It’s hard to find a unique and raw talent as TSHEGUE, a Paris-based, French-Congolese band that is slowly making noise with their incredible music and their debut EP ‘Survivor’ (out now). I couldn’t miss the opportunity to get to know THSEGUE better and see what we can expect from them in the future.
Can you please introduce yourself to those you didn’t know you?
Dakou: I’m Dakou, a percussionist and producer. I have accompanied many artists for a long time before meeting Faty, before finally creating our own project…Tshegue.
Faty: I’m Faty, singer and writer for Tshegue.
What’s the meaning behind the name of the group: TSHEGUE?
Dakou: Hahaha Faty will give you a better answer than me.
Faty: Tshegue is the nickname of the little rogue boys from the streets.
How did you meet each other? And how do you compliment each other musically?
Dakou: We met at L’Embuscade, where Faty used to work, through mutuals friends. We feel music the same way, around the rhythm, the vocals and the earth. To me, Faty has an incredible rhythm in her singing, so obviously it talks to me.
Faty: We met at my work, we talked and felt a connection thanks to our cultures, and opinions! Music created a bond between us.
Can you tell us the history behind your first EP ‘Survivor’?
Dakou: After we met, we had an appointment in my studio, and started to do music. We composed the tracks according to our energy and mood. Honestly, everything came with enjoyment, I think Survivor reflects the music I love.
Faty: The story would take too long to explain, this EP has a feeling of « emergency », and a need to come back to the essential and energy.
With the actual political and social climate, how important is it to use music as an instrument of cohesion and diversity creation?
Dakou: Music is the perfect example to illustrate community life, if politics would understand that, I think everything would be better!
In the music industry, you always meet people who seem to have nothing to do with you, but at some point it’s finally working, magical things happen.
Faty: Music makes life sweeter, and it’s a way to communicate. With Art we can decide to change things, it’s bigger than politics. Social and racial barriers have no place in music, especially in ours.
Do you think that it was a risky choice to sing some tracks in Lingala and not fully in English or even French?
Dakou: I don’t think it’s a risky choice at all. Why would it be?
Faty: The risk would be to not do it! Hahaha.
What can you tell us about your latest video for ‘Muanapoto’?
Dakou: The music video was shot in Ivory Coast. The story is about moments in life and feelings, and Aza, the main character, embodies this.
Faty: Our first music video is about a deep and discreet pain, a pain of a deaf and mute young women. She lives in a crowded city and she’s trying to look for her own place in society.
Are there any plans for new music this 2018? Or will we have to wait to till 2019?
Faty & Dakou: Yes, new things are coming in 2018!
Your main inspirations?
Dakou: There are so many!! It’s a mix between traditional and current music, depends on my mood. And a touch of trance music!
Faty: My inspirations come from my daily life.
One underrated artist that you love?
Dakou: Underrated according to who? I’ll pass 🙂
Faty: I love everything underrated.
And the last question. What’s the most important thing you’d want to tell people about TSHEGUE and your future music?
Dakou: I hope to continue to create our music with Faty, and to keep the chance to drive Tshegue as we wish and share it live!
I would like our music to have no barriers and to be heard by people free to feel it as they want.
Faty: I would like to tell people that we can’t put Tshegue in a box, it’s useless!
You can follow TSHEGUE on: Facebook // Instagram
