He’s a rule bender, he’s smart and witty, he provokes yet never gets vulgar, his lyrics will make and smile- and think, his tunes will stay in your head for days as they’re catchy as hell! His name is Van Hechter– he’s here with me today, to chit-chat…
You know- you really are stunning! You walk in: women and men gush…
– Ohhhhh stop it! That’s just because you’re here with a microphone…
No no: you’re a gorgeous man!
– Well, thank you! I do have a lot of help though. I mean: Anne Laudouar, Gio Spanno & Howard Zucker take really good pictures! Plus I have a very good skin doctor… It’s a whole team, behind me. And of course: I do work very hard at looking my best: I eat well, never skip a workout…
What are you up to this fall?
– I’m staying in Montreal until January: producing a new album with Eryck Wyseman, my long-time music partner. We are looking at a Spring release. Then, on the side I’m writing a duet to sing with an incredible artist I’ve known for decades. I won’t tell you who he is yet but I’m loving the project. The song is really sad, for once… One of the things I love to do when I’m sad is looking at my sorrow through the lens of comedy. I wrote lyrics about one of my boyfriends, on a low night… I was moping around feeling really sorry for myself because he’d left town without saying goodbye, blah blah. Then when I snapped out of that state: a tune came out… I was like: ”Ok Van- don’t be an idiot- everybody has a few love deceptions- stop wallowing like a moron”. Hahahahah: so that duet will be about a moment in my life where I was taking my troubles way too seriously, being an absolute idiot… Another fun fact: it’s a French/English track. I wrote the French bits more in Québécois French than in France French, too… I love that.
Are you performing in Montreal?
– I have these last few months, quite regularly. Right now a few things are on hold. But, I hosted a number of events, not only performing but also MCing- playing around with clients, including them in made up silly contests or games… Last one was a week ago. I know there’s more to come but I’ve nothing to announce at the moment…
If anyone does want to stop in to say hello, however, every Thursday as of 5pm I am at a new venue: Le Protocole Kinky Lounge (1310 St Catherine St E, Montreal, Quebec H2L 2H5)… If you’re in Montreal: that’s where you’ll find me! Stop by! Welcome!
Who are the ”Vanettes”?
– Very beautiful, very brave, very intelligent show girls who don’t mind diving face first into my onstage shenanigans… We do glamour but at the core we are ridiculous, or funny. My Vanettes are always over the top in terms of wardrobe, makeup and attitude. I love feeling like a gay James Bond, you see… That’s why I hire these girls. This fall I worked with 2: Aty Bella (heavens I love her), and a new one named Thalia, who blew my mind the other night when I turned towards her onstage and saw her rolling around on the floor just to get a cheer! I was like: ”Ok this one is a keeper, she’s a born performer/will do anything for a reaction!”
You’re on the radio in the US underground, regularly. All your singles make it to top 5 if they don’t become #1… Paris is warming up to you… Any hope for Montreal?
– I’ve yet to seduce Montreal radio stations: I’d love to get regular airplay in my hometown. Hasn’t happened yet. But I’ve got to tell you about one girl: Joanie Duquette- who played ”My Kind Of People” on the biggest commercial radio channel we have here in Quebec. The single is a collaboration with producer and artist Sainte-Croix, a high school friend of mine whose talent is tremendous. We are both very thankful that she accepted to push us!
You live in Montreal but you’re also French! When do you grace Paris with your presence next?
– I’ll be there next January! A DJ named Eicosalm plays my songs- I want to pay him a visit in the new year. He makes me dance all night long, just as Chauncey Dandridge does in NYC… I got a favorite in both cities, you see…
How do you keep so fit?
– That’s a whole damn production hahahah! It’s 90 minute workouts daily and I eat a certain way. Recently I’ve almost stopped having dinner: I privilege a huge breakfast instead. I think the one wrong thing I’m doing is drinking too much wine but hey, we all need a vice otherwise we’re boring as hell!
Here’s a last question… In NYC you have many drag queen friends. Who is your favorite Montreal drag queen?
– Mado Lamotte- without question. I believe a drag queen should shock, make crowds laugh, behave in an irreverent manner. A drag queen should not always say the right thing- the thing people want to hear, or seem reasonable when interviewed. I want to be disturbed during a drag show- I don’t want a watered down for the masses impersonator who is polite and working hard to appear relatable. Mado- to this day- still catches me off guard and I absolutely love his character.
Official Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWCXiZSE2L5FK7OYnLDERmQ
M.T.V.rock 