WOMAD

Gigi

From Ethiopia

Short biography 2002:Having grown up singing in the Ethiopian Church, the foundations of Gigi’s music come from the songs and dance of the two-month celebration of Genna (Ethiopian Christmas). Inspired by the beauty of the Ethiopian land, scriptures, civilisation, and Amharic language, Gigi’s music is also skilfully layered with more recent influences from South and West Africa together with hip-hop and funk.Biography supplied by artist management, April 2002:GIGIwww.gigimusic.net www.palmpictures.comGigi is a New York based Ethiopian singer and her eponymously titled debut CD was produced by fusion legend Bill Laswell and features some of the world’s greatest musicians whose sense of adventure and experimentation constantly attracts them to the new and exciting. These include Herbie Hancock, saxophonists Wayne Shorter, Henry Threadgill, and Pharoah Sanders, guitarist Nicky Skopelitis, percussionists Aïyb Dieng and Karsh Kale and Laswell himself on bass.Gigi: "For an Ethiopian artist, my work is different. I grew up singing in the Ethiopian Church, which is actually not allowed for women, but there was a priest at my home who taught me how to sing the songs. And I listen to a lot of West African music, South African music, hip-hop, and funk, so you feel all that in the melodies. Even if it's in the Amharic language people can appreciate the music."Her music derives from celebrations of Genna (Ethopian Christmas), when men and women used to assemble at her home for two months of feasting, games and of course, zefen (songs) and chifera (group dancing). Her poetry is inspired by the land, by scripture, the ancient Ethiopian church and the beauty of the Ethiopian civilization.Gigi entrusted her songs to an international cast of musicians-fellow Ethiopians, West Africans, Americans, and Indian-Americans. "I thought it would be difficult to work with people who weren't Ethiopian and didn't know our music," she admits, "but everything we've done is magic. Bill Laswell is incredible. It's like when we got all these musicians together, it just happened -they're playing my heart."Press release from Palm Pictures, April 2002:GIGIGud Fella RemixesWhen Ethiopian singer Gigi released her self-titled debut CD last October the press lined up to offer praise. In the UK Straight No Chaser, Mojo, The Guardian, Songlines, Wallpaper, Froots, Wax and Q all gave Gigi the thumbs up. Across Europe Gigi has also had wildly positive press with a cover feature in Vibrations (France/Switzerland), album of the year in Folker (Germany), and features in Blue Rhythm (Germany), Les Inrockuptibles (France), Musica (Italy) just to name a few. The original was produced by Bill Laswell, with classy contributions from Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Pharoah Sanders. Now we have some fine remixes of Gigi’s opening cut: Gud Fella. Three (just ‘cos he loved the track so much) from West London wizz Phil Asher aka Restless Soul, and one from Fela’s legendary sticksman Tony Allen, who gives it that funky trademark Afrobeat treatment. This is hot!12" vinyl A1 Restless Soul Offcentre MixB1 Tony Allen Afrobeat MixB2 Restless Soul Inspiration Information mixCD single1.Restless Soul Offcentre Mix 2.Restless Soul Inspiration Information Mix 3.Restless Soul Offcentre Instrumental 4.Tony Allen Afrobeat Mix 5.Restless Soul Co-op Mix 6.Tony Allen Afrobeat Instrumental GIGI PRESSQ MAGAZINE “the real star is Gigi herself: a magnificent, New York-based singer with shimmering power’ 4 starsMOJO“intoxicating, intricate, intriguing”SONGLINES MAGAZINE“a hugely accomplished debut, there’s no doubt we’ll hear a lot more of Gigi”STRAIGHT NO CHASER“a truly international artist. Open up your mind to this one”THE GUARDIAN“beguiling…a world music album with muscle”AFROPOP WORLDWIDE“Gigi stands as the most important new African singer on the scene today”