Paul Cargnello is Montréal’s most prolific songwriter; he’s been working his craft for thirty years, achieving both commercial AND critical success with twenty solo albums to his name. Cargnello has never played by the rules. From his 90s political punk days with The Vendettas to top ten francophone hits, he’s spent the last three decades defying industry trends and forging community through sound. Whether writing theme songs for the Montreal Fringe Festival, collaborating with KRS-One and Maxi Priest, or organizing anti-racist festivals in his home borough of NDG, Paul’s motto remains the same: Lyrics matter. And so does showing up.
“What happened to the protest singer?” asks Paul Cargnello on the searing opening single of his new album, and it’s not rhetorical. With his 20th album, “Combat Blues”, the Montréal-based singer-songwriter and producer is at his most defiant, groove-laced, politically-charged collection that refuses to look away. Think The Clash filtered through Curtis Mayfield with a jolt of Gil Scott-Heron. This is protest music for people who aren’t done fighting. His song “Fascists In Our Midst” was featured on Democracy Now!, is currently being utilized as Charlie Angus’ theme song for The Resistance, and can be heard blasting at protests across Canada and the United States.
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Which ’hood are you in?
NDG. I was born here, and I’ll most likely perish here. I built my studio here, so I’m never gonna move. I feel like when people ask where I’m from, it’s hard to say Canada, or Québec, with all the fraught nationalism and ugly patriotic fervour that comes with it… But I feel alright saying that I’m a Montréaler. And NDG is my neighbourhood.
What do you do?
I’m a protest singer. I think that would best describe me. When it comes to music, I do it all. I’ve been writing songs since I was eight years old. By the end of high school, I was taking it quite seriously, and diving headfirst into the musical profession seemed inevitable for me. I play several instruments, own and run my very own studio. I also love poetry, I’ve published a few books, I’m very fortunate to do what I love.
What are you currently working on?
I’ve got a residency at the legendary Wheel Club here in NDG. I’m playing once a month all year with my band. Next show is “International Workers Day”, May 1st. I’m also still in the throes of promoting my 20th album. “Combat Blues” is some of the best work I’ve ever done, and I’m working hard to bring the art of protest singing back into the mainstream in everything that I do. This record is my contribution to the anti-fascist movement.
Where can we find your work?
I’m everywhere, check me out:
Website | YouTube | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Bluesky | iTunes | Wiki
