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Novembre (feat. Suzanne Fischer & Jono Heyes)

by Akamatsu

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about

In the memory of Kaia Mach

"Novembre" was born on the piano, from a short guitar motif sent from the Czech Republic by my friend composer Jono Heyes (nominated for the Music Awards in New Zealand in 2019).

It was a particularly dark Sunday of November, in Nantes. I was playing Jono's guitar motif in a loop and improvised over it on the piano, to warm up. In a short time, somehow, a structure was born. During the evening, Jono called me by phone from his Bohemian countryside. He had just listened to my composition. However, in the silence of our conversation, there was a deep emotion circulating. Jono had just learnt of the sudden passing of a friend we had in common in the Czech Republic: Kaia Mach.

One summer, Jono and I stayed with him and his family in his small village in Moravia, for a few days. I remember sunny moments, full of simplicity and creativity. Kaia was a humble and generous person, with a warm smile tinged with melancholy. As well as being an excellent clarinet player, he was also a handyman, renovating an old farm shed to make a house for his family, and on the side he made african thumb pianos, sanzas and mbiras.

As we continued creating “November,” Kaia was ever on our minds. Jono recorded subtle variations at home from the original guitar motif, and finally, Nantes-based Suzanne Fischer (La Matusita, DbStrasse...) delivered restrained cello lines, with the delicacy of her bow.

“Novembre” is a seed sown in a time of deep sadness, which announces other meetings with artists from France and the Czech Republic. These fruitful collaborations are the essence of the upcoming album, “Seminky” ("seeds" in Czech).

// french version //

A la mémoire de Kaia Mach.

"Novembre" est né au piano, à partir d'un court motif de guitare envoyé depuis la Tchéquie par mon ami le compositeur Jono Heyes (nominé aux Music Awards en Nouvelle-Zélande en 2019).

C'était un dimanche particulièrement sombre de novembre, à Nantes. Le motif de guitare diffusé en boucle, j'improvisai par dessus au piano pour me réchauffer. En peu de temps, une structure était née. Dans la soirée, Jono m'appela au téléphone, depuis sa campagne de Bohème. Il venait d'écouter ma composition. Dans les silences de notre conversation, une émotion profonde circulait. Jono venait tout juste d'apprendre la disparition soudaine d'un ami que nous avions en commun en République Tchèque : Kaia Mach.

Un été, Jono et moi avions séjourné quelques jours chez lui et sa famille, dans son petit village de Moravie. Je me souviens d'instants ensoleillés, emplis de simplicité et de créativité. Kaia était une personne humble et généreuse, au sourire teinté de mélancolie. Excellent clarinettiste, il était adroit de ses mains : il retapait un hangar pour en faire une maison pour sa famille, et fabriquait des petits instruments africains, sanzas et mribas.

Alors que nous poursuivions la création de "Novembre", Kaia était toujours présent dans notre esprit. Jono a enregistré chez lui de subtiles variations à partir du motif de guitare originel, et enfin la nantaise Suzanne Fischer (La Matusita, DBStraße...) a déposé des lignes de violoncelle toutes en retenue, avec la délicatesse de son archet.

"Novembre" est une graîne déposée dans la tristesse, qui annonce d'autres rencontres avec des artistes de France et de République Tchèque. Ces collaborations fructueuses sont l'essence de l'album à venir, "Seminky" ("graînes" en tchèque).

credits

released November 15, 2023
Suzanne Fischer : cello
Jono Heyes : guitar
Rémi Quéron : piano

Composition and production by Akamatsu (Rémi Quéron) + Suzanne Fischer and Jono Heyes

Piano recordings / Mixing consultant : Cédric Le Guillerm
Mastering / Mixing consultant : Thomas Lafon / athome-mastering.com

Illustration : "Après l'orage 10 - Joncs" par Héloïse Robin
www.heloise-robin.com

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Akamatsu Nantes, France

Akamatsu is a musical entity created by the French composer Rémi Quéron. From melodic and dreamy electronica, he has started a collaboration with artists living in France and the Czech Republic to bring his upcoming album to life. "Seminky" will be a luminous mosaic, with delicate and subte textures, between electronica, neo-classical and psychedelic pop. It will be released in 2024. ... more

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