I've always loved music, I used to dance to Fela's when I was 3, and kept on loving his music ever since. One of my first remembrances would be his concert in Berlin, my brother Guy-Charles had a VHS of it that I would see and see again. Then, I discovered the Beatles with Yellow submarine, the blue meanies.... Maybe here is the origin of my conception of music as something we have to treasure and keep alive no matter what.
But the first songs I sang were Bob Marleys (Johnny was a good good good good man, yeah, she criiiiieeed), Peter Toshs (brand new second hand is my favorite)and David Hinds(rally round the red gold black and green!!!!!). Then, spending a lot of time with my father has lead me to Zairian music: Tabuley Rocherau, M'bilia Bell, Pepe Kalle... but also to West Indies music through Tabou Combo....
Then, Roy C, al Jarreau, Herbie Hancock, Roberta Flack, Wally Badaru, Kassav, Zaiko langa langa, Kleer, cameo, Zapp, Prince...
When I was about 8, Henri, my sister's boy friend came from the US with a wonderful VHS: Africa Bambaata, Cool herk, grand master flash, wow, my brother Paul Andre and I would watch this tape again and again, amazed by this music!!!! We would watch super star station on TV, and try to dance like them, man, that was something!!!!
When I turned 15, I had just arrived in France to live with my siblings who were studying in the south. I guess this is when I heard Nina Simone...I thought: this woman and I have something in common, don't know what.... but, we share something so, from my walkman, I would hear "four women", "ne me quitte pas" and Miles Davis Tutu, Third world, Black UhuruPublic Enemy had just released fear of a black planet, and I would rap this song at every party I went to.I met my first band's buddies at church during Sunday school as I was getting ready to be baptized (my mother is a Muslim woman who fell in love with a catholic guy and Im their second to last born child. Just like my 8 brothers and sisters, I ve had the freedom to choose my religion). I sang one of Bob Marleys songs for my christening ceremony Then I started as a lead singer for Sagrada familia, and wrote my first songs (living abroad, having to face racism, or any other kind of segregation, being a teenager had given me great inspiration). But it is only after my first year at university, that I started to give some real energy to music, though I had a lot to do. But Music was so much important I couldn't give up. After an accident, which brought me back to Montpellier and had me cancel my plans to go back home, I started the Sun Shipp with Dj Sundae, my music twin. Both of us are soul, funk and hip hop children, the connection was in everything we would hear: Zapp, Hancock, The Wu-tang, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Slum village, Blackalicious. My teenagers London parties, years before had made me familiar with electro music, it helped me in following Sundaes electro path. The sun Shipp were born and named after Coltranes album: We played in the young artists category at Bourges festival 3 years after we met, then several gigs everywhere in France, we released a vinyl with la rosiere records featuring a re-mix by Meitz...
A wonderful adventure!!!! Life took me away from Montpellier around December 2004, right after having started a new project with Julien Raulet, an Afro beat guitar player. I was so much willing to do something more African; my wish was coming true step by step But I was still wondering if music should become my main occupation, and I wanted to go home, or at least to an African country. And I saw Antibalas on stage, and we became friends. Amayo, the lead singer made me realize how much activism and music were part of my life.Then we met Tony Allen!!! What a boost from all the Afro beat spirits!!!!HERE I AM NOW, THIRTY, THIRSTY, WILLING, ACTIVE, THE MESSAGE IS THAT THERE IS ENOUGH OF EVERYTHING FOR ALL OF US, STARTING WITH LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..
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