SEWEM: Meet The Residents!
Meet the Chinese and French artists that will participate in the SEWEM residency in Cenon, France from September 11-15, 2023
As part of the SEWEM project 6 artists from China and France will participate in a 5 day residency to develop new work with the opportunity to perform it. Through this experience we’ll be providing guides and resources to support others in creating culturally sensitive and successful collaborations. The residency will be held at Le Rocher de Palmer and the artists have been chosen by a consortium of experts.
Here are the artists that will take part:
France
Blondine Morisson
Blondine is not here to pose; a super-organism with multiple instruments, she officiates with strength and delicacy in the band Savarah and has been roaming the independent scene like a true free electron since she was 16. Free of her influences, Blondine offers a whirlwind of her own, between chanson, indie rock, pop, jazz and prog. Today, she’s probing techno. An indomitable artist with a ferocious curiosity, here she opens the doors of her personal lab, which, of course, will only make sense as far as we want it to.
Ophélia He
Ophélia is a versatile artist, initiated at an early age by her father Adams HIÉ, who has proved her worth on the stages of Bordeaux at musical events (weddings, entertainment, concerts, etc.). She began by dancing, singing and playing the percussion instruments djembé and doum, before turning to her favourite instrument, the balafon. Over the years, she learned the traditional Burkinabè repertoire and became interested in the instrument’s precursors. She has collaborated with many different artists, including jazz pianist Ève Risser, trombonist Fidel Fourneyron and Gorillaz singer Damon Albarn. Ophélia seeks to evolve her art in time and space.
Melissa Hié
Melissa Hié grew up in a musical family and was part of the family band from an early age. Her father taught her to play several instruments: balafon, barra and djembe. This enabled her to acquire a solid knowledge of traditional African rhythms and to develop her own soft, melodic touch. At the age of nine, she chose the djembe as her main instrument. She then began playing in various bands and groups as a percussionist. To strengthen her skills, she continued to discover other instruments such as the conga. She developed her artistic skills (singing, dancing, computer-assisted music) through several collaborations, including major projects with artists such as Damon Albarn and Fatoumata Diawara. Today, she enjoys experimenting with music in unexpected ways, exploring different genres from jazz to electronic music.
China
Mu Jing
For many years, Mu Jing has maintained a positive attitude towards improvisation and learning through music and exchanges with musicians at home and abroad. This has enabled him to develop a unique musical aesthetic and a strong musical temperament. In recent years, Mu Jing has never stopped creating and exploring his own personal works. Through self-study and training, she brings the charm of improvisation and a clean, pure musical pursuit.
DOUDOU
Born on a snowy morning in Beijing, has a highly recognisable voice and deep, touching songs that make him a leading figure in the new generation of original music. The members of DOUDOU are all graduates of the Central Conservatory of Music, with solid academic music and avant-garde modern music concepts integrated into the sisters’ senses.
Doudou, formerly known as Du Binger, is a crossover musician. She began learning piano at the age of 4, composition at the age of 10, and is a graduate of the Central Conservatory of Music.
Mimi, formerly known as Du Feier, is responsible for percussion and synthesizers. She began learning piano at the age of 4, composition at the age of 10, and is a graduate of the Central Conservatory of Music.
