Pierre Belleville (Lofofora, Destruction Incorporated) : drums
Yann Coste (No One Is Innocent, Doppler, Marcel Bellucci Quartet) : drums
special guests :
Agnès Davan : violin
Gaspard Murphy : banjo, lapsteel
Elliott Murphy : vocals, harmonica
Olivier Daviaud : theremin, organ
co-réalisateurs album : Shanka & Maz, aux Studios Acousti & Destruction Inc.
Influences
Hole, Sonic Youth, L7, Johnny Cash, Zakk Wylde, Silverchair, Smashing Pumpkins,Willie Nelson, Johnny Thunders, Marie Laforêt, Renaud, Bruce Springsteen -----
Joyce Carol Oates,Kathy Acker, Jim Carroll,Bette Davis, Patti Smith,Billy the Kid, Calamity Jane, Marylin Manson, The Velvet Underground, William Blake, Marianne Faithfull
and the artists, gypsies, rockers, poets, originals & outcasts who paved the way...
and one more thing about me, just like DEB " I DON'T NEED HERBAL ENHANCERS TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT MYSELF" !!
"France de Griessen est l’une des artistes qui vont compter dans les prochains mois. Son premier album solo, Ballerina, porte les atours nécessaires pour une remarquable balade en gris, blanc et rouge. Rouge comme les déserts du Nouveau-Mexique où France a traîné ses guêtres et d’où elle tire l’âpreté vitale de ses titres. Gris comme la mélancolie qui s’installe parfois, proche de celle de Taxi Girl ou de Moriarty : de la tristesse à la rage puis à l’espoir. Blanc enfin, car c’est une nouvelle page qui s’écrit. Après l’expérience Teen Machine (un album autoproduit en compagnie de Michaël Gadrat, sur la vie de Billy The Kid), la jeune France de Griessen renaît sous l’œil avisé de parrains aussi divers que Elliott Murphy, Vérole du groupe punk Les Cadavres ou Shanka de No One Is Innocent / Destruction Inc…
Les vapeurs du grunge (« Will You », profession de foi d’une vie furieusement rock’n’roll), de la country (« La Ballade de Norma Rose », tout en amour et légèreté) et de la folk (« So XXX Without You », la tyrannie du manque, un thème commun avec P.J. Harvey) flottent sur un ensemble de chansons franco-anglaises dans lesquelles le goût de la liberté laisse des traces de rouge à lèvres sur des robes de dentelle. Cette nouvelle Calamity Jane souriante utilise les influences américaines pour poser une atmosphère créative, un road-movie efficace qui prend une autre dimension en live, mélange de sensualité et de férocité. On en sort ragaillardi par la pertinence du message."
An article from the English fanzine "Queens" (dec07-janv08)
« A good melody can take you for a ride in another world, and that’s what I aspire to. »
Music isn’t always just about the music. I love too see the band perform to me and the audience rather than simply play their worn out instruments in an organised mess. You bore me. The best gigs are the ones when you musicians, stand up tall and interact with you, whether its with a taunting intro or a beer being through at your face. I want to watch your music not hear it.
Musician France de Griessen shows all that and more, I believe her to be one of the most hard working musicians around. Not hard working because she does so much work, but hard working because she does think deeply in to every little detail. Right down to the costumes, make up, lighting and the overall essence of the performance. France aims to please you and leave you feeling re-energised and inspired.
She wants to cheer you up with her magic of performance and leave a lasting emotion in your washed up body.
Half Dutch, half Belgian singer and musician. France de Griessen takes her influences from all parts of the world and cultures, for she has lived in Brussels, Paris, New-York, Albuquerque and New-Mexico. She even sings in both French and English. Her music is strong combination of punk, rock, grunge and country magic and creates an original mix of different cultures and sounds.
However, France de Griessen didn’t start off as musician/ songwriter but as founder of a alternative theatre company, which featured drama, video, music and performance art.
But France wanted more music in her life, and that’s where the sparkles began.
France met composer and musician Michaël Gadrat, and together they made an album called ‘Billy’ under the band name ‘Teen Machine’. the album was based on the story of American outlaw Billy the Kid. ;I loved that story because it’s really about a man’s quest for freedom and finding one’s identity and place in a harsh world. The fact that he was a boy and that I’m a girl did not matter to me at all, I feel powerful stories can be told regardless of gender. So I performed as a female version of Billy.’
As a musician France loves the challenge of creating new melodies and collaborating with other artists. Currently she’s in the recording studio finishing off the new album (set to be finished this December) which she has worked with ‘No One is Innocent’ and ‘Destruction Incorporated’ singer and guitarist Shanka.
This is what France has to say for herself:
‘I love the craftsmanship of making music, and each of its aspects is equally important to me†: writing good lyrics, something that conveys a message or an emotions in itself, the melody and arrangements, and the aesthetics of the artist or band.. I want to create an ‘,,uvre d’art totale‘.
I think that fundamentals are the building blocks of fun and freedom. Why?
Because making music requires interacting with other musicians, and the better they are, the most prepared each one is when we start rehearsing together, the less time we have to spend on the technique and the more we can work on the emotional, spiritual aspect of the music, which is something ultimate to experience as an artist.
When working with other musicians, the aim is to create something that goes further than a simple addition of talents. And I have to say that I’m blessed to work with some of the most amazing French musicians. Working with musicians of such a high level, forces you to give the best of yourself at all times, it’s a real challenge, and god knows that if there is something that I love, it’s challenge. I’m a ‘fuckin’do it’ kinda girl. Without challenge, I think an artist can’t survive. At least, I know I can’t.’
Chère France, j'aime beaucoup votre si jolie voix ainsi que votre musique. Vous avez du talent et je suis très heureux de notre amitié. Vous pouvez lire de mes poèmes dans mon blog et voir mes photos dans mon album; Je vous souhaite une très bonne semaine. Toutes mes amitiés et mille bisous; Hervé:-))
merci pour ton petit mot ! je ne sais pas quand je vais pouvoir finir le montage, ct un peu ambitieux de ma part de te le promettre avant mon départ mais t'inquiète c dans la boîte... je me concentre sur le rendu des photos en priorité et après je m'y mets à donf ! à très vite big kiss bella
