Who is Biso Muziki?
Biso means "We" or "together" in Lingala, the language I speak from the Democratic Republic of Congo. It's a project I started just after the COVID pandemic in 2021. Biso Muziki is our music, made up of each member's musical style, their culture, and the sound they want to bring to the project. There's blues, there's jazz. The singer brings her Zimbabwean influences. And I wanted to include my own origins in this project. I also bring gospel and rock. It's a blend of genres, a melting pot that I really love.
And you already opened for Compay Segundo?
Yes, that was in 2021 at the summer festival in Pau. It was truly amazing. We also opened for Amazones d'Afrique.
Is "Respect Afrika" the first album that marks the project?
Yes. On one hand, it's an album that allows us to showcase what we do, to promote our project, and to find gigs by showing promoters what we have to offer. But it's also a way to open a new chapter: since 2021, I've written quite a few songs. They're on this album, we've played them. And now that they're not just sitting in my drawer, it gives me space to write more.
An album with some great collaborations, like Gérald Toto's vocals.
That means a lot to me because I've been listening to his music since I was a kid. I met Gérald Toto at a jazz club in Toulouse, and we exchanged contact information. The next day I wrote to him to invite him to play at La Luna Negra in Bayonne, where I organize music nights every first Thursday of the month, inviting musicians to come together and create a repertoire to play. And I also asked him to sing with Biso Muziki. And he came, and that's how "Libanda" ended up on the album. He's not only a great musician, but also a wonderful person.
There's also Sefoudi Kouyaté!
He's another fantastic musician who came to play the kora on the same track. I met him during a six-month tour in Austria with another project. We didn't know each other before, and we became best friends. So when I told him about this album, he agreed to participate without hesitation.
And soon there will be a concert to celebrate this first album.
Yes. On November 14th, we're having a celebration at the Espace James Chambaud in Lons. Everyone will be there: Gérald Toto and Sefoudi Kouyaté. My friend Juliette Magnevasoa, a rising star with whom I've already performed at La Luna Negra, will also be there. It promises to be a great evening!
And after that?
First, we want to perform this album all over the place. We've played a lot in the Hautes-Pyrénées region and in Pau since the beginning, and now we want to take it further, to play at festivals. I've started making contacts to find dates. And in the meantime, we can get back to writing and composing new music.
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