Lisa LeBlanc

Lisa LeBlanc (born August 13, 1990), is a Canadian singer-songwriter and banjoist, known for her enthusiastic "trash folk" performances. She has been noted for her "distinct" blend of folk, rock, and disco with both English and French language lyrics combined with chiac and her Acadian accent. Her accolades include two Félix Awards and an East Coast Music Award. She has also been nominated for three Juno Awards, the SOCAN Songwriting Prize, and shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize twice.

Early life LeBlanc was born in Rosaireville, New Brunswick. She is of Acadian heritage, and comes from a family of music lovers.

Musical career

2004–2014: Origins and Lisa LeBlanc LeBlanc composed her first pieces around the age of fourteen. She was playing at local events and Miramichi's O'Donaghues bar, with her mother watching her because she was underage. LeBlanc was recognized as an outstanding guitarist and a promising singer-songwriter when she won the Festival International de la Chanson de Granby in September 2010. This juried award brought her to the attention of the country's francophone media. She has also played at the 2011 Coup de cœur francophone, at the FrancoFolies of Montreal and at the Festival d'été de Québec.

LeBlanc's self-titled debut album Lisa LeBlanc was released in 2012. The majority of LeBlanc's first album was written in Rosaireville, in Granby during her studies at l'École nationale de la chanson, as well as in Montreal, where she was living. Released on Bonsound Records, the album was recorded by Louis-Jean Cormier of Karkwa at Studio Piccolo. Lisa LeBlanc charted in both Canada and France and has been certified platinum by Music Canada.

The album became best known for the single "Aujourd'hui ma vie c'est d'la marde" ("Today My Life Is Shit"). The album earned LeBlanc a nomination for the Francophone Album of the Year at the 2013 Juno Awards, She was also nominated for two Félix Awards that year as well as the SOCAN Songwriting Prize the following year. The album included both French and English titles, including a thrash-folk cover of Motörhead's classic heavy metal song "Ace of Spades". It peaked at eight on the Canadian Albums Chart, becoming her third top 10 record in a row. The album was shortlisted for the 2017 Polaris Music Prize. It also earned LeBlanc her second Juno Award nomination for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year.

In 2020, under the pseudonym Belinda, LeBlanc released It's Not a Game, It's a Lifestyle, a five-song EP of disco songs about bingo.

2021–present: Chiac Disco Lisa LeBlanc performing Chiac Disco, at the banjo, during her main event at FrancoFolies de Montréal, June 2023. In March 2022, LeBlanc released her third studio album Chiac Disco. The album's name and lyrics take inspiration from Chiac, a "frenglish" dialect common within Acadian communities of New Brunswick. It also followed the disco influence of It's Not a Game, It's a Lifestyle. The album became her fourth to chart on the Canadian Albums Chart, peaking at twenty four.

Chiac Disco was a Juno Award nominee for Francophone Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2023, becoming her second nomination in the category and third Juno nomination. Chiac Disco earned LeBlanc her second Félix Award, winning Pop Album of the Year. It was also nominated for Critics Choice Album of the Year. At the 43rd Félix Awards, she was also nominated for Songwriter of the Year and Female Performer of the Year, along with "Pourquoi faire aujourd'hui" being nominated for Song of the Year. Chiac Disco was shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize in 2022, becoming her second shortlisted album after Why You Wanna Leave, Runaway Queen?

Discography

Studio albums TitleDetailsPeak positionsCertification CAN FRA Lisa LeBlanc Released: March 27, 2012 Label: Bonsound Records Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming8101 MC: Platinum Why You Wanna Leave, Runaway Queen? Released: September 30, 2016 Label: Bonsound Records Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming8— Chiac Disco Released: March 18, 2022 Label: Bonsound Records Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming24—

Extended plays YearDetailsPeak positions CAN Label: Bonsound Records Formats: Digital download, streaming—

Singles

As a featured artist + TitleYearAlbum"Dans l'bois" (Édith Butler featuring Lisa LeBlanc)2021Le tour du Grand Bois"Pourquoi faire aujourd'hui [Remix]" (Poirier featuring Lisa LeBlanc)2023 Non-album single

Guest appearances +TitleYearOther artist(s)Album"Le coeur a des dents" 2012Yann PerreauÀ genoux dans le désir"Marie Mouri"2021Édith ButlerLe tour du Grand Bois "Ti-gars"

Awards and nominations