Daniel Bélanger’s warmth, wry sense of humor, and restless creativity have all helped him forge a strong and lasting bond with his many listeners in Canada. After developing his craft in the ’80s with his band Humphrey Salade, Bélanger—who was born in Montreal, Quebec, in 1961—seemed to arrive fully formed as a solo artist with his 1992 debut Les insomniaques s’amusent. Though he would periodically return to his first album’s engaging and thoughtful blend of folk and rock, Bélanger soon proved to be an exceptionally adventurous artist, incorporating the influences of grunge and Radiohead into 1996’s Quatre saisons dans le désordre, diving into electronic music on 2001’s Rêver mieux>, and experimenting with psychedelic pop on 2016’s Paloma. Even a foray into musical theatre with 2010’s Belles-sœurs - Théâtre musical met the same rapturous response among fans and critics as the many other unexpected detours and directions Bélanger has taken.