Artist: Gigi
Genre(s):
Other
Discography:
Illuminated Audio
Year: 2003
Tracks: 10
Ejigayehu Shibabaw, punter known as Gigi, is one of the few singers from the Horn of Africa -- the number 1 since countrywoman Aster Aweke, in fact -- to break up through with a major-label release. Gigi grew up in rural Ethiopia, hearing to traditional and church music, earlier moving to the washington, Addis Ababa, when she was 14. There, her musical horizons broadened, hearing the local pop music "and all kinds of American music we could get on the radio. After that I went to Kenya, and on that point I was uncovered to a mass of different African music, a different kind of tucker." Returning house, she became a isaac Merrit Singer with the National Theatre before making her debut record, following which she worked with a marionette company, whose touring took her to France. It was on that point her real breakthrough occurred, playing a world medicine fete called Imagineer which resulted in a live transcription that made her known in Europe. After reversive to Ethiopia in 1997, she was granted a U.S. visa. The New World offered mass of challenges and she grasped them all eagerly, discovering malarky in Oakland and striking the route with countrywoman Aweke, "my ducky isaac Merrit Singer." She made some other album, One Ethiopia, before coming to the attention of Palm Pictures gaffer Chris Blackwell. She was paired with prolific producer Bill Laswell, wHO victimised talent like jazzmen Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter behind her on Gigi, her debut for the label. However, for all the electronic feel of the saucer, no loops or samples were employed -- everything was played, and as live as possible. Gigi began promoting the platter by coming into court at the 2001 WOMEX domain music conference in Holland, prior to a U.S. turn.
