Here to serve us more of her soft folk sound and added country flare is Émilie Landry with her latest single. Advocating for the importance of following your heart, “Yon’t essayé” lifts spirits and acts as a reminder to never give up on your dreams.
Following her previous single, “Dans ma peau,” by a month, “Y’ont essayé” continues with the theme of Landry’s upcoming album, Arroser les fleurs. With a title that serves as a metaphor for personal growth and self-care, the album promises a tracklist filled with positive affirmations and mantras.
Landry’s new track comes at listeners with soft but firm words of encouragement. It tells us to always listen to our hearts first, no matter what criticisms may be thrown our way.
“‘Y’ont essayé’ (They tried) is about following your heart and your intuition even if others don’t believe in you,” says Landry.
“I was bullied a lot as a kid, and what helped me through those times is having dreams and goals for the future. When I look back I realize how resilient and brave I was to keep going back on stage even though every time I did, I would get ridiculed for it. The hook kind of plays on the idea that ‘they tried’ to stop me, but there was no way anyone was gonna tell me I wouldn’t be an artist one day, I was already so headstrong.”
The song carries a steady beat and brings back some of the folk sounds we have heard from Landry in the past, but with an added hint of her new country style. Landry’s voice floats over catchy guitar riffs and violin melodies while her lyrics pound positivity into our minds.
The track was released with an accompanying video, which comprises clips of Landry performing over the years, from child to adult and from stage to studio. The footage drives home the idea that the music and performing lifestyle she lives today was something she has always pursued and fought hard to reach.
“I didn’t have the best voice as a little girl, but I remember realizing that people liked to see me perform because I loved it. That stuck with me forever and allowed me to give myself the space and time to grow as a singer and as a songwriter,” continues Landry.
“I think following your individual path and owning who you are is within itself an act of self-love and resilience. I believe that improvements in society and culture happen when people live in their truth and pursue their calling, whatever that looks like.”