A shaky discovery with Argyle at Montreux Jazz

After signing a contract with Universal not long ago, the Scottish artist Argyle performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival on Monday, July 11. It was a sleep-inducing show, but undoubtedly a moving one for the 27-year-old musician.

Without really getting the crowd going, musician and singer Argyle treated the Montreux audience to a relaxing, family-friendly show: the sun was setting, and children were running among the adults seated in front of the stage, most of whom had a beer in hand. It was undoubtedly this laid-back atmosphere he was referring to a few hours before the concert:

«When I perform at a festival like this, I just want to enjoy myself! To have fun on stage and check out other artists afterward.»

An adventurer since the age of 18, he has devoted himself almost entirely—or at least «seriously,» as he puts it—to music since last year and hopes to continue his travels through his music. With his powerful voice and his accent Scottish, Argyle undoubtedly wins over part of the audience and recounts, in bits and pieces, the twists and turns that led him to perform in Montreux. Emotional and playful, he expresses all of this in English, which slightly displeased some audience members who were disappointed that he didn’t at least try to say a few words in French.

It’s with repetitive—and, all things considered, rather ordinary—chords that the artist seems to be having a blast on stage. His good mood is quite contagious; so it’s a mission accomplished for someone who «wants to evoke emotions» in his listeners. On the other hand, even though the audience seemed fairly satisfied, the «connection» the artist was seeking with his audience doesn’t seem to have really taken hold. Maybe next time. We hope so!

Write to the author: [email protected]

Header image: Singer-songwriter Argyle from Écoass at the Montreux Jazz Festival on July 11, 2022 © Andrin Fretz

You've just read an open-access article. Debates, analysis, cultural news: subscribe to support us and get access to all our content!