Fabulous & talented tribute bands to Amy Winehouse and Texas in Eastern France!

Amy FeedBack lineup

Aurore Casano– Thank you for welcoming us to this magnificent setting. I have always been surrounded by music. It was considered part of the family, as my father was a musician and my mother a music lover. A kind of musical eclecticism reigned in our home. We listened to French songs, but also The Doors, Pink Floyd and Italian songs. Then, much later, my greatest discovery was jazz.

The singing option came about when I joined a choir. After university, I was able to join a real cover band. We played Cranberries, grange, a bit of everything, really. I then decided to go professional and, with a friend, we started a rockabilly band. After that, I had other projects in other musical styles.

Salomé Girolt– I think there are some similarities with what Aurore has just described, because we were all brought up with music. My mother sang all the time. I always heard her beautiful, very soft voice. Then, in the family, I was lucky to have an uncle who was a singing teacher, which allowed me to meet people who worked in the music hall. I got into it quite late, when I was about 26 or 27. Having gained some experience, I then moved on to pop music before developing a passion for rock, where I immediately felt at home. Rock, pop, soul… ultimately, I’m quite eclectic. That makes me a chameleon! I’ve been a professional for about fifteen years now, and meeting guitarist Christian Clua was a turning point in my career. It allowed me to enter the world of live performance and become part of this wonderful project, TEX’AS.

RAN– What were your musical influences?

S.G.– I always dreamed of being a country music singer. That’s my ultimate dream! But I’ve always been into rock. A bit of a barn banger! I had dark thoughts when I was young. I was passionate about Nirvana. This penchant for rock made it a little easier for me to embrace the pop-rock and joyful side of the band Texas, where you can also find a country tone.

A.C.– You know, when I listen to Salomé, I recognise myself. When I was young, I was really into rock and metal. I went through that rebellious phase, wearing bandanas, listening to AC/DC, while my mother listened to Pink Floyd and The Doors. Then at my grandparents’ house, we listened to Italian music, Andrea Bocelli and Edith Piaf. So I started singing with Edith Piaf songs, followed by Brassens and Brel, and then, of course, jazz. However, I remain very eclectic in the choice of what I listen to. The thing is, every feeling, every emotion, every state of life corresponds to a musical style. A melody that will take you where you want to go… I get up, I’m gloomy, I’m depressed, I want to stay home, so I’ll put on some metal at full volume, because I want to get angry, or I want to feel melancholy, or maybe not, then I’ll put on some reggae! My vocal influences have definitely been Amy Winehouse, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Etta James.

RAN– What attracted you to the careers of these two artists (Amy Winehouse and Texas) and ultimately led you to decide to embark on this musical venture, the tribute?

A.C. – I had been an unconditional fan of Amy Winehouse for years. Some of her songs were part of my set list. The idea came up during a photo shoot two years ago, when my regular photographer and videographer Jonathan Florence said to me, “Hey, why don’t you think about doing a tribute to AW? You love her style and you perform some of her songs beautifully.”

S.G. – I found it to be an elegant world without too much ostentation. I found Sharleen to have a voice that was both understated and powerful at the same time, you know. She’s a singer with a sense of humour, who is very close to her audience, and her band radiates positivity. I was lucky enough to see her recent performance at the “Foire aux Vins” in Colmar last summer, where I saw how natural and communicative she is with her audience.

RAN– I imagine that finding musicians who were motivated to take on such a project was no easy task. Is that right? How did you find them?

A.C. – When I arrived in Alsace three years ago, I was lucky enough to meet a group of musicians through online ads looking to get together. I started out in a trio with Laurent Millischer. I also met Lionel Ehrhart, the regular bassist from the Grillen jam sessions in Colmar, and then one thing led to another and we discovered other friends of Laurent’s, such as the excellent jazz and New Orleans trumpeter Eric Theiller. Without knowing it, we already had three members of this wonderful project, but the idea of forming the Tribute came much later. So it was really obvious. Luckily, the magic happened right away and Raymond Halbeisen was introduced to me by Jackie Boesch. From the outset, the idea was to reproduce the band identically to the Amy Winehouse band. With guitarist Georges Guy, Eric and Jonathan, we immediately decided not to do a copy and paste. To do something of our own. I’m not Amy Winehouse. I don’t have any tattoos, I don’t have her wig, but I am so imbued with this singer, her journey, her seriousness, her frivolity, her casual side. I want to give something sincere. It is indeed a tribute. Our structure draws strength from jazz, and Nicolas Koenig is also part of that. We have given each musician a place of honour, as it’s the case in jazz, where everyone has the right to express themselves. It’s all about sharing.

S.G. – For me, it was Patrice Kolo, the band’s bassist, who is a fan of this singer and who suggested this project to us. It all started with a group of friends, with Bernard Reichstadt on drums, guitarist Christian Clua and Angelo Dolcemare on keyboards. When we discovered Texas’ musical universe, we were immediately struck by the rhythm, the punch and the artistic richness that comes from this Scottish band. That’s what motivated us to embark on such a project.

RAN– The band TEXAS still exists. Was there ever a moment of doubt before deciding to embark on such a tribute? Tell us how this desire to perform Sharleen Spiteri’s songs on stage came about. With twelve studio albums under her belt, which one is your favourite?

S.G. – Of course, this may raise questions about what they are doing now, but the fact is that this is a band that has been around for thirty years and is still touring, and we wanted to celebrate their longevity. Sharleen Spiteri is an impressive singer. She has a voice that is instantly recognisable. She is completely comfortable with her femininity, she is funny, and natural. She has incredible charisma and I’m really impressed by Sharleen. She always says what she thinks. She never pretends to be someone she’s not. She says what she thinks and that goes down really well with the public, and in that respect we have similarities. For me, I don’t think it’s risky to pay tribute to an existing band because she has fans everywhere, and having this opportunity to revive, as best I can, the feelings she was able to convey to people makes me happy. She has a connection with the audience that surprises us. She gives the impression of being someone who is accessible. She is one of the frontwomen in the rock world who communicates the most with her audience. As for albums, my favourite is definitely the beautiful “White On Blonde”, her fourth album released in 1997, which includes the excellent “Say What You Want” and will be part of our set list. We will also play a few lesser-known tracks with a more country sound, which the audience will enjoy. Our playlist is mainly composed of well-known songs.

RAN– AMY WINEHOUSE – A shooting star who quickly joined the 27 Club! An enormous talent whose career was cut short, with two studio albums and two live albums to her name. What impressed and attracted you most about this innovative artist?

A.C. – Yes, it’s a macabre story. Brian Jones and the whole Dead Team! The first of her songs to be played repeatedly on the radio was “Back To Black” and it was a huge shock. That powerful voice, so deep and melancholic, restrained and yet full of overflowing sincerity, punky and jazzy. Amy was always very free in her words and lyrics and in her way of being, which unfortunately ended badly. I think that in this 27 Club, all the deceased would never have given us shows of this calibre if they hadn’t been scarred by life. In fact, they gave us their lives! They marked an era. So, with Amy, it was her voice that impressed me the most from the outset, and then the discovery of that gem that is “Frank”, her first album. It plunged me into jazz.

RAN– What was the most difficult part for you in approaching the musical universe of the artists you are paying tribute to?

A.C. – As she was a great poet, she wrote lyrics that were structurally and musically complex. “October Song”, for example. The pronunciation, the influence of Camden, the neighbourhood known for being a hotbed of alternative cultures where she chose to settle when she started her career, the strong reggae influence… that’s what we’re trying to highlight in our set, as we’ll have ska, reggae, the duet with Tony Bennett… you learn a whole book when you learn this song. I am delighted to meet Salomé Girolt and to share the bill on this Valentine’s Day evening, which is sure to be wonderful. I think that audiences who love the world of Amy Winehouse will certainly love the musicality of Sharleen Spiteri and vice versa.

Talking to Salomé “ I’ve listened to some of your work and it’s really great. It will be a good challenge”.

S.G. – I share Aurore’s immense joy at being part of this wonderful line-up on 14 February at the Ried Brun theatre in Muntzenheim, and I am also delighted to get to know her, as this interview has made that possible. We didn’t know each other before. TEXAS’s repertoire is perfect for dancing, and I will try to have the same communicative spirit that Sharleen has with her audience.

RAN– In a tribute, you have to get as close as possible, physically or musically, to the artist you are honouring. Salomé opted for a wig that makes her look like Sharleen. Aurore focused on the makeup that was so characteristic of the flamboyant Amy Winehouse. Are you prepared to make other concessions? What is your opinion on the subject?

A.C. – I’ve been wearing make-up like this since I was 14! It was Amy who copied me! (laughs) No, the point is not to look like her, but rather to pay tribute to her!

S.G. – I will endeavour to ensure that the audience recognises the value of this passion that drives us all around the musicality of this Scottish band. Our main objective is to celebrate and revisit their greatest hits.

RAN– ZIKINSIDE is taking a gamble for the first time by presenting two tributes on the same evening and, above all, giving pride of place to two great female talents. How did you react to this idea?

S.G. – Two musical worlds, two singers, two bands that are so different. Two emotional singers, two distinctive voices that are instantly recognisable. It really is the dream line-up for an event like this.

A.C. – It’s a great idea, and the first great idea is the colours on the poster. Red, black and white. We would like to thank Patrick Georgenthum and Zikinside for this invitation. I can’t wait to experience this wonderful evening. It’ll be great fun!

RAN– All that remains is for me to thank you for agreeing to come to this magnificent setting for this interview. Rock At Night would also like to thank the management of “La Galerie Ligne Bleue” in Sélestat, who allowed us to set up all the equipment we needed to carry out this work.