Another ''Exclusive Interview'' for Celinedionforum.com

[Shamrock_1982]

 Interview for www.celinedionforum.com with Yves Frulla.

 

 

 

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Darren: Hi Yves, thank you so much for giving Mathias and myself this amazing opportunity of speaking with you today….

 

Yves: The pleasure is mine. Happy to be here!

 

Mathias: Yves, could you please tell us a little bit about your childhood, and how you first came to be interested in music?

 

Yves: I started playing the piano at a very young age. We had a piano at the house and my sister was taking lessons. I took classical piano lessons at 8 years old and I studied classical until I was 20.

 

Darren: From all the musical instruments out there, what made you choose the keyboard?

 

Yves: Well, I really started on the piano. That’s my main instrument but I got fascinated with synthesizers when I was 15 or 16. Something about the music that meets the technology. I thought it was very cool.

 

Mathias: Who would you say was/is your idol (musical or otherwise) growing up. And what was it about them, that made you look up to them so much?

 

Yves: My early influences are piano players that were recording with my favourite bands. Guys like Nicky Hopkins ( Rolling Stones ) Billy Preston ( Beatles and Stones ) Keith Emerson ( Emerson , Lake and Palmer ) Pete Townshend ( The Who. He’s also the guitar player ) and the list goes on..!

 

Darren: I've heard that, how you came to be in Celine's band, was a bit of an accident... can you tell us the story of how it all came about?

 

Yves: Yeah ..! it actually was..

When I got called for an audition, I used to perform and tour with Canadian rocker Sass Jordan. We have been working together for almost 3 years. At the time, Celine took a break from the spotlight to revamp her music and career. All I knew from her, was what I’ve heard on the radio. She was singing in French only and I thought the music was a bit too “ pop” for my taste. Then a

friend of mine ( guitar player and songwriter Aldo Nova ) got in touch with me to audition for her new band. It was when the album ‘’Unison‘’ got released in 1990, when I listened to the pre-released mixes, I was very impressed with her vocals and the production side of it too. So that won me over!

 

Darren: What is it like to be part of Celine's band, and how would you best describe her?

 

Yves: I have been working with Celine for 20 years now. What best describes her, I would say, it’s her immense talent in “connecting” with her audience. She has this ability of sharing emotions with her fans by the way she sings. She’s a seasoned pro when it comes to performing in the studio or live. She’s a perfectionist and she expects the same from the people working with her.

 

Mathias: What was the most memorable technical problem that you encountered during your shows with Celine and how was it solved?

 

Yves: I think the worst episode was on the last tour. We were in Prague. It was a “ in - the round “ stage setup. My keyboards were on a hydraulic platform and at some point, my platform was suppose to go down a few feet, but one of the motors died and the platform broke in half. So, as the rest of the platform was going down, my keyboard stand began to angle it self more and more and I thought the whole thing would fall on me! It was at a moment when I played and intro of a song and it was only me and her. Thank God, a technician noticed what was happening and managed to stop the platform before it was too late. It was a close call to say the least!

 

Darren: Is there a certain Celine song, that you really love to play more than any other, or maybe there is one that is quite tricky

and needs you're complete attention and practice?

 

Yves: I really like performing her French material. From the album “ D’eux “. Something about the energy and the freshness of the songs and her brilliant performances. The stuff I do is not overly complicated technically, but it requires a decent knowledge of sound and various instruments I usually imitate. I play most of all, the synthesizer and orchestral parts of Celine songs. It might require a lot of programming and managing all of that stuff, night after night.

 

Mathias: When you’re not working for Celine, what things do you enjoy doing?

 

Yves: I am a freelance musician when I’m not on the road with Celine. So whatever that comes my way that I find inspiring, I might get involved. It can be performing with other artists or bands or working in my studio writing songs, or producing songs for other artists, either at the demo or album level. At the moment, I am performing live with a Montreal band called The

Pornflakes, a Las Vegas band called The N.E.M project and a L.A band by the name, Shaun Kama and the Kings of the Wild Frontier. So I travel quite a bit between Vegas and Montreal specially these days.

 

Mathias: We know you compose songs yourself, but for which singer/band would you like to compose a song for and why?

 

Yves: I don’t usually write for a specific singer in mind when I write, unless I get a precise demand to do so. I try to write songs that I like. I usually co-write with various collaborators as well and I do so in English and French.

 

You can check some of my songs on my MySpace page:

www.myspace.com/yvesfrulla

 

Mathias: What was the first thing that crossed your mind when Celine asked you to join her in Las Vegas for A new day... was it an easy decision....?

 

Yves: Not an easy decision at all. I have been in Vegas before and I couldn’t see myself living here. I travelled a lot but Montreal was home. Vegas is very different and very American. So, I wasn’t too sure how I would adapt and stuff.

It took at least a year to “ blend in “. After a while , I found my “zone “. In retrospect, it was a good thing for me and I discovered some new horizons and met some very talented people as well. I still live here.

 

Darren: For the first few years of A new day... the band were hidden beneath and to the lower sides of the stage out of view. Then

as the show evolved, the musicians were, and were onstage performing in various parts of the production. For example you played the accordion onstage during ''Ammore Annascunnuto''. It must have been amazing to be told that after all that time spent in the shadows, that you will have you're own moment every night in front of 4,000 people toperform?

 

Yves: Yeah, I must say that it was hard to be “ hidden” at the beginning. It wasn’t Celine’s decision but it was Franco Dragone that was hired to put the show together. He’s from a different culture as far as live performances goes. He’s in the theatrical side of things but not in touch with the “pop” world that Celine is from. So, at the beginning, it was really hard for us because we couldn’t get the energy form the crowd because we were “ out of the show “ so to speak.

But then, things gradually changed and we got more and more opportunities to be part of the show.

 

Darren: I understand your girlfriend is bringing out a book soon, about your relocation to Vegas... and what it's like to live there,

etc. But how did she feel, having you finish five years of A new day... in December 2007, and then be told that you are going on a world tour for a year, two months later?

 

Yves: She was actually very happy about the tour. She had the opportunity to spend a few months on the road with us in Europe. Touring might be hard for families and stuff, but we are used to it. And there’s always a break at some point when you have a few weeks off so I could fly back to Vegas.

 

Darren: How does it feel when fans come up to you looking for pictures, autographs or just to speak to you.... and have you managed to see the video fans on the forum created as a thank you to everyone involved in the Taking Chances tour?

 

Yves: I like meeting fans. We have been very fortunate to have some nice people following us over the years. I think the fans are the main reason why we do this. It’s all about sharing the music with people and it’s cool that Celine has a big fan base. It’s great to see familiar faces all around the world.

By the way, thanks for that YouTube video. Great job!

 

Mathias: You have been to Holland several times now... what do you think of our country and of the Dutch fans?

 

Yves: I love Holland! I’ve met some really cool people there as well. We were always happy to perform in your country. The fans are great!

 

Darren: Celine's new docu/movie ''Through The Eyes Of The World '' based on the ''Taking Chances'' world tour, was recently in cinemas… did you get the chance to go and check it out?

 

Yves: I didn’t have a chance to see it at movie theatres, because I was travelling a bit, these last few weeks. I’m sure I’ll have a chance to see it on DVD at some point. I heard it’s really good.

 

Darren: I'm guessing that as you are still based in Vegas, and have been a member of the band for so long, that you will be rejoining Celine and the band next year for her new show...... and if so what are you're feelings/thoughts on this, and can you shine any light on the new show from what you've heard?

 

Yves: Yes, I will be part of Celine’s next show in Vegas. It should start in March 2011. We will play at Ceasar’s Palace in Vegas once again. It will be a totally different show, more centered around the music this time around. It’s a show that will be on for about 15 weeks a year for 3 years. The actual concept is still in the works at the moment. Pre-production would start, in theory, in December in Montreal, Florida then in Vegas.

 

Darren: Yves, thanks again for speaking to us..... it’s been great, and we really appreciate it.

See you next year in Vegas..... take care.

 

Yves: Looking forward to seeing you in Vegas soon Darren.

 

Mathias: Yves, thank you so very much for taking the time to answer these questions. A big hello from your fans from Holland. We hope to see you

again soon!

 

Yves: My pleasure Mathias. Will see you soon!

 

 

 

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Exclusive Interview with Yves Frulla.

March 2010 - www.celinedionforum.com – Ire23 & Mathias ( CSCfan )

 

* A very special thanks to Jimena ( celinedream ) for all her help, support and love on this exclusive.

[Matias]

WOW Thank you!!!! another amazing interview!!!

[Timster]

WOW

 

One of your best interviews Darren - well done!

Edited March 5, 2010 at 05:27 PM by Timster

[angelil78]

thank you for this great interview!!!

[riobeard11]

Great interview! I can only imagine what was going through his mind as the stage broke during a solo intro part!

 

Also, fun hints about the Vegas show! Nothing too new, but good to hear it from someone who will be IN the show!

[celinedream]

Thanks Darren! Excellent as always, I knew you'd do a great job with the interview it was a pleasure working with you.

 

Darren: How does it feel when fans come up to you looking for pictures, autographs or just to speak to you.... and have you managed to see the video fans on the forum created as a thank you to everyone involved in the Taking Chances tour?

 

Yves: I like meeting fans. We have been very fortunate to have some nice people following us over the years. I think the fans are the main reason why we do this. It’s all about sharing the music with people and it’s cool that Celine has a big fan base. It’s great to see familiar faces all around the world.

By the way, thanks for that YouTube video. Great job!

I think Ashley is going to like this

[Bellamy]

Good job, guys. Great interview.

[ghazal]

thanx it was great

[mirage]

How cool is this? hahaha you get closer and closer each time

 

next Celine herself!!

and what would you ask her? there are soooo many things you like to know that hasnt been asked before lol

[Claudette]

Cool! Thanks for the great interview.

 

The fact that Celine has the same band since forever tells me that she really must be great to work for and that people tell the truth when they say she is the nicest singer out there...

 

I'm glad to hear that the new Vegas show will be more about the music. Don't get me wrong, I liked AND, but in my opinion Celine really doesn't need all that crap. They can put her on a chair in her pj's as long as she sings...

[Ted]

Thank you!

[celinesounds]

Great Job, who's next? Celine? Edited March 5, 2010 at 06:26 PM by celinesounds

[nrcda88]

Cool interview...Thanks for sharing!

[celínico_sin_remedio]

Thank you so very much Darren, and Mathias! Cool and interesting interview...

[davidjag79]

WOW!! Thanks Darren and Jimena for sharing this amazing interview!!

 

 

 

Oh Celine....How i love the.... Let me count the ways!!

[CelineLover4Life]

Wow! Great interview! Thanks!

[Lucie]

awesome interview guys

[Shaun]

Well done Darren and Mathias. A great interview and a good read.

[browseceline]

wow great interview! loved it! thanks for doing this and sharing it with us!

[Salla]

Awesome interview! Thanks for sharing, guys!

[I Love You]

Thank you so much.

[andreaB]

Great interview. Thanks so much.

[Peppercorn1991]

Great interview once again they get better and better

 

kev

[Peppercorn1991]

Great interview they get better and better! great read

 

kev

[Alex_Incognito]

What a FANTASTIC interview. Thanks so much again! Excellent questions.

[LVCeline]

How much fun! That was a great interview, thanks so much for getting all that info for us! It's great to get some inside info on those closest to Celine!

[Lou555]

Yves always seemed to me like the serious and quiet one in the band. So it's great you guys got to interview him.

I especially loved this part and I couldn't agree more with him :

"I have been working with Celine for 20 years now. What best describes her, I would say, it's her immense talent in "connecting" with her audience. She has this ability of sharing emotions with her fans by the way she sings. She's a seasoned pro when it comes to performing in the studio or live. She's a perfectionist and she expects the same from the people working with her."

 

Very interesting, thanks guys!

Edited March 6, 2010 at 01:45 AM by Lou555

[luciusbright]

oh, couldn't love these interviews better~~

hope we get more Celine stuff ~~~

[Shamrock_1982]

Glad you guys like the interview....

It was amazing to be able to interview a band member, and a huge thank you again to Yves for agreeing to it!

 

I just want to thank Mathias and Jimena again also for their contribution, hard work and support on this interview...... I think I can speak for us all, when I say that we are all proud of this interview.

 

I have more interviews coming up, within the next two months, and two in particular, I'm very excited about

 

Darren.

[vroni]

thanks so much, enjoyed reading it a loooot!