After crisscrossing the globe, Charlotte Cardin brought her headlining 99 Nights Tour to Ottawa’s TD Place on February 6, 2024. Toronto music collective, New West, opened the show.
On the heels of its TikTok fame with over 1 million likes, New West raised the energy in TD Place with tracks from their debut album, “Based on a True Story,” released last fall. The musical foursome known as New West came on the Canadian indie/pop music scene in 2017. They set themselves apart by identifying as a collective, rather than a band because of the fluidity of the roles each of the four members play in the creative songwriting process. Their 30-minute performance was characterized by a lively synergy, furthering the idea that each member has something to offer the audience. The final song of the night for New West was their emotion-packed debut single, “Those Eyes,” setting the stage perfectly for Charlotte Cardin.
New West at TD Place Ottawa. Photographer: Rob Clairmont
After a short set change, the riffs of Shania Twain’s upbeat “Man! I Feel Like a Woman,” drew all eyes and ears to a stage drowned in fuschia pink lights. The roar of excitement intensified as the 29-year-old model-turned-singer and songwriter, Charlotte Cardin, launched right into the rich, soulful notes of “Looping,” off her newest album, “99 Nights.”
Charolette Cardin at TD Place Ottawa. Photographer: Rob Clairmont
Montreal-born and Paris-based musical artist Cardin took no time warming up the packed house at TD place, drawing adoring fans closer with her powerful vocals and sultry dance moves. Weaving seamlessly between English and French with a natural fluency, Cardin shared stories of how certain songs came to be, like “Anyone who loves me,” which is dedicated to the important women in her life or the smash track “Jim Carrey,” a song about getting rid of your ego. With a gesture of her slender arm, Charlotte encouraged everyone who knows the lyrics to her songs to sing out loud, saying “This is our show!”
Cardin’s music defies categorization. Her ability to transcend traditional conventions among musical genres such as pop, electronic, and jazz sets her apart as a true innovator and creator. The music industry and fans alike are taking notice as Cardin’s rise to stardom is well underway with two studio albums gaining worldwide acclaim and bragging rights as this year’s most nominated Juno Award artist. After a quadruple win in 2022, she has already amassed six nominations for 2024, including album of the year.
Charolette Cardin at TD Place Ottawa. Photographer Rob Clairmont
The spacious stage at TD Place gave Cardin room to move from side to side and frequently engage the audience. She was accompanied by her long-time band mates Benjamin Courcy on drums and Mathieu Sénéchal on bass. Cardin played guitar on several songs including “Puppy” and “99 Nights,” the title track to her album. With a dramatically lit stage and thick rolling fog creating an ambiance of a more intimate performance, Cardin sat down at the white grand piano for a mini-set of three songs. Backed by an eight piece string section for part of the show, she captivated the audience and had everyone singing along to “Anyone Who Loves Me.”
Charolette Cardin at TD Place in Ottawa. Photograher Rob Clairmont
Even with “Confetti,” a song that Cardin says is for people who actually hate being at the party, she mentioned several times how happy she was to be performing in Ottawa. Perhaps it was because Ottawa was the first show after 7 European dates were cancelled due to illness, or it could have been because she let it slip that the show was her first ever Arena performance, after years of being booked in smaller venues and “shit ass bars.”
That innocent exuberance translates into the raw vulnerability that shines through Cardin’s lyrics in her more edgy tracks such as “Daddy’s a Psycho,” “Sex to Me,” and “Somebody First.” The quality that seems to endear Charlotte Cardin to young and old alike is a deep strength entwined with a desire to explore one’s true self. This quality shines through in her lyrics in a way that is honest, emotive, and real. Based on the fan response, these lyrics are striking a chord with those grappling with love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships.
As Tuesday night’s crowd chanted “Charlotte, Charlotte” before her encore set of “Feel Good,” and “Main Girl,” Ottawa fans can rest easy knowing they have another chance to see Cardin in concert on February 22 at TD Place. Check out the tour dates, music, merch and more on her website www.charlottecardin.com
