He is the leader of the Drummondville band Your Favorite Enemies

What was supposed to be an exile in Morocco for Alex Henry Foster became a source of inspiration for his solo album “Windows in the Sky”, released only a few days ago. Already, his work is charting at the top, ahead of big acts like Marie-Mai, Muse and Imagine Dragons.

The unexpected success story began two years ago. As the band Your Favorite Enemies thought they had ended a musical cycle, Alex Henry Foster decided to withdraw himself and headed to Tangier, to get inspired and work on the band’s next album.

“The last ten years have been quite busy for the band and as we’re independent in all the spheres of an album production, we were exhausted. While exiling myself, I could dive into a calm universe after the YFE storm had hit. I felt inspired and I created my solo album”, said Mr. Foster.

Slowly, the texts appeared, without music. Alongside other collaborations, his bandmate Ben Lemelin joined him to create a melody that would accompany the words of the singer. He even set a studio in the heart of Tangier.
“This album is my identity. I didn’t want for the other members of the band to carry my stories. The passing of my father inspired me and this is a personal feeling. It’s some kind of a therapy, an album to deliver myself. But with time, they kindly wanted to get involved musically”, added Alex Henry Foster who is presently in Virginia to work on other projects.

It’s without much fanfare that, on November 9, he released “Windows in the Sky”, consisting of eight songs. Rapidly, the album made it to the top of the Quebec charts.

“I didn’t do any promotion around this album. I first unveiled it in Canada to thank people from here and went to Japan for a listening session. It was a gift to myself to share my songs this way, added Mr. Foster. I didn’t expect this success at all, as I didn’t do it in this perspective, it was rather a more artistic approach. It’s not the type of music that plays on the radio, especially not with tracks going up to 14 minutes.”

Projects for Your Favorite Enemies

Despite Alex Henry Foster’s solo project and, among others, his collaborations to movie soundtracks, YFE is not dead. The main one concerned absolutely wanted to add precision to the orientation of the band, which resides in the former Saint-Simon church in Drummondville.

“We’re all exploring other things presently. We’ll get back together and be able to share our emotions. The band’s unity is always there, and I’m sure we’ll be able to feel the excitement of everyone in due time” concluded Mr. Foster.

Ghyslain Bergeron

Friday November 23, 2018

The Quebecer, Alex Henry Foster sold more albums than Marie-Mai

With its 4,504 copies, “Windows in the Sky”, from Alex Henry Foster, ended the week of November 15 at the top of the Quebec album sales, ahead of Muse’s “Simulation Theory” (4,211), “À jamais” from Ginette Reno (4,172), “Elle et moi” from Marie-Mai (3,044) and “Origins”, from Imagine Dragons (2,492).

Muse, Imagine Dragons and Marie-Mai released their new album on November 9. Who sold the most copies after one week of release in Quebec? None of the three. All the honors go to Alex Henry Foster, a Drummondville rocker.

“Windows in the Sky”, solo project of Quebec band Your Favorite Enemies’ lead singer, shook everyone, according to the weekly Nielsen SoundScan reports. He got ahead of Muse, Ginette Reno, Marie-Mai and Imagine Dragons. Nothing less.”I’m speechless. This is beyond me!”, confides Foster to the newspaper.

In Canada, “Windows in the Sky”, ended its first week in third position, behind Muse and Imagine Dragons.

To say that Alex Henry Foster is surprised is an understatement. He had such low expectations, to the point that he barely announced the release of his album, about one week prior to its release. His promotional campaign was that minimalist that Le Journal has been the first media to interview him.

A surprise

Yet, on Tuesday, Alex Henry Foster’s album was still in full swing. It landed a 4th position in the top sellers on the Canadian iTunes online store, behind the newly-released albums of Fred Pellerin, Michael Bublé, and Mumford and Sons.

The astonishment is even more surprising as “Windows in the Sky” is to the opposite of what a commercial success in 2018 should be made of. Its long tracks are an average of five minutes – The Hunter (By the Seaside Window) culminates at 14 minutes 18 seconds – and leads towards a post-rock that recalls the most exploratory movements of progressive rock.

Therefore, when we ask Foster to explain his album’s success, he can only throw hypothesis. “People probably need to hear this type of music, to live something else, to hear other sounds. Maybe it feels good to hear a 15-minute song that makes no sense on a commercial level.”

Adventure

Despite this unexpected success, Your Favorite Enemies’ future, a band that sure knew how to build a solid network of admirers all around the globe, notably in Japan, is not jeopardized.

“It’s far from being the end of the adventure. To the contrary, what I’m living on my end will allow us to explore other things when we’ll be getting back together”, assures Alex Henry Foster.

For now, Foster, who’s already working on other musical projects, hasn’t planned a series of concerts. But he admits that this unexpected success “gives me this desire to push further and see where this adventure will lead me”.

Cédric Bélanger

Tuesday November 20, 2018

“Windows in the Sky”, Alex Henry Foster’s first solo album, is featured in today’s Le Journal de Montréal + Le Journal de Québec!

Thank you for making this possible. This unexpected success that is talked about is one that wouldn’t have been possible without you! Thank you for embracing the album the way you have!

Read the English translation of the article

We could not be more thankful for your unconditional love and support, especially with such an intimate and personal album! “Windows in the Sky”, Alex’s first solo album, remained #1 in the iTunes charts ahead of major acts such as Muse, Imagine Dragons, Lady Gaga and Queen for 5 consecutive days, is now #1 All Categories in Quebec, #1 in the Digital Albums chart in Canada and #3 All Categories right behind Muse and Imagine Dragons in the Canadian SoundScan top 200 chart!

Beyond those numbers, we are speechless and thankful since this happened without radio and media, but only between us! It’s an inspiring message for DIY artists who still believe that music can move us. Alex gave everything in this album, opening up on what he’s been going through, adding words on grief, sorrows, love, hope and faith, all deeply rooted inside of him.

May this year be one where you continue to etch your way in this world however you like; through your words, your music & your art. Keep your eyes on the promises the future holds for you, never look back, and remember that the dark unknown is nothing more than a place waiting for a light to shine upon it – make it yours!

“Summertime Departures” is the first single off Alex’s first album, “Windows in the Sky”. Dive into its unique universe, let the sounds transport you away, let the words define new meanings… and enjoy, fully! Listen to the complete track now on SoundCloud!

It’s alongside Muse, the Beatles and Queen that Alex entered the iTunes top charts upon release day! “Windows in the Sky” hit #1 in all genres and was even quoted as a “powerful post-rock discharge” by major Canadian media! It shows once more that this journey wouldn’t be the same without you! Thank you! 🙏

Get the album for yourself