"Kreol Daughter is passing, watch how i shine my Kreol soul. Feel my temperature rising, i just wanna fly away home. Fly, through the horizon, fly, morning and night, i, wanna tell the world that, i'm a Kreol daughter passing by........" Grace Barbé- Kreol Daughter Album.
Creole- Kreol:
A Creole is a person of mixed race. Also commonly referred to as a person of mixed black and European ancestry who speaks a creolized language; a mother tongue that originates from contact between two languages.
WAMI (Western Australian Music Industry) winner for ‘Best World Act’ Grace Barbé (pronounced Bar-bay), is a singer, songwriter and musician with roots in the tiny Indian Ocean Creole nation of Seychelles; home to a unique culture that fuses Africa, Europe and Asia.
Grace’s music, like her mixed heritage, reflects and celebrates the diverse influences of her Creole culture; a colourful combination of Indian Ocean afro-Kreol and island roots sung in Creole, English and French, and laced with the modern pop sensibility of reggae and funk. Her music takes you on a musical journey of the modern-day African Diaspora, creating a fresh and distinctive sound in the world music fusion.
“I am from a very exotic place. The Seychelles people are a unique blend of African, Indian, Chinese, French and British blood; a melting pot of people of mixed black, Asian and European ancestory. This is what is known to be ‘Creole’ and this reflects in my music. The cross-over with funk and reggae while still retaining the authenticity of my Creole roots is very appealing to the wider national and international audience.” Grace says.
Grace was raised in both Australia and Seychelles. At the young age of 19, she was teaching herself bass guitar and developing her song writing skills. Grace was listening and singing to all genres of popular music from hip hop to RnB, reggae to funk to jazz and country ballads at an early age, but Grace did not become fully aware of the beauty of her musical and cultural heritage until she was in her early 20s. She was soon singing, writing and performing in the Australian Seychelles community, with local bands, and touring Australia’s remote communities facilitating educational, music workshops for the Indigenous communities. On this magical and inspiring journey, Grace gained skills and confidence as a songwriter and performer. In 2003, she teamed up with co-writer and producer, Jamie Searle to start work on her album.
Grace then took up University, while still pursuing music. Studies took a back seat in 2007 as Grace exploded on to the Australian music scene with the release of her debut single “Mon Arive”. The song achieved significant local and national airplay, reaching the number one spot on Triple J Unearthed Roots chart. The song was also nominated for WAM (Western Australian Music) ‘Song of the Year’ award 2008 in the world/folk category.
An experienced performer with a strong stage presence and a gift for song writing, Grace and collaborator/producer Jamie Searle, won the 2006 WAMI ‘Song of the Year’ award in the world and folk category for the song “Mon Ankor Anmoure”.
In her home state of Western Australia, the Creole chanteuse has attracted considerable attention that earned her a loyal following on the strength of her live shows, igniting the stage with her vibrant presence and complex, yet soothing rhythms, while switching from bass to guitar with fellow musician, Jamie Searle between songs. This has given her the opportunity to share the stage with artists such as Tony Allen, Cat Empire, Ben Lee, The Wailers, UB40, Ernest Ranglin, Bomba, The Black Seeds, Mad Professor, and Ba Cissoko. She has also performed at Australia’s prestigious festivals such as Woodford Folk Festival, Perth International Festival, Fairbridge Festival and Southbound Festival. In November, Grace and her band will bring their Afro-Kreol groove to the Australasian World Music Expo and the Queenscliff Music Festival in Victoria, Australia.
Grace has also been busy collaborating with WA's top afrobeat ensemble, the Askari Afrobeat Orchestra, consisting of the cream of WA's top musicians; members from the Grace Barbe band, the Funk Club House Band, Odette Mercy, Shangara Jive and DJ Charlie Bucket. The band plays for the ever so popular 'Afrodisia night held monthly at Mojo's Bar in North Fremantle. The only venue in town celebrating a night of everything afrobeat.
Grace released her debut album “Kreol Daughter”, December 2008 with her band, consisting of Jamie Searle (UK Players, Funk Club House Band, Askari Afrobeat Orchestra) on bass and guitar, Freddy Poncin (Revelation Time, Eek a Mouse) on drums and Sally Quealy (AMC, Shagara Jive) on keyboards. . The album was recorded with UK mixer/producer, Jeremy Allom, best known for mixing Massive Attack‘s first famous album, ‘Blue Lines‘ and working with artists such as Bjork, David Bowie, Freddy McGregor, Sly & Robbie, Maxie Priest.
In October 2009, Grace and her band will be touring the east coast of Australia once again for the continuation of her ‘Kreol Daughter Album Launch’ tour. The tour has been funded by the Department of Culture and the Arts WA.
Grace is fast becoming an ambassador for the younger Creole generations rediscovering their musical heritage from the Indian Ocean. She also hopes this vision grows to the wider Creole nations around the world with her musical cross-over of roots and pop. Great things can be expected from this rising star of the Seychelles as she brings afro-Kreol to world stages!
Kreol Daughter is now available at most record stores in Australia and distributed through MGM Australia.
Pour les fans de la star Seychelloise, Grace Barbé. Pour ceux et celles qui adorent sa musique.
About Seychelles
Please visit this site for information about Grace's birth place, Seychelles:
".....Young Perth siren Grace Barbé is making waves on the local scene and nationally with this debut (Mon Arive). Steeped in her native Seychelles, Mon Arive mixes afro, reggae and soul, sung in French with a little Latin spice in the mix. Currently sitting at the top of the Triple J Unearthed roots charts, think Angelique Kidjo with a bit more afro. This disc features the video of the song that won Barbé the 2006 WAMI Song of the Year in the World & Folk category, Mon Ankor Anmoure, made by local producer, Chikitronix. A little beauty." Xpress Magazine, February 2008.
Télécharge gratuitement ma nouvelle chanson "En manque de toi" un bon zouk plein de douceur extrait de mon prochain album. Download free my new song "En manque de toi" from my upcoming album.
