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Catherine Lara: A Diamond Rocker Reflects on Harmony and a Changing World
Catherine Lara, the iconic singer known for blending rock music with her signature violin, reflects on her career and her concerns about the modern world. She began her musical journey playing first violin in a chamber orchestra, but her ambition shifted while accompanying Claude Nougaro. She yearned for the connection with an audience,a “physical” need to be on stage and interact with people.
Her destiny took a turn when Denise Glaser, host of the influential “Discorama” show, discovered her and arranged a meeting with Jacques Souplet of CBS Records. Lara recalls a remarkably spontaneous signing: she simply sang ten songs, and Souplet promptly offered her a contract. She fondly remembers a bygone era of music industry favor and spontaneity, highlighted by a dedicated “Discorama” segment in 1972 that launched her career.
Lara became known as the “Diamond Rocker” eleven years later,culminating in a legendary “Magic Night” performance in 1985. While she announced her farewell to the stage in 2020, she describes it as a slowdown, a desire to be more selective with her performances.
She expresses her disillusionment with the current world, citing “absurd prohibitions,” a lack of nuance, and the ”verbal violence of social networks.” “I made music because I loved harmony and I find that today’s world is sorely lacking in it,” she laments. She advocates for tolerance, kindness, and a space where people can come together through music, regardless of their political beliefs. She resists categorization, declaring, “Don’t put me in a box, I’m claustrophobic.” Catherine Lara remains, as always, wonderfully unclassifiable.