Influences/World
It dates back to early childhood, but the first obvious influences on my music are probably British pop bands from the 80s and 90s. Beyond music, vocals and lyrics mattered a lot. Later on, composers working with the movie industry, great voices and also musicians who are sometimes underrated but whose music is an immersion into a distinctive world, sometimes haunting, sometimes dreamlike or poetical, but always sincere, intense, inspirational.
The Beautiful South (avec Briana Corrigan), We are each other & Old Red Eyes, live.
The Beautiful South, Briana Corrigan & the Housemartins
Or more accurately chronologically speaking, the Housemartins (1983-1988) then the Beautiful South (1989-2007) and Irish female vocalist Briana Corrigan who left the band to start a solo career in 1996. Two successive bands from Hull, in the north of England, will evolve around Paul Heaton, whose timbre is quite unique. Norman Cook (London Beats International, Fat Boy Slim) is the former bass player of the Housemartins. They embody a certain image of British pop from the 80s and 90s: rythmic, melodic bass lines, vocal harmonies and lyrics dealing with serious themes, with that sense of irony which characterizes the Brits.
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I was lucky enough to see them live at the Olympia twice, share a pint of beer with them after their gig and even to correspond with their bassist, Sean Welch, a little while.
The Smiths
The Smiths, a quartet who, in spite of a short career (1982-1987), succeeded in leaving their mark in music history. Not less than four of their five albums have been ranked on Rolling Stone magazine’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Morrissey’s voice and lyrics as well as Johnny Marr’s sophisticated idiosyncratic guitar style gained international praise, to the extent of being considered the band that inspired deeper devotion than any British group since the Beatles. And still, a brilliant bass playing.
The Smiths, Bigmouth Strikes Again
U2
Probably a little obvious and yet unmissable. With their own specific sound and a huge presence in our ears. They’ve been sometimes labelled the billionaires of rock, these little Irishmen had started from scratch and succeeded in conquering the world. It’s no small achievement.
U2, Exit
Texas
Texas, a Scottish band led by vocalist Sharleen Spiteri, is part of the music renawal of the 90s with the comeback of the guitars, shows like the MTV unplugged sessions or movements like Seattle’s grunge. Some very American sound, a powerful voice and a staggering energy on stage.
Inevitably, too, Alanis Morissette, the Counting Crowes, the Cranberries,...
Texas, Prayer for you (live)
Pearl Jam
Speaking of Grunge*, the haunting and powerful voice of Eddie Vedder. Often sombre, this music deals with serious subject matters such as depression or suicide and expresses Generation X malaise. I chose Pearl Jam, but I could’ve chosen Mother Love Bone, Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, Blind Melon, Smashing Pumpkins, ... or, in quite a different league, Red Hot Chili Peppers.
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*a term that Seattle bands never appreciated.
Pealr Jam, Jeremy (MTV Unplugged)
Gustavo Santaolalla
An Argentinian composer I discovered thanks to a TV commercial. A soulful music which takes the listener on a nearly introspective journey. In the same class: Atticus Ross, Philip Glass, Dustin O’Halloran, Clint Mansell, Ludovico Einaudi and the outstanding cellist Zoé Keating just to name a few.
Gustavo Santaolalla, Apertura
Cécile Corbel, Pierre et Marion
Cécile Corbel
Bretons will always speak about Brittany, true. But it is largely deserved in this case. A female singer-songwriter undeservedly unsung in France while, much like Denez Prigent, she is well known around the world. Playing the harp, she invites us to a dreamlike world tinged with legends. Her composing is incredibly subtle, everything is focused, precise, there is no superfluous note, a fine jeweller’s craft serving pure emotion.
The song Gortoz a Ran by Denez Prigent, sung with Lisa Gerrard and chosen as the original soundtrack of Ridley Scott’s Blackhawk Down, would deserve to be featured here too, just as many other pieces from my region.
A discovery : Lubiana
A young Belgian musician full of talent, accompanying herself with the kora, an instrument from Mali. Someone to listen to with one’s heart and soul.
Lubiana, Self Love