Emilie-Claire Barlow is one of the most respected and distinctive voices on the Canadian jazz scene. A singer, arranger, producer, and voice actor, she has been building an acclaimed career for over 25 years, both in Canada and internationally.
At just 22, she released “Sings” (1998), the debut album in a discography that now spans fourteen records, the latest being La plus belle saison, set for release on February 6, 2026. Featuring 11 heartfelt reinterpretations of songs from the francophone repertoire, this album stands as a true love letter to “la Belle Province”. Co-produced in Montreal by Barlow and pianist/arranger François Richard, the project thoughtfully reimagines iconic works from Quebec’s songbook, from Gilles Vigneault to Daniel Bélanger, Damien Robitaille, Serge Fiori, Louis-Jean Cormier, Michel Rivard, and Jim Corcoran.
Recipient of a Félix and two JUNO Awards for “Seule ce soir” (2012) and “Clear Day” (2015), the latter recorded with the prestigious Metropole Orkest in the Netherlands, Emilie-Claire Barlow has also made a mark with “The Beat Goes On” (2010) and “Lumières d’hiver” (2017), further proving her talent for sensitive, imaginative reinterpretation, as well as original composition. An independent artist, she also runs her own label, Empress Music Group. Her albums have amassed over 500 million streams to date, and her YouTube channel has surpassed 18 million views.
Barlow has performed on stages around the globe, from the Cotton Club in Tokyo to Toronto’s Massey Hall, from Birdland in New York to the Montreal International Jazz Festival, where she sang before an audience of over 50,000. Joyful and passionate, with a charming sense of humour, she brings to her performances a sense of playfulness, sophistication, a love of language, and a voice of unforgettable beauty.
