Woodkid was undoubtedly the first surprise of 2011, an unexpected arrival far from the mainstream buzz. In March, he released Iron, an EP of raw beauty, on french independent label Green United Music.
Woodkid, aka Yoann Lemoine, is originally known as a very talented music video director : Yelle, Moby, Katy Perry, The Shoes or more recently Lana Del Rey « Born To Die » and « Blue Jeans », and even the Drake featuring Rihanna video.
Rumor has it that during a video shoot in the U.S., Woodkid received, straight from great American guitarist Richie Havens’ hands, a banjo that immediately replaced his piano, at least for a while. Without neglecting his activity as a director (for music or even cinema, also part of his project), Woodkid decided to devote himself to make his own music.
When listening to Woodkid, an obvious thought goes to Antony and The Johnsons : Woodkid and Anthony could be kindred spirits of the voice. We can also hear the sweet folk influences from New York and a brillant way to play with melodies. The all thing emphases Yoann Lemoine’s gift for songwritting, that floats somewhere between Neil Hannon and Bonnie Prince Billy.
The Iron EP revealed a universe of fragile grace : four original songs, written either on guitar or piano.
In a very short time, Woodkid has become a must-known artist.
Born in Sussex, England, Antony spent his childhood in England, Amsterdam, and the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to NYC at the age of 19. In 1992, he founded the performance collective Blacklips, and spent the next several years developing his voice and ideas on late night stages around NYC.
Antony emerged with his musical ensemble Antony and The Johnsons in 1998. The group have released four albums (self-titled, I am a Bird Now, The Crying Light, Swanlights) and have collaborated with artists including Lou Reed, Björk, Boy George, Devendra Banhart, Laurie Anderson and Marc Almond. Antony and the Johnsons won the UK's Mercury Prize in 2005 and have performed with orchestras and symphonies throughout the world.
Their presentation of "The Crying Light" at the Manchester Festival 2009 was subsequently included in PS1's presentation of 100 important performance art pieces.
In 2008 Antony began to exhibit his visual artwork at Palais Des Beaux Arts in Belgium, Isis Gallery in London and Agnès B. Galerie Du Jour in Paris. In October of 2010, Antony released Swanlights, a book of his collages and drawings, published by Abrams Image.
“I love and respect traditional music,” Rokia explains. “There are many musicians who play with a lot of talent but it’s more interesting for me to listen to them rather than trying to do the same without their training. Yes, I'm using traditional instruments. But I'm giving them a new expression and writing modern songs that have an entirely contemporary appeal." As for fusion, she’s not even entirely sure what the word means in today’s global village. “If I'd been born 100 years ago, I wouldn’t have known American or European music,” she reasons. “But the world we live in today means you pick up on all these other sounds and they're now part of me. I make music as someone who has listened to jazz, classical, rock and pop -everyone from Louis Armstrong to Serge Gainsbourg, as well as to the African griots.”
The original brain child of the writer Rina Durante, Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino is the foremost and longest standing traditional music band from Salento, in Puglia, coming together some 35 years ago.
In 2007 the lead passed from the original founder of the band, Daniele Durante, to his son Mauro ( already a highly regarded frame drums player and violinist who has played with numerous artists, such as Ludovico Einaudi, Piers Faccini, Stewart Copeland and La Notte della Taranta).
With a range from the energetic pizzica pizzica, to the tenderness of songs of love and longing; from the festa like exuberance of a local band to an ironic glance towards modernity, Canzoniere provide an intense and atmospheric spectacle.
With 15 albums and numerous performances in Europe, the Middle East and the USA, Canzoniere have always evoked an enthusiastic response from audiences and sensitively admiring reviews from the music press.
