Interview: Singer-Songwriter Sébastien De Francesco Imagines a Friend’s Final Goodbye on Bittersweet Single “Leaving Now”

Following “Fleury Street” and “Love on the Way Down,” Québec-based singer-songwriter Sébastien De Francesco shares “Leaving Now,” an intimate and bittersweet folk-rock single that imagines the final moments between two close friends from the perspective of the person preparing to leave. Moving between companionship, reassurance and acceptance, the song finds tenderness within loss while holding onto the belief that love and connection continue after someone is gone.

Inspired by the final afternoon Sébastien spent with a close friend who was dying of cancer, “Leaving Now” gradually became an imagined conversation between the two. Some lines are voiced from his friend’s perspective, asking for companionship as his memory and strength begin to fade, while others capture Sébastien’s instinct to comfort and protect him.

“The shifting point of view makes the song feel like an intimate conversation between two friends rather than simply a song about grief,” Sébastien shares.

The song’s title arrives only at its conclusion. Sébastien spent nearly an entire day working on the ending, knowing the conversation needed to reach its final goodbye without becoming overly dramatic. Eventually, the words “But I’m leaving now” emerged, as though his friend were gently acknowledging that it was time to go.

“‘Leaving Now’ expresses the immediacy of that goodbye, but the song also suggests that love and connection remain after someone leaves,” Sébastien explains.

Working once again alongside producer and multi-instrumentalist Lauren Bélec, Sébastien shaped the arrangement to mirror that emotional journey. The track begins restrained and conversational before gradually introducing additional layers and dynamics, allowing the music to expand alongside the weight of the exchange without overpowering its intimacy.

During the guitar solo preceding the song’s grand finale, Lili-Ann De Francesco contributes angelic background vocals that give the passage an almost otherworldly quality, as though the song is briefly moving beyond the physical world. From there, the “Can’t you see / Love is the key to it all” section opens into something wider and more uplifting before the arrangement falls away around the repeated words “Leaving now.”

That rise and release gives the song its emotional arc, moving from a private conversation into a larger expression of enduring love before returning to the simplicity of goodbye. Throughout, the vocal remains deliberately vulnerable and conversational, with Sébastien and Lauren favouring emotional honesty over an overly polished performance.

1. What did you enjoy most about creating this new release?

What I enjoyed most was turning something deeply personal into music. “Leaving Now” comes from a very emotional place, inspired by the loss of a close friend. I loved how the song came together so naturally, without overthinking it. Having my daughter Lili-Ann sing those beautiful, angelic backing vocals made the whole experience even more special.

2. Share a nugget of advice that has resonated with you most over the years.

Stay true to yourself and don’t spend too much time worrying about what others think. I’ve been making music for over 35 years, and one thing I’ve learned is that there’s no expiration date on creativity. Keep writing, keep learning, and most importantly, enjoy the ride.

3. Who would be your dream artist or band to co-headline a tour with?

I’d have to say MARO. There’s something incredibly honest and beautiful about her music. I love her voice, her songwriting, and the way she can make something so simple feel so powerful. I think sharing a stage with her would be an amazing experience.

4. What sets your music apart from others in your genre?

I think it’s the fact that I’ve never really tried to fit into one particular genre. My music is a mix of everything I’ve absorbed over the years, from rock and folk to Americana and pop. I care more about telling a good story and making people feel something than following a specific sound. I guess my music reflects who I am, with all my influences, experiences, and imperfections.

5. Tell us your favourite song at the moment and why.

Right now, it’s “Love’s Not to Beg” by MARO. I just love everything about that song. The melody, the emotion, the simplicity. It’s one of those songs that doesn’t need much to hit you right in the heart. That’s exactly the kind of music I connect with.