Antoine DuFour is a virtuoso fingerstyle acoustic guitarist known for his exciting solo instrumental music, with influences ranging from folk to funk, progressive electric, classical, and much more. He studied at the CEGEP of Joliette, where his teacher made him listen to Leo Kottke, Don Ross and Michael Hedges, which triggered a change in Antoine’s life and his vision of the guitar. Since then he has been devoted to fingerstyle steel string acoustic guitar - appearing in concert and giving workshops throughout Quebec.  He produced a video in 2003, and released his second album, “Development”, in 2004. Antoine attended the 2005 Canadian Guitar Festival, where he was awarded second prize in the Fingerstyle Guitar Championship, and then he returned the following year and won first. In 2006, he toured Canada as a member of the International Guitar Night, an all-star evening of the best original guitarists in North America. He also placed third at the 2006 International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship in Winfield, Kansas. Now he’s here to discuss his career and upcoming releases.

 

 

 

 

IC: You have two solo albums available on CANdYRAT Records, which is a really incredible label. How did you hook up with them initially?

Antoine: Candyrat is a fairly new label which started in 2005. The guy who owns the label, Rob Poland, was really interested in my music and liked it so much that he decided to have me on.

IC: Do you have a new album planned?

Antoine: Yes, I already have 8-9 new songs ready and I project to arrange two songs. I plan to record next November or so, and the title is gonna be ‘Existence’. Mostly solo acoustic guitar and I plan to use sound effects and drum loops, having maybe a song with Tommy Gauthier on fiddle, David Robert on drums and Dominic Bérard on bass. The same line-up as on Naissance, my first album. I also plan to record a full duet album with Tommy Gauthier on fiddle and bouzouki, all compositions by Tommy and I.

IC: Correct me if I’m wrong – you have an instructional DVD in the works? What are you hoping to cover with it?

Antoine: I have the project, but I haven't started yet. I almost know what is going to be on it, with all the suggestions I received. I will cover in details three songs and speak a lot about techniques that I use, open tunings, composition process, interpretation, practice tips and much more.

IC: Obviously your performance videos have done very well on YouTube. Do you have any plans to release a performance DVD or more videos online?

Antoine: Yes, Andy McKee and I just recorded a studio performance in Milwaukee last May 9th, that's gonna be on DVD maybe in next September, available on Candyrat. We played 6 or 7 solos each, with some old stuff and new songs.

 

(Antoine DuFour - Toi et Moi)

IC: Is it ever strange seeing that all these people are spending countless hours learning your songs? You’ve even posted several videos on YouTube designed to help them with difficult sections!

Antoine: It’s really nice! It feel's strange a little bit, but I like to help them.

IC: I’ve read that you studied classical guitar before switching over to steel string. Who are some of your classical guitar influences, and which guitarists would you recommend to new listeners wishing to explore the world of classical music?

Antoine: I like the composers Augustin Barrios Mangore and Tarrega. My favorite nylon string guitar player is Andrew York. I was turned on to nylon strings by Steve Howe from Yes.

IC: How about steel string acoustic players like yourself? Which ones inspired you to pursue the steel string groove-oriented playing you’re known for now?

Antoine: My college guitar teacher gave me Don Ross' first album, “Bearing Straight”, and my life changed. I still think it’s the best Don Ross album, along with “Passion Session”. I discovered Leo Kottke and then Michael Hedges, indeed. Since then, my best discovery has been Stephen Bennett, who I think has composed my favorite melodies ever. I would say that he is now my greatest influence, along with my friend Andy Mckee, for my new material.

IC: Backtracking a bit… what got you interested in playing guitar initially and what age were you at the time?

Antoine: I was listening to my father's vinyl LP’s of Genesis, Yes and Gentle Giant when I was 15. My father was playing a little bit, so I asked him to show me some cords and songs. I started playing fingerstyle when I was 17, by covering “Mood for a Day” by Steve Howe. I was able to play the song along with the tape. My friends were very impressed, and by the next year I was studying classical guitar in college.

IC: Do you still spend a lot of time practicing, or is it more pick-up and play and writing new material these days?

Antoine: I would like to, but I don't have a lot of time these days, so it's more like the second option.

IC: You’re a member of the International Guitar Night (IGN). Could you tell us a little about the tour and what the experience has been like for you?

Antoine: On that tour, the line-up was Brian Gore, Pepino D'Agostino, Andrew White and me. We had 23 concerts all over Canada from west to east. It's the biggest tour I have ever made, and it was really fun! We exchanged guitar techniques and tips. Now we are going to Scotland next September and to Italy in May, 2008.

 
IC: You appeared on a little known CD, the “International Guitar Night Album”. I haven’t heard it yet myself – is it a live album?

Antoine: Yes, it's live in Victoria, BC, Canada. I played a solo version of “Naissance” and an early different version of the song “Development”. I also played on different duets and a quartet.

 

IC: Violinist Tommy Gauthier plays on both of your solo albums (quite brilliantly I might add). How did you first hear Tommy, and what was it like recording with him?

Antoine: We met in college, and Tommy really liked my playing. I felt the same way, so we decided to do a project together, and now we are touring together.

IC: Are there any other musicians you’d particularly like to play with?

Antoine: I actually have a band with some friends, just for fun. We play some progressive rock and metal.

IC: When you’re not touring do you teach professionally?

Antoine: I teach at a music school and at home. I like to teach, but I want to reduce teaching, having only fingerstyle students. I want to tell them: practice what I told you, don't make me waste my time! :-)

IC: Since you studied classical guitar in Quebec, what advice would you give to young guitarists who are curious about attending a music conservatory?

Antoine: Knowing the basics will make you more efficient; you will learn faster by already having good knowledge of music, to help you fly on your own.

IC: Could you tell us a little about your acoustic guitars? Do you have a favorite brand or luthier?

Antoine: I now endorse Stonebridge guitars and I really think that those guitars are fab. They sound really great. I just received my new 23CR signature model and it's the best guitar I’ve played.

IC: I see you have an electric RG-style guitar, and - judging by the Vai shirt I’ve seen you wearing in some of your videos - I’m guessing you’re an electric instrumental guitar fan. So who are some of your favorite electric guitarists?

Antoine: Yes! Well, I play some Steve Vai and Dream Theater (John Petrucci).

IC: Do you have any plans to record with the electric in the future?

Antoine: Maybe, but not yet. Right now I play electric guitar for personal pleasure.

IC: You have some shows with Stephen Bennett and Andy McKee scheduled in California later this year. I’m sure you have a lot of fans in the U.S. who would really like to see you perform live (including myself). Do you have any interest in touring the U.S. more extensively in the future?

Antoine: Oops! There's a mistake there… I'm gonna change that on Myspace...That tour is going to be with Stephen Bennett, Craig D'Andrea and me, and it's gonna be in the mid-west in November. I have some opportunities in the mid-west now, so I'm working in that area, but I want tour more of the U.S. for sure.

IC: Do you have a favorite song of yours to play live, and do you perform any covers during your solo concerts?

Antoine: I like to play “Development”. It's an attitude song that doesn't require too much concentration for me to play. I sometimes cover Don Ross tunes.

 

(Antoine DuFour - Development)

IC: Recently I asked Andy McKee about nail care, and he admitted that he only grows out his thumbnail, keeping his other fingernails cut short for right-handed tapping. What do you do about your nails?

Antoine: I use relatively short fake nails that I make myself.

IC: I’ve seen you using a thumb pick in many of your videos. Who or what got you interested in playing with one?

Antoine: Don Ross got me interested in them, but my use of the thump pick depends on what tone or groove I want to create.

IC: Do you recommend using a thumb pick to new fingerstyle guitarists?

Antoine: Yes, but I think you need to be able to play with or without for the reasons above.

IC: Did you learn from any particular instructional material, and do you have any recommendations for guitarists who are learning acoustic fingerstyle?

Antoine: Don Ross’ fingerstyle instructional videos, Tommy Emmanuel’s videos, and other electric guitar videos to get diverse techniques.

IC: Okay, since this is an instrumental guitar website, I have to ask what your favorite guitar albums are!

Antoine: Don Ross’ “Bearing Straight” and “Passion Session”, Stephen Bennett’s “Ten” and his new live DVD (29 songs on it and they are all good), Michael Hedges’ “Aerial Boundaries”, Pierre Bensusan’s “Intuite” and Andy McKee’s “Art of Motion”.

IC: Before I let you go, do you have any advice for aspiring young guitarists who want to pursue music professionally?

Antoine: Always play music for fun. Always compose for the purpose of making good music to listen to. Always try to find new things to try on the guitar. Always have a good melody, interesting harmony and a good groove - to have a complete solo piece that will stick in people's ears. Always believe in yourself, and then nothing is impossible.

IC: Thanks again for joining me, Antoine.

Antoine: Thank you, Dave! And thanks to Elixir Strings and Stonebridge Guitars! By the way, for all you guitarists, I'm going to put some new transcriptions of “Memories of the Future”, “Spiritual Groove” and “Inspirations” on candyrat.com very soon, as PDF and GuitarPro files. So stay tuned, and I hope to see you on the road!

 

 

 

 

www.myspace.com/antoinedufour

www.youtube.com/AntoineDufour

 

 

... and don't forget to buy "Development"!