Christophe Willem is a quiet force, he traces his path without hurrying, without unbridled ambition, with enthusiasm and generosity. Since his victory at New starin 2006, the singer established himself with elegance in the French musical landscape. No waves or skiingWillem tells his story with frankness, as in his last album Panoramawhere he looks back on his success in the song I advance : “I was told “what do you look like?” / I was told “it’s not for you/You don’t have time, no choice”“. However, he took his time, sowing hits here and there that stay in the head. The public asks for more. A few months ago his concerts at the Salle Pleyel and the Dôme de Paris were sold out from the first days. On May 30, he will be at the Olympia to the delight of his fans. Meeting in the mirror with a marvel…
Nikos Aliagas: WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR?
Christophe Willem : I’m not very comfortable with my image. I look at the “global”, to see if I find a form of harmony there. I am also attentive to the time that passes over me and I scrutinize the traces it leaves…
Nikos Aliagas : WHO DO YOU SEE IN THE MIRROR?
Christophe Willem : Someone curious, in love with life in general. Passionate.
Nikos Aliagas: THEY SAY THAT THE EYES ARE THE MIRROR OF THE SOUL, WHAT DO YOUR OWN SAY?
Christophe Willem : They keep in memory what they observed, they are witnesses to my story. The eyes are indeed the reflection of the soul, they cannot lie, mine have gentleness, I think, and a lot of gratitude for what life, what the universe brings me.
Nikos Aliagas: WHAT DO YOU LIKE LEAST ABOUT YOURSELF?
Christophe Willem : From a physical point of view, the asymmetry of my face. I am rather an esthete in life and in constant search of harmony… And for the more philosophical aspect, I am not comfortable with my contradictions, in general, but I am learning to live with them and I accepts them.
Nikos Aliagas: WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST?
Christophe Willem : My ability to marvel at everything, which is exhausting for those around me… But for me, every day is an additional opportunity to discover something new and exciting.
Nikos Aliagas: WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT YOURSELF IF YOU HAD A MAGIC WAND OR SCALPEL?
Christophe Willem : My self-confidence.
Nikos Aliagas: WHAT DO YOUR HANDS SAY ABOUT YOUR LIFE?
Christophe Willem : That I’m a pianist, that’s what they say anyway, and more prosaically, that I have very dry skin at the moment [rires].
Nikos Aliagas: WHAT PART OF YOUR FACE REMINDS YOU MOST OF YOUR PARENTS?
Christophe Willem : I inherited my cheekbones from my mother and my grandmother in particular.
Nikos Aliagas: WHAT DOES THE ARTIST SAY IN THE MIRROR BEFORE GOING ON STAGE?
Christophe Willem : That I want to offer the best of me to those who are there, a moment of peace, which is like a valve to forget the rumbling world. I want them to leave happy, I want to pass on to them love, trust and strength.
Nikos Aliagas: AND AFTER THE SCENE, WHEN HE TAKES OFF MAKEUP?
Christophe Willem : That the job is done, I feel serene remembering the look on people’s faces at the end of the concert
Nikos Aliagas: HOW DANGER IS YOUR JOB? WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO A YOUNG PEOPLE WHO IS STARTING?
Christophe Willem : Getting lost, taking successes for self-glorification, but we are only conveyors of emotions, nothing else. I would tell a young artist to follow their instincts and cultivate their uniqueness.
Nikos Aliagas: DOES THE PASSING OF TIME OBSESS YOU OR DOES IT SLIP UP ON YOU?
Christophe Willem : It bothers me a little. Seeing your body change, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse, is part of the game of life, but generally speaking, from a more metaphysical point of view, I mourned the impossibility much younger. to live all lives in one. So I cherish what I have, what it offers me, trying to achieve what I can here and now. The main thing for me is to vibrate.
Nikos Aliagas: IF YOU HAD TO ASK YOUR MIRROR A QUESTION TO FINISH?
Christophe Willem : Well, so, do we see it like that or in reverse?
This article could be found in Gala N°1597, available on newsstands on January 18. The new issue of Gala comes out this Thursday, January 25, 2024. Enjoy reading.
Photo credits: Christophe Clovis / Bestimage