I am a singer-songwriter and composer from Sainte-Thérèse-de Gaspé. I am originally from a small town in the Ottawa Valley called Woodlawn, and I moved to Québec in 2012 for post-secondary studies. After having toured as a musician on a couple of separate occasions in the region, I decided to make the jump from the hustle bustle of Montréal to find a slower and more intentional way of life. It’s also where I met my partner, which undoubtedly had an influence on my decision!

For me, Gaspésie has a wonderful mix of sea, mountains and vast, open land. It’s a place where one can become more self-sufficient and better escape the clutches of capitalism. It’s very inspiring as an artist to be surrounded by such beautiful scenery. Outside of music, my hobbies include gardening and hiking. I also love to cook.

For me, Gaspésie represents a slower way of life, and the ability to develop a deeper connection to the territory and with one’s community. I’ve travelled around Québec quite extensively and I haven’t found this exact feeling anywhere else.

I wish that people knew how many talented artists reside in the region. There is generally less funding for artists who reside in Gaspésie, but I truly believe that those that are here are amongst the most talented and inspirational that I have come across in my life.

I am a composer and singer-songwriter. I am classically trained as a pianist (M.Mus) however I have always enjoyed playing other instruments—fiddle, banjo, guitar, oud, and mandolin, to name a few—and styles—notably folk, bluegrass, and electronic. My neoclassical music project is under my name, and my folk-bluegrass project goes by the name Hallarsen.

I also spent 8 years and a composer and live-musician for a number of circus companies based out of Québec. It offered me a unique opportunity to travel the world while also sharing my art.

Music has always been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. It is my way of expressing myself and externalizing both the challenges and the exaltations that I experience in my life.

For my neoclassical music project, I am currently creating my new live show entitled Metamorphosis. This immersive show will feature pieces from my upcoming new album of the same name, as well as elements of theatre and live film projections. I will be presenting the show for the first two times on September 27th at the Vieille Usine de l’Anse à Beaufils, and on November 12th at the Salle de spectacles Desjardins in New Richmond.
I will also be releasing a new EP this year for my folk-bluegrass project Hallarsen.

A funny story : the first time I came to visit Gaspésie, my car broke down outside of Percé at night! I learned the hard way how much further away we are from services out here! But in the process, I also got to meet some lovely folks who opened their doors to me for a couple days while my car was getting repaired.

www.bennesrallah.com

www.hallarsen.com

Photo credits – La Nomade Photographie