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¿Que
Pasa? in France |
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| ¿QUE
PASA? MAGAZINE FRANCE
After interviewing Fabrice Delpech, aka DelDongo,
he apologised for his English. He didn't have to
apologise to me, with my embarrissing lack of knowledge
in French. The guy can sing in English, French and
Spanish... |
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I'm only properly fluent in one language. As well
as versatile in his lyrics, he can play the piano
in a range of styles. It is this that gives his brand
of Salsa a unique sound. Coming from a background
in Soul and Pop-Rock, he has found Salsa and with
his Salsa group plays what he describes as 'hard French
Salsa'. He has become an ambassador for 'French Salsa',
having established a fan base outside of France in
South America and playing around the world alongside
big names like Los Reyes of Gypsy Kings and Cheo Feliciano.
On the release of his first purely Salsa CD Destination
Amazone, Que Pasa finds out more about the band and
the music. |
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¿Que
Pasa?:
How and when did the band form?
DelDongo: I formed 'Deldongo Salsa
Group'in 1996. I started to make my own arrangements,
compositions and lyrics after having studied a lot of
styles.
¿Que
Pasa?:
How would you describe your brand of Salsa?
DelDongo: Today I am,
I think in all modesty, the first to make 'French Salsa'.
The first to adapt lyrics, with the rules of the French
language, to hard Salsa. My songs are rich harmonically,
like the Colombians, Porto Ricans and Cubans make their
salsa. There is today a Salsa made in France. It‘s
the same thing as the Jazz or the Classical music genres
that became international.
¿Que
Pasa?:
How did you get into Salsa?
DelDongo: First of all through Jazz,
Nova, Latin-Jazz, then Salsa. I am interested in all
music rich harmonically.
¿Que
Pasa?:
You are able to play Soul, Jazz, Pop-Rock and Salsa
all on a professional level. Do you have a favourite?
DelDongo: I am a pianist, Pop singer
and I was initiated by my mother into Motown Soul music
since I was a child. Pop-Rock and Soul are my roots
since forever. Jazz and Salsa came from my pianistic
studies at the academy. I do not really have a preference.
I take pleasure in all styles of music if they are made
well.
¿Que
Pasa?:
What are your musical influences?
DelDongo: Romantic Classical, Modern,
Jazz, Pop, Rock, Bossa Nova, Brazilian Soul and popular
music, Latin music, Salsa and Flamenco.
¿Que
Pasa?:
I believe you are based in Paris. What is the Salsa
scene like in Paris?
DelDongo: I've lived in Paris for two
years but I am from the south of France. The Toulouse
area, the Occitane part of France, to be exact. The
Salsa scene in Paris has lost its enthusiasm. It is
very difficult here to see groups of twelve or more
musicians live.
¿Que
Pasa?:
Do you think being from France has influenced your sound?
DelDongo: Yes in the colour of my voice,
when I sing in French, my accent of the south lends
itself well to Salsa. But I believe that in general
my influence comes from my cultural inter-breeding of
'French Brazil Puerto Rico Cuba'
¿Que
Pasa?:
You sing in French and Spanish. The French language
sounds so at home with the Latin beats. Salsa bands
from other countries normally sing in Spanish. What
made you, and many other French Salsa bands, decide
to sing in French?
DelDongo: French like Italian is a
Latin language which adapts very well to the Latin rhythms.
I am French and I am better at French grammar than Hispanic.
French is very difficult to write in words. French is
much more demanding on the shape of the texts. One cannot
write anything, there is here a culture of the feather.
¿Que
Pasa?:
Which artists have you collaborated with?
DelDongo: I have collaborated with
Camilo Azuquita, Los Reyes of Gypsy Kings, and many
others of various styles.
¿Que
Pasa?:
Who are you listening to at the moment?
DelDongo: I am listening to
Puerto Rican Power, Spanish Orquestra, Prince,
El Cicada, BabyFace, Claude Nougaro, Oscar de
Leon, Chéo Feliciano, and Eddie Palmierie
.
¿Que
Pasa?:
You have found success outside of France in
Peru, Venezuela and Colombia, with live performances,
TV interviews and radio play. Was it difficult
to conquer the South American market?
DelDongo: I think humbly that
I have started to make myself known around the
world by my voice, my arrangements and my music.
I must thank Colombia and Peru, which promote
me regularly. My song 'Hermano de tu Tierra'
got me a ranking in Peru. |
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¿Que
Pasa?:
Where would you like to take your music to next?
DelDongo: I like to play everywhere!
But I would like to tour Cuba, Brazil, Colombia and
Peru. The public there is very receptive and give much
energy.
¿Que
Pasa?:
You have toured all over the world, including Miami,
Los Angeles, New York, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Istanbul,
Athens, Poland, Morocco, Hong Kong and of course France.
Do you have anymore tours planned soon?
DelDongo: I would like to find a manager
and a label to promote me a little more. My network
of promotion at the moment is 'underground'. I produce
myself and it’s not simple.
I have as a project to make a video clip in one month.
I am opened to all proposals of an international tour
because I have started to gain a public in North and
South America.
¿Que
Pasa?:
Who would you most like to work with?
DelDongo: Above all with my musicians or other
talented artists.
¿Que
Pasa?:
Would you ever branch out into different Latin music
styles, like the popular Reggaeton?
DelDongo: I am Jazz man and a Salsero.
I like all the styles of Latin popular music. But I
will stick to Salsa 'para el bailador'.
¿Que
Pasa?:
How do you see the future for DelDongo?
DelDongo: I hope to be able to play
my French Salsa in the four corners of the world while
hoping to develop a musical friendship between countries
that are 'aficionados de salsa'. I hope to be the French
ambassador of Salsa, close to the countries of the Latin,
African and Asian world, to show that France will always
be a land that welcomes and has an interest in things
cultural.
DISCOGRAPHY
2004: Superstar (17 tracks of Salsa, Groove, Cha Cha,
Soul, in French, English and Spanish)
2005: C'est La Quate, Sony (3 tracks with Salsa and
RnB versions)
2005/06: Devil Duck (8 tracks of Jazz Be-Bop)
2006: Destination Amazone, Hip Music Production (4 tracks
of Salsa)
A review of their latest CD Destination Amazone can
be found in our CD
Reviews section.
Check
out DelDongo on their website
www.deldongo.com or on their MySpace page
on www.myspace.com/deldongogroupe
Deldongo Video Clip please
click below
©
Georgina Nicoli
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