect the song's emotional evolution.
The journey ends in a happy, more rhythmic way, representing arrival at the goal after the earlier difficulties. "Présent" is a musical expression of movement, growth, uncertainty, courage, and eventual realization, with three Quebec artists, each playing a different role on the same inspiring artistic voyage.