Na’Kia Evonne Ricks, known as Ayo Kia, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. She is known for her motivating lyrics, jabbing punchlines, irresistible hooks, unforgettable story-telling, and melodic delivery. Ayo Kia began to build popularity after releasing her first project in 2021. Her solo project, “Before I Go” was listed on JukeBox Time’s Magazine as a Top 10 Album, where Before I Go ranked as Number 8 and Number 1 in Trending. 1 In Music meets the artist. Ayo Kia Talks About Life, Relationships, and New Music in Exclusive Interview.
“My girl, it’s so nice to have you here! The Queen! Hey, so the world knows , tell them your name and the city you rep?”
Ayo Kia [AK]: What’s good baby! My name is Ayo Kia and I’m repping the Greater New Orleans Area, …. SJP more specifically.
“I feel you! I feel that! So, Tell us about your latest releases, The Your Eyes video just dropped, tell us about that. What inspired you?”
AK: I’ve been motivated to release songs so they weren’t suffocating in a file folder. I used to always ask myself: like if I died today or tomorrow, no one would have heard these and that wouldn’t be fair to me so, yeah! I said ‘Self! Let’s get it! Hit the button.The Your Eyes song comes from my latest album Before I Go which was an all-night winger project. And besides “Running”, Your Eyes was like a song that I just thought I had to expound upon. So, I thought to myself, let’s do this video, it’s going to be beautiful. It’s crazy because that song was recorded like 7 years ago. And I’m just releasing it and making the video today. It’s not new to me, it’s just new to y’all. And my real day one fans, know that. Back when we couldn’t release music so easily, I used to send this song via email and that was the only way you could get it. But today, I have the leverage to release on all social media platforms, so yeah. I just want to be heard before I pass away or something or have children.
“100% Percent! Speaking of children, you have kids? You dating ? Single?”
AK: I’m single. No kids I always say when I’m single, I’m like Jesus, I’m Christ like.
“That’s lit! That’s what’s up! So, tell me what is unique about you and your music?”
AK: It’s designed by me. I consider it ‘designed’. Like certain words, messages, and sound effects, are hand selected for each song. (laughs) And the way I sit and write a song, you would think I was doing heart surgery how delicate I am with the words and the pen. I even write the words on the paper with a lot of pride (laughs) like I’m doing calligraphy. You really have to see me do this. It’s fun! It’s incredible! (laughs)
“Yes! Must do things well! Loving that my girl! So, right now, what is shaping your music?”
AK: I want to say it’s my emotions, past relationships, past friendships, a motivation to succeed and become rich, a desire to be heard and understood.
“And, when did you realize you were going to make music professionally?”
AK: I never realized it (laughs). I had been doing music for so long you know. Like, I had been going to recording studio since I was like 14. I always viewed it as my unique superpower. I want to say that it didn’t truly hit me until I made it to my twenties. Then I was like, ‘Okay, I’m about to do this for real.’
“Okay! Okay! So for the fans – tell them, What type of music do you listen to?”
AK: Everybody knows I’m in love with Drake, Beyoncé, and DJ Khaled. Love Lil Baby, Kanye is like the bestie. I love everybody that’s really doing their thing right now to be honest, because it inspires me to go harder. I always say that. It depends on the time of the day though, like I listen to Classical, Alternative Music, EDM, Gospel, R&B and Trap Music. Classical music is so sexy to me. But so is Trap Music. But, honestly, I listen to mainly rap music. I don’t think I listen to much of anything else. Unless I purposely step away from rap to create a new vibe in my space.
“Okay! Big fan of those people myself! Let’s get it! What do you do when you don’t do music?”
AK: Look for more things to do and become passionate about like, design something new and create a new world honestly. I just try to zoom in on my goals honestly.
“Okay, Okay, So Tell Me: Happiness to you is…”
AK: Peace. Period. Like if there is no peace, I will not be happy, and I think I need to get exactly what I want to be happy.
What do you wish you were told when you first started making music that you think would help artists just starting out?
AK: To…
Never give up.
I wasn’t told that when I was younger, like so many people were against me doing music telling me it wasn’t me, but I was good at writing songs, and rapping and singing, and it seemed like everyone had an issue acknowledging the talent and so focus on the character that it hindered me from embracing myself fully. Like people would laugh at me, try to embarrass me and stuff when I told them I was a rapper. They never viewed me as a “tough” girl, just a smart, classy woman. They never viewed me as a musical person, but this was like my biggest talent. I wish someone would have been like “forget them people and do this.” Eventually people did start to tell me that, but then it was just like – too late.
“Wow! I feel that. I’m glad you’re still pushing! That’s why we need to hear about these new things in the works! Tell us about your upcoming projects, Ayo Kia…”
AK: Right now, I’m cooking up something special for myself actually. This next project is a little personal. It’s always personal, but y’all can check it out.
“Is it an album, it’s a single? What is it?”
AK: It’s an album.
“So where would we find more about this and your music?”
AK: Everywhere. Like I tell every body: Google Me B————! (laughs) On the real though, I’m on all social media platforms under Ayo Kia.
“Man Ayo Kia, thanks for joining us today, you have some of the hottest music out right now! Glad you could have this talk with me. Y’all keep it locked! We out!”
Rupert Hine – Surface Tension is available for pre-order
As the 72nd birthday of late musician Rupert Hine approaches, Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red Records) announces the release of a compilation of the artist’s recordings. The 3CD Box Set, entitled Surface Tension, features recordings from the songwriter and producer’s solo albums between 1981 and 1983. Surface Tension – The Recordings 1981-1983 celebrates the creativity and originality of Rupert’s solo work of the early 1980s. The box set is a newly remastered 3CD CLAMSHELL BOXED SET. It is set for released on October 28, 2022.
The boxed set includes 3 albums, each coming with bonus tracks. There are a total of 34 tracks including six bonus tracks. The 3 albums are ‘‘Immunity’, ‘Waving Not Drowning’ and ‘The Wildest Wish To Fly’. The boxed set comes with an illustrated booklet including interviews and an essay. The liner notes of the illustrated booklet that accompanies this release offer memories and observations of the recording sessions for these ground breaking recordings. This boxed set is a fine tribute to Rupert Hine, a greatly missed musical visionary. The Surface Tension – The Recordings 1981-1983, 3CD Box Set is available for pre-order the box right now for only 22.99 from the Cherry Records website.
Noted collaborations
Stephen W Tayler engineered all of the original recordings and co-produced them with Rupert Hine. The acclaimed engineer has now brilliantly remastered this compilation from the original master tapes. Rupert Hine all composed the tracks. The musician wrote the albums with the late poet, graphic artist and lyricist Jeannette Obstoj (aka Jeannette-Thérèse Obstoj). Jeannette Obstoj is known among her many talents to have been the regular lyrics partner of Rupert Hine for all his solo compositions between 1981 abnd 1983.
The albums also features guest appearances. This includes legendary English singer-songwriter, record producer and Genesis drummer Phil Collins on drums. British rock sideman and guitarist Phil Palmer also appears. English singer-songwriter and record producer Robert Palmer and British singer Marianne Faithfull lends their vocals each on one song in one album. There is also James West-Oram, a member of London rock band The Fixx. Canadian drummer and songwriter Steve Negus from rock bands Saga and GNP also plays the drums on one of the albums.
Disc One: Immunity
The noted producer co-wrote acclaimed and strikingly original ‘Immunity’ (1981) with the late poet, graphic artist and lyricist Jeannette Obstoj. Guest performers on the album included Phil Collins and Marianne Faithfull appears on the song “Misplaced Love”. the album has influenced a host of celebrated musicians to this day.
I Hang On To My Vertigo
Misplaced Love
Samsara
Surface Tension
I Think A Man Will Hang Soon
Immunity
Another Stranger
Psycho Surrender
Make A Wish
Bonus tracks
10. Scratching At Success 11. Introduction To The Menace
DISC TWO: Waving Not Drowning
The 1982 album ‘Waving Not Drowning’ was another fine work and was particularly popular in Scandinavia and once again featured Phil Collins.
Eleven Faces
The Curious Kind
The Set Up
Dark Windows
The Sniper
Innocents In Paradise
House Arrest
The Outsider
One Man’s Poison
Bonus track
10. Kwok’s Quease
DISC THREE: The Wildest Wish To Fly
The Wildest Wish To Fly (1983) was a hit album in Sweden. It featured a small host of guest appearances. Phil Palmer and James West-Oram of The Fixx play the guitar. Robert Palmer is on vocals on the track “Living in Sin”.
Living in Sin
No Yellow Heart
The Saturation of the Video Rat
Firefly in the Night
A Golden Age
Picture Phone
The Victim of Wanderlust
The Most Dangerous of Men
The Wildest Wish to Fly
Bonus tracks:
10. Blue Flame (Melt the Ice) 11. An Eagle’s Teaching 12. Picture Phone (remix) 13. No Yellow Heart (later version)
1 In Music meets up and coming rapper Hymaginn (Pronounced Him again). Hymaginn is the stage name of Dustin Kelley, father of 5 beautiful daughters. Born in Cleburne, Texas, raised in Georgia and currently residing in Atlanta, the music artist is not afraid to go where the music call or to express himself. He has been writing for what effectively feels like his whole life. Calling him an up and coming artist is a bit of an industry cheat when you know he has already released 7 projects independently under his own label “4EverSoul Ent”. The hip-hop artist moves forward, not waiting for the industry to catch up with his talent; and only sits to answer our questions.
1 In Music: Hey Hymaginn, thank you for taking some time off your busy music and family life. First, tell us a little bit about what is unique about you and your music?
H: No 2 songs sound alike. Everything is different. You’ll know it’s me once you know it’s me lol. But I’m very versatile. Also Original. I have my own sound.
1 In Music: What or who shaped your music and who supports you?
H: My family has always been supportive and believed in me.
One of my biggest inspirations is my Sister who passed away in September of 2021. She Always told me not to stop because she knew I’d make it.
And my daughters as well, of course. I even have nieces and nephews who really enjoy my music. So yeah, I’m definitely motivated.
1 In Music: When did you realise you were going to make music professionally?
H: When people would react to my music and not know it was me but be intrigued by it. Or meeting people for the first time who had heard my music before and thought I was already famous. Genuine reactions never lie.
1 In Music: What type of music do you listen to?
H: All kinds. Especially RnB throwbacks and Rap of course. BUT I even listen to country, rock and pop occasionally just to get new ideas and topics.
1 In Music: Who, to you, is the most undervalued music artist?
H: Myself. And I know that’s somewhat cliché but I mean it. I have delivered year after year and I have a lengthy catalog. I’ve done numerous interviews, been in vlogs/blogs, done performances, etc. And I still get overlooked. Kinda hard not to feel undervalued. One listen and you’ll hear every dynamic of a real artist. No way the world doesn’t know me by now.
1 In Music: How do you prepare for your performances?
H:
Prayer and meditation. Sometimes a little exercise and stage practice. I try my best to go into with a Confident mindset and Great energy.
1 In Music: What do you do when you don’t do music (creative or otherwise) and that you are passionate about?
H: Playwrights. I love creating scripts from my own imagination. In hopes of bringing them to life on film in the near future. I ALSO do art. Mostly canvas sketching and painting.
1 In Music: Success to you is…?
H: Other than Financial comfortability, True happiness. Not just for myself but for all connected to my life. Just being able to put people in the space of real joy for one another. Looking beyond the things created to divide us all and just enjoy the gift of life amongst each other. That’s success to me.
1 In Music: What do you wish you were told when you started out and that you think would help anyone who starts out?
H:
God and self are the 2 biggest belief systems to have in place. Be thankful if others do believe in your dreams and goals, but expect it from no one.
And don’t be moved when people show no support. Keep going regardless if you KNOW in your heart it’s your calling. And learn the business side of things for sure.
1 In Music: Any upcoming projects?
H: Always! As long as I’m able to create you can bet something is on the way.
Creativity is life. It makes life worth living.
So be sure to keep eyes open for my films and more music if nothing else. 4EverSoul Ent, baby.
1 In Music: Great to have you man! So now, where do we find you music / music project?
H: Everywhere music can be found. YouTube of course. I have several music videos. Even from years ago under different names. Also on Spotify, Apple music, iTunes, etc.. Just search my name, you’ll find the dope! I promise. IG @4eversoulhym. I’m barely on there but I got one lol!
With recordings featuring members of Bush, Hinder, OK Go, and Ministry, you would be surprised that God Analog came from humble beginnings: the bedroom of frontman Alan Days, to be exact. Thankfully, they’ve come a long way since then.
With their thrashing guitars, pounding drums, slick dance beats and Alan’s lyrics touching on themes of jaded disillusionment and biting social commentary, God Analog paints a picture of a world dancing into the apocalypse with both middle fingers in the air.
Frontman Alan Days gives us a lot to smile or even laugh about in this candid interview.
In Music: What is unique about you and your music?
Alan Days [AD]: I don’t go out of my way to try and be unique. I just try to be myself, and make music I’d like to listen to. If I ever get a piece of my song stuck in my head, I feel very accomplished. I also think our genre is a little unusual, although maybe not exactly “unique.” We’re not quite Industrial Metal, as we’ve been called. I call it more like Industrial Pop, which is a bit oxymoronic. We’ve also been called “Pussy Metal,” which I choose to take as a compliment.
1 In Music: What or who shaped your music and who supports you?
AD: The biggest influences on my music were actually negative. I was in a band for waaaaaaay too many years with a narcissistic megalomaniac for a front person, and he almost squashed my desire to make music entirely. Thankfully, I escaped from that ego-madhouse and made much healthier music connections since. My biggest support has come from my bandmate Nicole, and from my brother, Christopher.
1In Music: When did you realise you were going to make music professionally?
AD: Back in 2018, I was on the cusp of quitting music. I had just quit my longtime band, and my morale was at an all time low. As an experiment, I decided to make a pop punk song instead of my usual Industrial Metal style, and it actually got over one million streams in a month. That let me know I didn’t suck as bad as I often worry I do.
1 In Music: What type of music do you listen to?
AD: Not to give the same answer everyone chokes out on a first date, but I listen to everything. To finish the cliche, I’ll even add “except country.” My favorite genres are rock and rap, but I’ll gladly listen to ABBA as readily as Nine Inch Nails.
1 In Music: Who, to you, is the most undervalued music artist?
AD: I always felt that Karl Hyde is criminally under recognized. I’ll give you a dollar if you know who that is.
1 In Music: 😁 How do you prepare for your performances?
AD: Vocal warm-ups in between bouts of fearful tears.
1 In Music: That’s either beautifully candid or fearfully so, hmmm. What do you do when you don’t do music and that you are equally passionate about?
AD: I love to cook and make bad artwork. Please don’t ask to see it. I wouldn’t want to scar you.
1 In Music: 😂🤣 ok, back to serious mode. Success to you is…?
Success to me is the ability to worry about art without checking my bank balance every day.
1 In Music: I hear you! What do you wish you were told when you started out and that you think would help anyone who starts out?
Don’t worry about what you’re going to wear to a red carpet event you’re not going to be invited to – just worry about the songs.
1 In Music: 😂 Any upcoming projects?
AD: We’re currently hard at work on our full length album. We’re lucky enough to have Bush’s Nik Hugues and Corey Britz, as well as Hinder’s Mark Austin King on the record, along with a few other surprise guests. I think you’re going to like it. Or hopefully at least not hate it.
1 In Music: It was a pleasure speaking with you Alan and hard to stay serious. So thanks for your time and wit. Where do we find you music?
We’re on dreaded social media as @godanalog. You can always peek on us there. You can stream our new single “Annihilation“ wherever you listen to music.
Over 20 years in the music industry, From cartoon music composers to pop music duo: Meeting Fannie Suntag & Tomjo Frankin
In their latest project, they may both be singer-songwriters but Fannie Suntag & Tomjo Frankin are musicians first. This pair of music veterans, has been on stage for over 20 years, performing under various stage names in various projects. Fannie Suntag is a vocalist and a pianist while Tomjo Frankin is a saxophonist and a bassist. For 10 years, they worked at Trocadero Studio Ltd. as cartoon music composers. In the past, they have released an independent album gathering the “crazy” songs of their musical show played on stages like the Blanc Manteaux, the Trois Baudets, the Trévise in Paris and all the way to the Metissons Festival in Senegal. The duo have now reinvented themselves. They are releasing completely new music, this time just as Fannie Suntag & Tomjo Frankin. 1 In Music spoke to the music artists about their new venture, an album also reviewed here. Note that the interview has been translated from French. The original French interview can be found here.
The musical roots
1 In Music: So you have had all these different music ventures, what do you think is unique about your new sound?
Fannie Suntag & Tomjo Frankin [FS & TF]: We have indeed been on stage for 20 years. We’ve moved from Jazz to French chanson and more, as artistic encounters determined. The music we create today emerges from all that experience. We don’t put a limit between genres. We can do instrumental, Trip-Pop, jazzy, electro to acoustic, French chanson… It may be confusing, but in the past, we have always worked in a box. So, we decided to come out of the boxes. We now completely follow our inspiration, our mood of the moment. And what is fun for us is to find a precise meeting point between each musical root.
1 In Music: What or who shaped your music and who supports you?
FS: Even though I have eclectic tastes. I have a fascination for voices and melodies: In France, the Powwow, Liane Foly, William Sheller; among English-speaking musicians, Bobby Mc Ferrin, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke, Elvis Presley, Supertramp; and in Latin Jazz, the pianist Michel Camilo;
TF: My taste is more around Punk (Pixies), all the Motown era, Otis Redding, Bill Withers. I also enjoy Funk with James Brown, Maceo Parker , Earth Wind and Fire, Jamiroquai; Jazz with Herbie Hancock; but I’m also a fan of Latin music like the Bueno Vista Social Club; I also love beautiful voices like that of Amy Winehouse, or Linda Perry of the Four Non Blondes.
FS & TF: The first people who warmed our hearts were the CIM teachers: Jean Claude Fohrenbach in harmony (saxophonist) Bernard Désormière for the piano, Arnaud Fournier (harmony, guitarist) and Michel Valera, the school director. Then there was the meeting with Oliver Decrouille, pianist, Pierre Goudard, drummer, and Jean-Hervé Michel, musicians who followed us in our madness. Their musical level and their kindness allowed us to move forward with happiness . In the middle of the song scene, Mireille Morisseau from Reseau 94 in Ile de France (Paris) gave us enormously amount of support. Then the Manufacture Chanson (Anouk Manetti, Hervé Delaiti, Stephane Riva, Olenka Witjas) in Paris was of great support in terms of training. We even received an ADAMI Jazz and Current Music Grant. The Académie de Villecroze has twice selected Fannie Suntag (under a different name) as a singer-songwriter. A great jazz gentleman, Giovanni Mirabassi came to one of their shows, he wrote them a little personal note which gave them wings (even if life cuts them off right after…this recognition is engraved in never in their mind). But it is all the same in the end, their work force and the multiplication of different eclectic artistic projects that allow them to do their job as performing artists, more than just musicians.
The musical journey
1 In Music: When did you realise you were going to make music professionally?
FS: It was very late for me. The theatre was my first love, so I got a Masters in Theater Studies. But I had been writing songs since I was a teenager. So, while studying I played sax in a group in college. But it happened in Paris, for the pleasure that I responded to advertisements for a singer, first with a trip-hop duo, then in the Parisian studios. (smoky at the time, so my voice broke at every rehearsal!). Then a group was formed with my compositions and the dates started to fall. But it was in 2002 that I decided to take a step forward by entering the CIM Jazz School in the PRO Vocal/Piano cycle. And there is the slap. I didn’t know anything about music. I knew it. I was attacking a mountain. And suddenly, I was embarked in jazz groups, from new orleans, and jazz clubs followed (until Sunset). Then everything was chained by dint of playing on stage, responding to projects. The profession in the field.
TF: I graduated from the S.A.E. as a sound engineer and production assistant. I also hold a degree in electronics speciality audio-pro. I was Technical Director of the First Sound Company (retransmission of concerts and shows (Awards of NRJ, “Bigard bourre Bercy”) – recording of concerts (Princess Erika, Kofi Olomide, for TMF9 (MTV Belgium). an audio-pro electrical technician at S.C.V., I took care of the maintenance of high-end sound equipment: SoundCraft/Studer VI6, BSS, AMEK, AKG… with a specialization in Lexicon 960L digital reverberations. I got to play in various funk groups as a bassist and was also part of a salsa orchestra as a trumpeter before moving on to the saxophone which I have always loved.
1 In Music: What type of music do you listen to?
FS & TF: Obviously, our tastes have evolved. Even if each of us has their preferences, there is a total fusion around Latin jazz music (Michel Camilo, Arturo Sandoval…). The brass orchestrations are a candy we can’t resist. We’ll always favour acoustic instruments. However, there is a trippy side to doing electro, and anyway, Fannie’s feet start like clockwork on this kind of music (a remnant of the long after party in the club after the catering services!) But in general, the 70s remain in place 1 of the podium. On the other hand, Fannie Suntag adores Pink, her energy and her voice, and Tomjo will listen with pleasure to an Uptown funk by Marc Ronson.
1 In Music: Who, to you, is the most undervalued music artist?
FS: I get greatly annoyed by the fact that Michel Camilo does not play at least once a year in France. If one day I have the means (we have the right to dream) I will make it happen! TF: (with a great burst of laughter) Us 🤣😅 but we’re working on it
1 In Music: How do you prepare for your performances?
TF: We play almost every day at least 2 to 3 hours. And thanks to Twitch, rehearsals are more fun. We learn new covers to feed our inspiration. We constantly work on our vocal and instrumental technique. Suddenly, the sound is different time to tame a new feeling.
TF: When we compose, it’s almost like a dance. Fannie may bring a song with text, melody and chords. I then take and arrange it according to her idea, enriching or modifying the chords; I rarely touch on the melody which is attached to the text. but if necessary, of course we adjust.
FS: Otherwise, Tomjo brings up a composition, and improvises on it until something makes us smile. For this project anyway the key phrase is:
We keep searching until we are both satisfied.
1 In Music: What do you do when you don’t do music (creative or otherwise) and that you are passionate about?
FS: The list is long and very eclectic! It goes from subjects as distant as quantum physics: we don’t understand it but it fascinates us in documentaries/history books. We love walking in cities and discovering architectural treasures: Rome, Ostia Antica, Florence, castles (Bavaria, France…). We really like history, even if we don’t remember anything (well, Tomjo does lol). I love science fiction series, the Marvels, Louis de Funès, Rowan Aktinson, Tomjo has an idol: André Franquin (sic!) Gaston Lagaffe, and JoBarTeam. Here we go all the way from the intellectual to the popular. No boxes we said!
1 In Music: Success to you is…?
FS & TF: Money. loool
Success is having the freedom to do the job you want when you want. In this job, it is to bring to the public a moment suspended in time, a spatio-temporal breach of emotions and vibrations. It is to offer them a parallel world.
1 In Music: What do you wish you were told when you started out and that you think would help anyone who starts out?:
1- Life can be hard, rough, awful, without a warning. You just have to know it. Don’t just be surprised and stand there. You must consider your options. 2 – Not all people are nice. Unfortunate but true. 3- Be on stage to your fullest. Always learn and practice. 4- Never listen to just one side of a story. 5- Always hang around those who are better at your craft than you 6- Be (unfortunately) a little selfish (but it’s to be generous afterwards for the better!) 7- Learn from the past, from others’ mistakes, to avoid making the same ones. Even if we make new ones, it will already be less to bear. 8- Listen to your instinct, your intuition.
What next for Fannie Suntag & Tomjo Frankin?
1 In Music: Any upcoming projects?
F: This album stemmed from our need to relaunch ourselves after 10 very complicated years. Whilst work was going well, creativity suffered from problems outside the artistic life; we were supposed to release an album, but were diverted from our identity. We couldn’t find our way around, then there were health problems. We needed to release everything that had been waiting for years as well as new music (Norma’s Song).
We will be releasing in a few months an album called “Flood Artistic 2013“. This time, we will do it title by title as the new mode of digital distribution requires, It will be a mixtape of tracks that have flooded our minds in the studio. We only have these leads. We can’t redo them, so we’re going to release them as they are. We are also working on another album, one of whose titles is “Running in the yard“. That track is in the same musical mood as Norma’s Song.
Nous allons sortir dans quelque mois, et cette fois ci, normalement, titre par titre comme le veut la nouvelle mode de distribution digitale, un album nommé “Flood Artistic 2013”. Ce sera une mixtape de morceaux qui ont été victime d’une inondation totale de notre studio. Nous n’avons plus que ces pistes. Nous ne pouvons pas les refaire, alors on va les sortir comme ça. parallèlement on travaille sur un autre album, dont l’un des titres est “Running in the yard”, dans le meme mood musical que Norma’s Song .
1 In Music: Where do we find you music and projects?
FS & TF: The first people who warmed our hearts were the CIM teachers: Jean Claude Fohrenbach in harmony (saxophonist) Bernard Désormière for the piano, Arnaud Fournier (harmony, guitarist) and Michel Valera, the school director. Then there was the meeting with Oliver Decrouille, pianist, Pierre Goudard, drummer, and Jean-Hervé Michel, musicians who followed us in our madness. Their musical level and their kindness allowed us to move forward with happiness . In the middle of the song scene, Mireille Morisseau from Reseau 94 in Ile de France (Paris) gave us enormously amount of support. Then the Manufacture Chanson (Anouk Manetti, Hervé Delaiti, Stephane Riva, Olenka Witjas) in Paris was of great support in terms of training. We even received an ADAMI Jazz and Current Music Grant. The Académie de Villecroze has twice selected Fannie Suntag (under a different name) as a singer-songwriter. A great jazz gentleman, Giovanni Mirabassi came to one of their shows, he wrote them a little personal note which gave them wings (even if life cuts them off right after…this recognition is engraved in never in their mind). But it is all the same in the end, their work force and the multiplication of different eclectic artistic projects that allow them to do their job as performing artists, more than just musicians.
Obviously, our tastes have evolved. Even if each of us has their preferences, there is a total fusion around Latin jazz music (Michel Camilo, Arturo Sandoval…). The brass orchestrations are a candy we can’t resist. We’ll always favour acoustic instruments. However, there is a trippy side to doing electro, and anyway, Fannie’s feet start like clockwork on this kind of music (a remnant of the long after party in the club after the catering services!) But in general, the 70s remain in place 1 of the podium. On the other hand, Fannie Suntag adores Pink, her energy and her voice, and Tomjo will listen with pleasure to an Uptown funk by Marc Ronson.