Carl Mayotte

Today I’m unveiling my fifth opus, Claude, a tribute to the memory of my father, whom I lost in 2024, and to the immense impact he had on my life. This album explores a rich emotional spectrum where brightness and nostalgia intertwine, and where I was able to bring a more personal side to my music.

Each composition evokes a memory I shared with him: car rides in Loretteville when I was eight years old, late-night jams in the family basement, and our shared passion for Jimi Hendrix. This album represents a form of collective mourning to share with the world—a way of celebrating the man my father was and the influence he had on my life and my music.

A little anecdote: half of the tracks were recorded in his presence during a studio session in 2024, and the other half without him, in 2025. This gives the project—and each piece—a unique energy. Will you be able to guess which ones were made with him?

This project also allowed me to collaborate with artists from a variety of backgrounds: Fred Fortin, an icon of pop-folk-rock; Pierre Rémillard, a key figure in metal; Dayron Luis San Juan, a master of Cuban music; and Pierre-Emmanuel Beaudoin, one of the most in-demand musicians in the indie world.

And what would a Carl Mayotte album be without my famous quintet, composed of Stéphane Chamberland on drums, Damien-Jade Cyr on saxophones and keyboards, Gabriel Cyr on guitar, and Francis Grégoire on keyboards? Thanks as well to all the technicians and artists behind this album.

I’m excited to unveil today Studio 56, my new single, which is probably one of the most emotionally charged pieces I’ve ever written.

This track dives straight into my teenage memories, where it all began: in my father’s small home studio, the place where I learned to love music. It’s also a song that touches on a more difficult subject: the loss of my father and the inner journey that followed. I wanted Studio 56 to reflect that sweetness, that nostalgia, but also all the light he left in my life.

Musically, I explore a universe blending neo-disco, indie, jazz fusion, and a hint of psychedelia—kind of like the music we used to listen to together.

I’m extremely fortunate to be surrounded by the best for this piece: my usual quintet is here, along with two exceptional guests, PE Beaudoin and Dayron Luis San Juan. Thank you for following this journey with me.

Thanks to my lifelong friends and teammates Gabriel Cyr (also mixing), Francis Grégoire, Damien-Jade Cyr, and Stephane Chamberland; Philip Gosselin (mastering); Antoine Baril (sound engineer); and Antoine Proulx (cover art).