Dominique Fils-Aimé on where soul meets self-discovery in her work

For this week’s MVP, we’re chatting with Dominique Fils-Aimé.

By Elio Iannacci

You can tell by listening to any of Montreal singer-songwriter Dominique Fils-Aimé’s six albums that self-discovery and personal revelation are important to her. The two-time Juno winner’s latest album, My World Is The Sun, released on February 20, follows that same path of emotional depth. Songs such as “Phoenix Rising” and “Freedom Become” signal her ongoing personal and professional transformation in their titles, and their vocal compositions bring together jazz, soul, spirituals, and a nod to her Haitian roots. The rest of the album echoes Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, and jazz harpist Dorothy Ashby through powerfully complex chorus delivery and composition.

Before setting out on a world tour, Fils-Aimé spoke to The Get.

You’ve said this new album is a gift to your mother. What did you inherit from her that has helped you as an artist?

I made this music because I wanted to honour all the lessons and values she shared with me, including the notion of unconditional love. Not loving everything people do—not all of their actions—but loving the person and seeing the child in everyone is what she taught me. She also taught me that peace isn’t something you speak; it’s something you build through every action you make. 

What should artists look for in a management team to ensure their earnings are protected and their career stands the test of time?

You should clearly identify your message and intention in the arts, and then find a manager who wants to protect that with you. This is a person who has to have your well-being at heart, not someone interested in making a quick buck. When I met my manager, he asked me what my definition of success was—already a good sign. He also promised me that, even if money didn’t come quickly, my integrity would remain intact. He was right. Not trying to make money is what brought money. We built a team protecting the art first, and by finding a loyal niche audience connected to the message, that created emotional and financial stability.

Each of your albums was released in February as a tribute to Black History Month. What has inspired you?

I want people to know that I am building space—brick by brick—created by my ancestors. Each of us is part of the whole and also a singular entity. By expressing my singularity, I hope to invite curiosity about others’ authenticity. Art connects us emotionally and reminds us that our souls have no colour. From that shared starting point, we can explore differences with empathy and better understand the varied experiences we have in this world.

So much of what you do counters so many AI trends in music. Do you think relying on too much tech is a missed opportunity? 

I personally think it is, but I don’t judge how others create. If the goal is to transmit your emotion straight from you to other people, AI can be a bit sad. People connect to humanity and will always vibrate toward the authentic. 

You once said you want your next live album to be recorded at the Blue Note in New York. Why?

When I sang there, I did feel like I made it as an artist. Performing barefoot, I literally was touching a space filled with history, and it felt humbling having my footprints where people like Carmen McCrae and Sarah Vaughan sang. I want to honour every artist who came before me. 

In creating the song, “Freedom Become,” what insights did you gain about yourself or your personal journey?

Each of us must use the tools that allow us to stay healthy and present in the fight. Music is mine. Personal freedom and collective freedom are interconnected, and by addressing individual peace of mind, we move closer to collective liberation.

Elio Iannacci is an award-winning writer, scholar and journalist whose work has appeared in more than 80 publications, including The Globe and Mail, Vogue Italia, The Hollywood Reporter and Maclean’s. His writing also appears in a number of literary anthologies, including the newly released The Nuances of Love, published by Guernica.

Read more from this issue of The Get:

1. How much do Canadians tip?
2. How can I pay off my student debt?
3. How to manage the costs of being single
4. True or False: A secured credit card isn’t really a credit card

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