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Kyriakos Kalaitzidis and his ensemble En Chordais will unveil their album « Exil - Exile » live on stage at La Philarmonie de Paris (Grande Salle Pierre Boulez) on December 11, 2021.  « Exil - Exile » was released in France by Buda Musique / Socadisc on April 19, 2019. Kyriakos Kalaitzidis, composer, ud master, artistic director of En Chordais and one of the most important musicians and scholars in the field of Mediterranean music, was born into a family of exiles. His life experience and his musical research led him to deal with the theme of exile. His music for the homonymous project is an attractive blending of east and west, with a very special musicality as a common denominator. Using a wide range of instruments he has achieved a musical result with a very rich timbre, both sensitive and intelligent. The melodies that make up Exile, deeply rooted in the eastern Mediterranean, nonetheless achieve a form of universality and will certainly touch sensitive listeners around the world. Just as the theme of exile, so painfully lived today on the shores of Asia Minor and Greece cannot but move us because it carries within it an eternal human tragedy. “For those who have lived or are living as exiles in a foreign place, or in their own place, on account of an idea, a belief, or just to earn their daily bread. Exile is the road of return to that home that is more our own; into arms that are more our own.”  Exile is a concert full of the emotions of separation, love, anticipation and hope, transporting the listener to their own personal exile. Music ensemble “En Chordais” “En Chordais” is one of the most internationally acclaimed and exceptional music ensembles specializing in the Greek-Byzantine music and in the traditions of the Mediterranean. Its presence on stage is always accompanied with a wide and unique repertoire mixed with compositions both from the past and the contemporary time maintaining the originality and the timeless of the old as well as the intimacy of the today’s trends. Εn Chordais concerts and discography, have been largely publicized, with enthusiastic reviews to musical magazines, on line articles, presentations, references, interviews, TV and Radio emissions (BBC, Arte, TV 5, Radio CANADA, Liberation, Radio FRANCE, Turkish Radio Television, ABC Radio National Australia, etc).

Xanthoula Dakovanou will unveil her new album "Lamenta" on its release November 26, 2021 on Quart de Lune / UVM Distribution. Under the musical artistic direction of the greek singer Xanthoula Dakovanou, principal voice of Lamenta, the creation of this album is inspired from the musical traditions of Epirus, Greece fusioned with post-rock and world jazz elements. Staged by the belgian choreographers of international reputation Koen Augustijnen and Rosalba Torres Guerrero (Siamese Cie), Lamenta is presented at 'La Villette' in Paris (La Nef) the 13th and 14th of December 2021, after having been acclaimed by the press during the Avignon Festival 2021. The music is particularly inspired from the 'Miroloï' traditions of Epirus – songs of lament related to the loss of a beloved. The album starts from the Miroloï in its original form and glides towards more contemporary musical forms, influenced by post-rock and jazz. Sixteen renowned musicians have collaborated for this project, including special guests as the famous french jazzman Magic Malik but also Nikos Filippidis, one of the most acknowledged clarinet players in Greece nowadays. Musicians from the greek traditional scene (Kostas Filippidis-lute, Lefkothea Filippidi-voice, Avgerini Gatsi- voice, Dimitris Brendas-clarinet, Ourania Lampropoulou-santouri, Alexandros Rizopoulos-voice and percussion, Dimitris Katsoulis-violin, Stefanos Filos-violin, Thanassis Tzinas-voice) as well as musicians from the world jazz greek scene : Kleon Andoniou (electric guitar, voice), Antonis Maratos (bass), Panagiotis Katsikiotis 'Tsiko' (drums), Stefanos Filos (violin) and Solis Barkis (percussion) have recorded with Xanthoula Dakovanou for this album. The result is unique : meditative , lamentative and extatic. A spiritual connection between this world and the other side.

Octantrion will unveil their new album "II" on their release October 22, 2021 on Quart de Lune / UVM Distribution. This new work will be presented live on stage on Thursday February 3, 2022 at the Studio de L’Ermitage (Paris). Octantrion's recording history began in 2014 with the eponymous album. This first opus set in stone pieces was made for and by the stage. Following the success of this self-produced album which reached the top of album sales for a while after the band appeared on France 2 (in June 2015, Jean-François Zygel’s programme La Boîte à Musique devoted quite a lot of time to the duet and their emblematic instrument, the nyckelharpa) among others, a remastered and extended edition called 8 including 4 new pieces was released in 2018 by Quart de lune / UVM. The album II (Quart de Lune/ UVM) was conceived in a complete different manner. The theme of the raven was chosen as a symbol of pagan Nordic / Viking cultures and to serve as common thread for this new opus that holds 15 songs among which are 10 original compositions and 5 rearranged traditional Swedish and Icelandic tunes. While the album Octantrion and its variation 8 were showcasing the timbres of the extraordinary instruments played by Eleonore Billy (Swedish nyckelharpa, Norwegian hardingfele) and Gaedic Chambrier (Nordic bass cittern, mandocello, harp-guitar), with a light double bass accompaniment by Jean-Philippe Viret (winner of a victory for music in 2011 and a victory for Jazz in 2020) as well as by some percussions, much denser orchestrations can be found in the album II. Six other musicians took part in the album, and voices and singing can be heard in four pieces. After being acknowledged by great Scandinavian musicians and becoming the French reference of North-inspired music with Octantrion/ 8, the duo devised and produced the album II so as to make it more accessible to the general public. The theme of the raven was chosen as a symbol of pagan Nordic/ Viking cultures and to serve as common thread for the new opus. It holds 15 songs among which are 10 original compositions and 5 rearranged traditional Swedish and Icelandic tunes. Its melodies tick over in your mind and the pieces can be danced on and hummed, and take the listener on an escape journey to a dreamt North, a land of legends.

Pierre Bensusan will unveil his new album « Azwan » on its release November 12, 2021 on Le Triton / L'Autre Distribution. This new work will be presented live on stage on Saturday January 22, 2022 at Le Triton (Paris), and all over France during 2022. The COVID-19 global pandemic that has ensnared humanity underscores the oneness of our world and our interlocked connectivity. That’s Bensusan’s message and the meaning behind “Azwan,” the award-winning artist’s 15th album that dropped March 13, 2020 in the UK (Nov. 12, 2021 in France). The French-Algerian guitarist-vocalist said, “Along my life’s journey, I have experienced unity off and on, being more or less aware of the impact and influence of every action upon the entire universe. As time goes on, the more I feel connected to all people, animals and universally to the whole of nature. Being that we are all connected, my intention is that every action and behavior contributes, supports and adds value to our interconnectivity, especially through my music. It feels like a nurturing or even a healing process for me and those with whom I share the music.” Voted by Guitar Player magazine readers as Best World Music Guitarist, Bensusan’s music is contemplative, wistful, sublime and prodigiously performed with inspiration rooted in nature. “The concept of ‘Azwan’ came from observing bees, those solar insects working in the darkness together as one, and by observing flocks of birds flying and dancing together as one. It has been an inspiring symbolic representation of the continuum of music. When seeing ‘Azwan’ written, it can evoke a place, a city or a mood, but when hearing it said out loud, it sounds like ‘as one.’ I’ve been contemplating all the music from ‘Azwan’ for years before actually recording it, taking time to allow all the notes to come together as one.” Bensusan is a storyteller, using expressive and lyrical acoustic guitar parlance and ethereal vocalization to allure, transfix and transport. “‘Azwan’ is primarily a solo instrumental album on which the guitar is conceived as an orchestra, delivering melody, bass, chords and counterpoint in the same space. To it, we add some vocal elements and several collaborations with guest musicians,” said Bensusan who has lived in Paris since age four.  Teaching himself to play guitar at age eleven after four years of piano training, Bensusan inked his first record deal when he was 17, winning the Rose d’Or at the Montreux Festival for his 1975 debut album, “Près de Paris.” More recently, he won an Independent Music Award in 2014 for “Encore: Live,” a triple live record. He’s regarded as one of the greatest acoustic guitar players of the 21st century, known for his immense sound vocabulary utilizing hues of world music, new age, jazz, classical, traditional, folk and pop with French, Arabic, Latin and Celtic cultural references. None can be isolated, they represent Pierre’s genuine vocabulary and the best part of our world in its current state, a world sharing itself.

Cumbia Chicharra will unveil their new album "El Grito"on its release October 15, 2021 on Discos la Chicharra / Music Box Publishing / L'Autre Distribution.  This new work will be presented live on stage on Thursday November 18, 2021 at Hasard Ludique (Paris). Cumbia Chicharra La Cumbia Chicharra clashes with sensuality cumbia, latin american rhythms, urban and current sounds. This band from Marseille mixes its influences without borders. For a tasty and explosive music. The band played over 350 concerts, from France to Chile via Russia, Spain, Morocco, Germany, Croatia, Hungary or Italy, Cumbia Chicharra has thus earned its stripes of major group of the European Latin scene, exporter of tropical and generous groove, purveyor of sweat and chills for dancers. El Grito A vocal chord vibrates, body resonates, and the scream is released, shaking everything in its path. "El Grito" (the scream), Cumbia Chicharra's 4th album, came like this, from the bottom of the heart and at full strength. Like an orgasm, a deliverance, a collective trance or a clamor of resistance... a scream for each stage of life. The 8 musicians and the sound director of the band each have their own influences and their strong characters. Cumbia as an epicenter, and a whole world to amplify the sismic shakes : Caribbean, Andean, Afro-American or oriental music, the love of dance, the taste of dub, rock, and electronics in a trance of percussion.

Sorry, this entry is only available in French. For the sake of viewer convenience, the content is shown below in the alternative language. You may click the link to switch the active language.Baba Wazo révèlera son nouvel EP "Animal" à l'occasion de sa sortie le 24 septembre 2021 chez La Belle Électrique / InOuïe Distribution, dont le premier extrait éponyme est d'ores et déjà disponible  sur toutes les plate-formes et dont le clip est à visionner ci-dessous. Baba Wazo est composé de : - Basile Théoleyre : chant, guitare, trompette - Maximilien Helle-Forget : claviers - Benjamin Colin : batterie, percussions participation exceptionnelle de Youssef Boukella (basse) et Zacharie Abraham (contrebasse) Le trio, accompagné d'Emrah Kaptan à la basse, présentera ce dernier opus sur la scène du Studio de L'Ermitage le mardi 19 octobre 2021 à l'occasion d'un concert de lancement exceptionnel. Baba Wazo pourrait être une figure imaginaire sortie de légendes populaires, mi-homme mi-oiseau, qui murmure à l’oreille de qui veut bien l’entendre ses chants mélodieux aux vérités crasses, tout en sous-entendus. A la fois insaisissable et inclassable. Autour de ses trois membres, Baba Wazo, se déploie au- delà des frontières entre chanson, world music, jazz et électro. A l’origine de Baba Wazo il y a un premier projet, Carmen, qui signifie le chant, le poème. Comme une évocation de la tradition incantatoire du ménestrel ou du griot. Entre transe et stance. Fondé par Basile Théoleyre, il nait d’une intuition esthétique où les textes en français viennent se mêler à une musique d’inspiration world. Il s’agit pour lui de retrouver la musicalité de la langue qui suggère plus qu’elle ne décrit, sans se priver pour autant du plaisir du sens. Membre de l’Orchestre National de Barbès depuis 2013, il baigne depuis longtemps dans les musiques du monde, ces musiques dont il ne comprend pas nécessairement les textes mais dont il aime les mélodies et dont il pense pourtant saisir le sens !

Kandy Guira will unveil her new album "Nagtaba" on its release October 22, 2021 on Que Du Bonheur En Son / Vlad Production / RFI Talents / Inouïe Distribution. This new work will be presented live on stage on Wednesday October 6, 2021 at Petit Bain (Paris).   « Nagtaba means TOGETHER: I wanted to create this album as a call for more solidarity, to come closer, to better understand each other in order to build the future. For me, the woman is the symbol of this Nagtaba album, because it is she who brings together and unites all the differences. This new project is a continuation of the EP Tek La Runda, where I encourage women to take their destiny into their own hands and defend the deeply humanist values of the society of which they are the future. Nagtaba is a positive, feminine, mixed-culture album, the fruit of my inspirations and the many human and artistic encounters that have marked my path. With Nagtaba, I draw on my origins and i bring a more urban approach that also reflects my current life. I have wanted to mix electronic accents with traditional Burkina melodies such as the warba or the wiire to create a unique and vibrant alchemy, at the base of my sound: electro-pop Faso. For Nagtaba, I invited long-time traveling companions and inspired artists by my musical universe, driven by this search for new horizons and musical fusion. We will see Alif Naaba, a compatriot and artist whose commitment I admire, Jowee Omicil in whom I find this taste for interbreeding, African. »

Sorry, this entry is only available in French. For the sake of viewer convenience, the content is shown below in the alternative language. You may click the link to switch the active language.Ariana Vafadari présente « Anahita » sa dernière création musicale, à l'occasion d'une série de concerts estivale : * le 8 juin à L’ilyade Seyssinet, Seyssinet-Pariset (38) * les 17, 18 et 20 juin au Festival des Sacrées Journées de Strasbourg, Strasbourg (67) : 17 juin : Cathédrale de Strasbourg 18 juin : Collégiale Saint-Thiébaut, Thann 20 juin : Eglise Saint Vincent de Paul, Strasbourg Anahita, est une pièce musicale et onirique, composée et interprétée par Ariana Vafadari sur un livret écrit en collaboration avec Leili Anvar. Ariana, mezzo-soprano sera accompagnée sur scène par Julien Carton (piano), Leila Soldevilla (Contrebasse) et Yacir Rami (Oud). L’enregistrement d’Anahita est paru en CD - Sortie digitale le 6/03, sortie physique le 19/06 (label Quart de Lune / Distribution Idol et UVM).   L’HISTOIRE Une jeune femme rêve du temps où son village était vert, elle se réveille face aux arbres qui meurent et sent son ventre vide. Elle a traversé les déserts et les terres en feu, désespérée elle prie la déesse dont elle porte le nom : Anahita. Cette divinité iranienne des eaux, de la fécondité, de la sagesse, est celle qui accroît les cours d’eau, les peuples et les vivants. Elle est aussi la guérisseuse et celle qui initie à la sagesse. Mais son culte fut oublié et son visage effacé. Aussi les eaux se sont-elles retirées chaque jour davantage du lit des rivières et des sources souterraines, transformant le monde fertile et verdoyant en un désert brûlant. Après un échange mystique avec la déesse, la jeune Anahita part en quête de l’eau d’immortalité, et trouve l’Amour. Imprégnée dans son enfance par la poésie et la philosophie zoroastrienne transmise par son père, Ariana Vafadari, avait à cœur de faire ressurgir les écrits millénaires de Zarathoustra, réunis dans «L’ Avesta», textes empreints de sagesse et de spiritualité, prônant la lumière et la bonté inhérente à l’homme. A travers ces prières adressées à Anahita, la volonté d’Ariana et Leili est de retrouver la place du féminin dans le monde. Entourée de musiciens aux origines culturelles et musicales diverses, certains formés à la musique traditionnelle iranienne, marocaine, d’autres au jazz, à la musique classique occidentale, Ariana Vafadari passe librement d’un univers à l’autre. Les textes sont en persans, en français, en langue Avestique, la langue ancienne des zoroastriens.

Sorry, this entry is only available in French. For the sake of viewer convenience, the content is shown below in the alternative language. You may click the link to switch the active language.Luis de la Carrasca présente le spectacle "Gharnata" (tiré de l'album éponyme, sorti le 11 octobre 2019 chez Andalouse Alhambra / Inouïe Distribution), à l'occasion d'une tournée estivale de 24 dates, dont plus d'une vingtaine à Avignon (du 21 juin au 31 juillet 2021) : * lundi 21 juin 2021 à 20h30 dans Le Jardin Romain, Caumont-sur-Durance (84) gratuit à l'occasion de la fête de la musique * samedi 26 juin 2021 à 17h00 à l'Auditorium de Lure (70) * du 7 au 31 juillet 2021 à 20h30 (relâche les lundis 12,19 et 26 juillet) au Théâtre du Chêne Noir, Avignon (84) en coréalisation avec le Théâtre du Chêne Noir dans le cadre du Festival Off d'Avignon L'équipe de "Gharnata" est composée de : - Luis de la Carrasca (Création artistique, auteur-compositeur, chant, guitare Flamenco) - José Luis Dominguez et Manuel Gomez (Guitare Flamenco) - François Taillefer (Cajón/percussions) - Benjamin Ramos (Contrebasse) - Jérôme Boudin-Clauzel (Piano) - Ana Pérez (Choeurs, palmas et danse Flamenco)   Gharnata Spectacle du nouvel album sorti le 11 octobre 2019 Gharnata veut dire Granada en arabe. Pourquoi ce titre ? Car étant Grenadin, Luis de la Carrasca est conscient de l’héritage laissé par cette extraordinaire civilisation lors de son apogée. Luis de la Carrasca dont la voix passe aisément d’un registre tout en puissance à un autre tout en retenue est entouré sur cet opus de 5 musiciens : des guitaristes José Luis Dominguez et Manuel Gomez, du contrebassiste Benjamin Ramos, du percussionniste François Taillefer, du pianiste Jérôme Boudin-Clauzel et d’Ana Pérez aux choeurs, palmas et à la danse. Ses paroles font référence aux valeurs indispensables à l’humanité : le respect, la coexistence, la tolérance, la générosité, la volonté, la foi, la bonté et le plus important l’Amour, du prochain, de la vie, de la terre, de la nature... Il a ressenti la nécessité d’aborder nos racines qui nous guident vers le futur sans oublier d’où nous venons et qui nous sommes. Luis de la Carrasca rend aussi hommage aux génies universels que sont Federico García Lorca, Antonio Machado et le grand Bizet. Un patrimoine inoubliable pour l’humanité. Luis de la Carrasca Cantaor – créateur artistique de la Cie Flamenco Vivo Auteur-Compositeur – Membre de la SACEM, de la SACD, de la SPEDIDAM et de l'ADAMI. Originaire de Huéscar (province de Grenade – Espagne), il grandit dans cette Andalousie rurale où il se passionna très jeune pour ce « Mundillo Flamenco ». Il est actuellement un artiste Flamenco reconnu et l'une des références dans le monde Flamenco. Autodidacte, il a hérité du don de ses ancêtres pour « el Cante ». Pendant longtemps, il fréquenta le monde Flamenco Grenadin et côtoya le danseur gitan Juan Ramirez. Puis, il se produisit sur sa terre natale, dans les Iles Baléares (1ère partie d’Ana Reverte) et dans la région d’Alicante jusqu’en 1991 date à laquelle il s’installe en France. Cette même année, il participe à son premier Festival d’Avignon au Théâtre du Balcon. A partir de là, tout s’enchaîne, il monte « FLAMENCO VIVO » et à chaque Festival Off d’Avignon (de 1991 à 2019), il crée et présente un nouveau spectacle. Il fêtera en 2021 son 30ème Festival d’Avignon. Sa compagnie a toujours été en constante évolution car il découvre, rencontre et s’entoure de nouveaux artistes et de jeunes espoirs français, fils d’espagnols ou andalous. Au fil du temps, sa compagnie devient la Cie Flamenco Vivo.  Luis de la Carrasca a réalisé les adaptations Flamenco d’oeuvres de théâtre classique et contemporain et en a composé la musique. En 1994, il joue dans le film « Dis moi oui » d’Alexandre Arcady. Il est à l’origine du Festival Andalou créé par l’Association Andalouse Alhambra, à Avignon et le département de Vaucluse. Son album Gharnata est sorti le 11 octobre 2019 (Production A. Andalouse Alhambra avec l’aide de la Région Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, de l’ADAMI et de la SCPP – Inouïe Distribution).

Sorry, this entry is only available in French. For the sake of viewer convenience, the content is shown below in the alternative language. You may click the link to switch the active language.Dérapage Prod et l'Opéra de Lyon présentent la création  "Sahariennes" à l'occasion d'une tournée de 5 dates exceptionnelles dont deux parisiennes, le samedi 5 juin 2021 à 17h et 19h au 360 Paris Music Factory. Ce spectacle, sous la direction artistique de Piers Faccini, révèlera le travail de 4 grandes artistes originaires du désert saharien : Noura Mint Seymali, Souad Asla, Dighya Mohammed et Malika Zarra. Voici les différentes représentations à venir :  3 juin : OPERA DE LYON (18h30) // résidence du 22 au 27 mai 2021 4 juin : Le Grand Sud, LILLE  (en partenariat avec l’IMA de Tourcoing) (19h) 5 juin : Le 360, PARIS (deux représentations 17h et 19h) 6 juin : Grand Théâtre d'Orléans (17h) Cette création s'inscrit dans le cadre de la saison Africa 2020 initiée par l’Institut Français.   Le Sahara, haut lieu de l’imaginaire occidental, est à la fois une invention d’européens en quête d’exotisme, et un terrain physique ou s’affrontent les idées reçues et des cultures millénaires. Les femmes du désert telles que les ont souvent imaginées les européens, sont des créatures de fantasme, des sahariennes, voilées et mystérieuses, des objets exotiques qui n’ont que peu à voir avec la réalité des femmes de la région. Le spectacle “Sahariennes” célèbre les héritages communs des véritables sahariennes - des femmes d’Algérie, du Maroc de Mauritanie et du Sahara occidental. Une création musicale qui fait fi des clichés et tente d’aller au-delà des conflits qui définissent trop souvent les relations de leurs pays respectifs. Parce que ces sahariennes partagent des traditions cousines et une volonté commune d’imposer leur parole d’artiste. Traditions profanes ou sacrées, héritages berbères, touaregs, ou gnawa - les musiques des quatre côtés de cette frontière de sable appartiennent à une grande famille. En mettant cet héritage en commun et en créant des formes nouvelles, ces femmes affichent une solidarité artistique qui fait fi des adversités quotidiennes ou géopolitiques. Noura Mint Seymali, issue d’une famille de griots, est la grande chanteuse mauritanienne de sa génération. La chanteuse Dighya Mohanned Salem porte son histoire de réfugiée sahraouie mais demeure une artiste tournée vers le futur. Souad Asla milite pour diffuser le patrimoine musical des femmes algériennes, entre autres avec les musiciennes de Lemma. Malika Zarra est une artiste marocaine qui partage son temps entre le Maroc, la France et les Etats-Unis et est une habituée des collaborations. En imposant une lecture féminine de l’histoire culturelle de la région, les Sahariennes font beaucoup plus que bouleverser les clichés qui ont leur origine, dans leurs cultures respectives, ainsi que dans l’imaginaire des colonisateurs d’antan. Voila plus de quarante ans que les femmes sahraouies sont un symbole de dignité et d’indépendance. Malgré les combats politiques et guerriers, malgré les partages de frontières arbitraires et belliqueux, les sahraouies sont demeurées un des grand symbole des combat indépendantistes et féministes. Héritières d’une tradition matriarcale qui n’a jamais pu être effacée, elles sont, au quotidien, les garantes d’un ordre social qu’elle contrôle, et les chanteresses d’une culture qu’elles défendent. De chaque coté de ces frontières invisibles à l’œil nu, les sahariennes ont hérité de cette histoire commune. Et comment mieux exprimer cet héritage à travers la musique, à travers la plus profonde expression d’une culture traditionnelle. Les Sahariennes ont pour but de souligner cet héritage et cette culture commune. Le résultat n’est ni politique, ni vraiment revendicatif. En s’imposant comme artistes avec des choix esthétiques, elles se placent en défenseures d’une culture commune, et ne font, finalement, que rappeler un état de fait : que les femmes du Sahara sont les virtuoses du quotidien, et les architectes d’un monde futur.

A free electron in today’s global galaxy of sound, Radio Tutti & Barilla Sisters are reawakening the force once again with an explosive second album. Music from Southern Europe is given a modern twist with stylish arrangements and an electro feel for a truly genre-defying album. XOGO is inspired by Galicia and its inventive and festive folklore which draws on age-old earthly energies. Female voices are the common thread in this patchwork of Mediterranean and Oriental popular music, Creole influences from the other side of the Atlantic and plenty of other flavours besides. For festivities with a truly global feel! The story of Radio Tutti & Barilla Sisters began with a chance encounter, bringing together several artists who were (and continue to be) passionate about traditional music from Southern Europe and inspired by musical trends from all four corners of the globe. Since 2016, this musical melting pot has bubbled over with ingredients from popular traditions and a blend of exotic spices which have crossed the oceans. The sweat of hard-working people and oppressed minorities mingles with that of contemporary dancers to create a musical style without borders! Radio Tutti combines adventurous arrangements which alternate between ancient and modern takes on Afro-Atlantic music, from cumbia to hip-hop. The proud, vibrant and powerful voices of the symbiotic duo of the Barilla Sisters are the perfect vehicle for the timeless rhythms and melodies of women from Southern Europe. These two women are united in their creative energy, their passion for sharing musical traditions and their desire to enter into a trance-like state with their audience. Radio Tutti & Barilla Sisters’ concerts are the perfect opportunity to embrace everything that group dances have to offer, somewhere between a folk ball and an all-out fiesta! This new album is called XOGO, the Galician word for “play”: a mischievous nod to the origins of these musical genres inspired by working people. While the previous album was inspired by Italy’s South, this album has drawn on the energy of Northern Spain, a region which is renowned in this part of the world and where groups of women with big hearts (and bigger lungs!) mix Celtic, Latin and Eastern musical traditions with the frenetic rhythms of tambourines. As the sounds of the instruments come together, creating an invitation to dance, Radio Tutti & Barilla Sisters spice things up with their original arrangements and perfectly executed electronica interludes. XOGO’s no casual walk in the park! It’s a feverish fiesta on a Saturday night, an invitation to dance and live life to the full! Rumba Morena, the album’s first track, sets the tone and there’s no going back after that. High-pitched voices and Galician tambourines come to life with instrumental flights of fancy which evoke orchestras from Eastern Europe and beyond, combined with powerful flourishes. Forro de la Vida Viranta is a haunting ritornello, set between Brazil and Occitania, with a sultry dance feel and rhythmic scansion. Galician Rhapsody is a wonderful surprise as the last track on the album: a progressive and complex piece of music which will leave listeners in a trance. It’s a compendium of all the ingredients which make up this brilliant album, combining electro trance, deep and powerful rap, the soothing sound of the accordion and so much more... Texts : Amaury Rullière

HF unveiled her new album "Nature humaine" on its release July 31, 2020 on Equal Musik / Believe Digital. We knew it, 2020 was a very disruptive year, one hard to cope with. The artist HF wanted to bring the album Nature humaine to life despite the dramatic situation being experienced in the world of culture. Promotion for the album was postponed as the news of the pandemic came out. HF is on her way to her 6th album. So now is the time to introduce you to Nature humaine, before she gives us some fresh breath with her upcoming work "D'une mélancolie..." slated for release in the fall of 2021. With "Nature humaine", HF gives us her fifth album in French in her own image: generous, harmonious and unclassifiable. SOUL TRILOGY Following her early forays into French chanson and electronic music, Hélène Félix, aka HF, established herself as an endearing and atypical figure on the French soul-funk scene with her debut album Keep The Face, released in 2007. While her simplicity, her discretion and androgynous allure break from the glamour and glitter so typical of soul divas, it is her talent as a singer songwriter-performer and multi-instrumentalist that keep one’s attention. HF champions a certain idea of black music. Organic and timeless, against the tide of highly- formatted super-productions and artificial special effects. On Keep The Face, all the songs are self-composed and sung in English, with a fully assumed French accent. HF brilliantly kept the ball rolling with two more albums in the same vein but with increasingly fresh confidence on each one: Feeling in 2008, followed by Good Times in 2011. NATURE HUMAINE Nature humaine, the fifth installment in her recording adventures comes eight years after the release of her last album under the name HF. A While English might act like a filter between her emotions and her pen, singing in her native tongue allows her to express herself in the most sincere way possible. Musically, the singer sought to broaden her horizons by drawing inspiration from those who influenced her, such as Gainsbourg, Nougaro, Balavoine, Cabrel, Berger and Jonasz. Nature humaine blends the most eclectic influences and reads a bit like an overview of her career. The soulful sensuality of her previous albums is still very present and her early love for French chanson rises back to the surface. Her arrangements are always very aesthetic, her melodies often melancholic, her warm, sensual voice gets stripped down and rediscovers itself through the language of Molière. Here bass and rhythms are always groovy. The album that HF gives us is both her richest and her most personal. A record that is just like she is. Generous, harmonious, unclassifiable, in her own image.