Vishtèn Connexions get wild with Catherine MacLellan in their new video for their single Sauvage — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
For the bilingual third preview of their upcoming collaborative album Expansion, the multiple award-winning Acadian roots duo of Emmanuelle LeBlanc and Pascal Miousse — carrying on under a new name after the 2022 death of Vishtèn bandmate Pastelle LeBlanc — have joined forces with seasoned, formidable second-generation singer-songwriter MacLellan to paint a vivid picture of wildness.
Building on an insistent, pulsating rhythm, accented by a staccato electric guitar, Sauvage draws a singular parallel between the wild nature of the sea, the night, the soaring birds, and human romance. MacLellan, who’s learning French, not only contributed French lyrics, but sang them in that language as well. “The song emerged from a beautiful collaborative process, born out of inspiration found in Pastelle LeBlanc’s phone archives, where she had initiated the lyrical journey,” says LeBlanc. “Vishtèn and Catherine completed the song, resulting in an evocative piece that explores the untamed elements of nature and personal reflection.”
Sauvage stands as a testament to the emotive power of music, transcending language barriers and weaving a universal narrative of wild, natural beauty and deep spirituality. Set in the wilderness, the accompanying video — directed by Millefiore Clarkes — matches the spirit of the song, including compelling footage of untamed beasts: From the wolf to the whale, the buffalo to the bear, the hawk to the horse.
Vishtèn Connexions, a groundbreaking musical project, was born out of love and a desire to honour the memory of Pastelle LeBlanc — twin sister of Emmanuelle and life partner of Miousse, and co-founding member of Vishtèn — who passed away from breast cancer on April 8, 2022 at age 42. Pastelle’s creative spirit lives on through the more than 100 unfinished rough recordings she left behind on her electronic devices. Emmanuelle and Pascal have taken up the mantle, bringing these musical fragments to life by collaborating with musicians, dancers, and visual artists.
MacLellan has been captivating audiences around the world with her music for more than two decades. Born and raised in the idyllic province of Prince Edward Island, Catherine’s songs reflect her deep connection to the land and the people that call it home. Her passion for songwriting runs in the family; her father, Gene MacLellan, wrote beloved hits like Snowbird and Put Your Hand In The Hand.
The two have artists collaborated together in the past: Vishtèn played on MacLellan’s Juno-nominated album Coyote, and she was a guest artist for the original Connexions show that the group presented in P.E.I. during the summer of 2021. MacLellan wrote a beautiful song, First Flowers of Spring, in homage to Pastelle, and sang it at her celebration of life. Then she released it as a video on Feb. 2, 2022.
“The release of Sauvage on Feb. 2, 2024, seems very fitting to us: Both Pastelle and my birthdays are on Feb. 1, and Catherine’s late, legendary songwriting father Gene MacLellan’s is on Feb. 2,” says LeBlanc.
Expansion, which will feature seven different artists, is scheduled for release in spring of 2024. Watch the video for Sauvage above, hear more from Vishtèn below, and find them on their website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
