***disclaimer: page still in the works - may contain funny typos, broken links and/or erroneous information***
Currently singer (in turns or together with Seesayle ) and bass player in SOYSOY , as well as bass player in KELTIA , Franck "Wizzu" also takes care of the sound of the two bands by performing the stage and studio mixes.
Franck's unusual way of using his vocal cords often earns him comparisons with... female singers rather than male singers ( Siouxsie being mostly referred to)! Yet he doesn't use falsetto so often, but rather a distinctively warm, deep and powerful tenor. Although he admits that Siouxsie is one of his major influences, he secretly dreams of singing like Adrian Belew ( King Crimson 's singer and crazy guitarist since the mid 80's). He considers Yanka Rupkina as the greatest living singer.
On bass, Franck is experienced in various styles. Born in Switzerland, he played with several Geneva-based bands, regularly working with guitar-player prodigy Kiet Nguyen . His experiences with bands range from p-funk to progressive rock, including rythm'n blues, cold-wave, reggae, electro and most forms of pop.
These multiple experiences can be heard in his atypic playing: he is unpredictable, precise, melodic. He can switch from a thick, minimal bass line, to complex arpeggios performed on his 5-strings, via fretless phrasing whose 'talking' sounds resemble those heard from Mick Karn .
Off-stage (for time being), Wizzu also plays drums, percussions, keyboards, piano and (as a recent addition..) electric guitar.
As a sound producer, Wizzu worked with several bands in the 80's, notably for bands like the Qcumbers (F), the Lotus Eaters (GB) an Stop (CH). After a rather long break, he resumed producing albums, for the belgian associative label Li Mohe Music. His recent curriculum include 1666 from Keltia and Liquid from Soysoy.
Franck is not too keen on mainstream music, and generally prefers off-beat, unhortodox musical artists (which doesn't necesseraly mean experimental) and the Indie scene. Notable exceptions to this general hunch are non-stereotyped, genuinely talented, thoughtful, creative artists from the "mainstream" scene as Suzanne Vega, Tori Amos, Kate Bush or Peter Gabriel. Difficult not to like these when you're really into music. But Wizzu's real musical heroes are one-of-a-kind bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees, Cat Power, XTC, Miranda Sex Garden or Blonde Redhead, and unhortodox artists like Robert Wyatt, Stina Nordenstam, Lisa Germano or Mary Timony.
Previous collaborations...
- SPEEDY GONZALES (CH) on drums THE MAGNIFICIENT FIFTEEN (CH) on drums STOP 31 (CH) on bass COLLECTOR (CH) on lead vocals and bass NANOTUBES (F) on bass LOTUS EATERS (GB) on bass SEEING YOU (GB) on drums WHAT THE HELL (B) on lead vocals and bass SO (now VENUS ) (B) on bass and backing vocals JEAN-LOUIS DAULNE (B) on backing vocals PEEKABOO (B) on lead vocals and bass WHITE LIE (B) on drums and backing vocals LEGOPARTY (B) on bass and backing vocals
Franck's favourite artists...
- Stina Nordenstam Blonde Redhead Robert Wyatt Kate Bush * Mary Timony Lisa Germano Ani Di Franco Polly Jean Harvey Siouxsie & the Banshees Adrian Belew Minimal Compact Alessandro Scarlatti ( link 2 )
* Only until "The Red Shoes", the latter NOT included. Since then, "Kate has totally lost track of her own genius and seems to make music with the same passion as for brushing her teeth or scratching her back", says Wizzu.