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Which artists have inspired you or still inspire you?
Siliano OdunoI am interested in and inspired by a wide range of popular music, so I will only mention a few examples without attempting to name them all.
Bach as a classical composer still influences my choice of chords today. I was inspired by some of Telemann's flute concertos.
During my vibraphone lessons I played a lot of Bach-inspired improvisations, but I also liked "Take Five" by Dave Brubeck as a jazz song on the vibraphone, as well as on the drums. It' really fun to play a drum solo to it.
Bobby McFerrin fascinates me. His musicality has often made me question my own work. I wanted to devote myself completely to music after watching a recording of his concert.
Even when he conducts classical concerts, he brings a certain swing to the music, which finally made me perceive classical music as attractively interpreted.
Of course, Bob Marley influenced me a lot at the start. I don't like the very slow reggae so much anymore, but I love the "reggae-touch" in modern pop music, just as it appears in my songs.
I quickly ended up in various bands with musicians from Gambia (Gambise Rockers), Ghana, Martinique, Burkina Faso and Senegal. I was able to spontaneously play live with Siriki Coulibaly at a "MitAfrika Festival". He immediately appreciated my quick grasp of his unique rhythms.
I used to play concerts a lot with Ampofo Acquah. He plays the "fast muted and plucked" reggae guitar exactly as I love it. Not many guitarists I've met can do that. He also played with Ginger Baker, Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce in his band "Cream", which also influenced me. At that time, I also discovered Iron Butterfly and the drummer Ron Bushy, who not only emphasised technique and speed in his solo, but also performed a melodic solo. [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIVe-rZBcm4 ]
The idea can also be heard in my drum solo (in around 1983) at a live concert in Neuss. [ Video of drum solo ]
Youssou N'Dour inspired me a lot. I was able to witness one of his first concerts in Germany when he was not yet known here. I was accompanied by Fara Diouf in my project "Worldbeats-Creative", who comes from Senegal himself and has played with many well-known African artists. I bought myself a djembe in South Africa, which is now an integrated component along with my congas. [ Video of my djembe from South Africa ]
I visited many festivals to experience Toure Kunda, Black Uhuru, Alpha Blondy with his unmistakable voice and other reggae greats live.
I admire Gentlemen because of his musical career, and I find that his music has a very high recognition value.
Seeed has finally brought the power of a live band to Germany as I love it. Who can sit still? [ Great video of Seeed here ] I love the phrasing of the singer. Frank A. Dellé, as an absolute professional stage performer, also knocks the fans off their seats in his solo projects. I myself try to create a "European, African, Jamaican international pop mix" and make it enjoyable with my album.
I also like Stromae a lot because of his songs and as a producer, Maître Gims has a cool sound and a unique voice, Dub Inc. and especially the singer Maché Bécif, who comes into his own in the songs "Erreurs du passé" or "Partout dans ce monde" [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-00L3P74_mg ], I think the trio L.E.J, Lina Maly because of her clear voice, Ayq, Zap Mama, Zass, and Ibeyi are great, because the two sisters have created a cool and very unique sound, plus they are very rhythmic and vocally gifted, just like Nneka, who I once saw live at a festival in Winterthur, Switzerland.
I was inspired by this "heavy brass monster groove" when I discovered Fanfare Ciorcalia through a film on television. I could experience them live in the Kulturbrauerei Berlin. Awesome! That's brass at its best.
I love French music, which is influenced a lot by African music, but also by chansons and ballads. To this day I am still annoyed that German stations are unable to escape the "American tunnel vision" in terms of music.
But I also listen to Querbeet modern pop music, which often focuses on clear sounds. This way you can listen to each instrument individually and they complement each other and don't overlap. Music should be clear and not cluttered.
