Author: Astrakan Project

Musicians' Diary

Love, politics, myth and history

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It may sound a bit like a movie script. And actually it could be, those are some of the themes of the story of Pedro and Inês, a Portuguese medieval love story turned into a myth. We started to explore the story in last release in the song Gwerz Inês with the precious and wonderful contribution of Sten that wrote a beautiful lament that really sounds like one written centuries ago.

Because of the complexity of Inês story, we had to chose an “episode”, and gwerz Inês is indeed the murder of Inês. But while working together, we felt we wanted to bring the story further. We’ve been reflecting on the ambiance, the story, the sounds and instruments we’d love to tell more about this story.

Simone Alves & Sten Charbonneau working on lyrics for next album / Pedro e Ines / Astrakan Project
Looking at last album poster that shows some of the details of lyrics written by Sten

No musician is luckiest that we are to have such a dedicated and talented author with whom working is liberating, with whom we can work in a crazy and passionate way! Finding someone that shares the same love and passion for Breton tunes and stories is a blessing!

Simone Alves & Sten Charbonneau working on lyrics for next album / Pedro e Ines / Astrakan Project
At least… it looks like a lot of fun!

You can visit Sten’s facebook page: he also creates game boards in Breton to get people to learn and talk in breton!

§ Simone

Sound & Video

Folk on the Lawn #teaser video!

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We’re about to leave East Anglia to head do Wales for our first gigs ever there, at Folk on The Lawn festival – this is Breton language, hopefully after 3 days there we might be able to speak 2-3 words of Welsh!

11/07/2015, River Stage, Llwyfan Yr Afon, 9.10pm
12/07/2015, River Stage, Llwyfan Yr Afon, 2.45pm

http://folkonthelawn.com/

Pics on Tour

Kiev Tour… we love Ukraine!

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Can we say in a couple of words that playing in Kiev last week was an impressive and life changing experience? The type of experiences that opens your eyes to many new horizons and worlds. What made it different? Maybe the fact that neither us, neither the audiences had any fixed expectations, apart from being part of something?

We had to forget about many things we are used to: schedules, legal authorisations, … Yep, we even played outdoors without any real authorisation (because anyway, there isn’t any “authority” one could get a valid authorisation from… kind of), police came at the end of the Friday’s and Saturday’s concerts because of noise, and no need to mention that the first time we were quite … scared? Oh yes… Organisers/promoters dealt with them while we were packing. But before that… we had awesome times! Great energy on stage!

We feel we are so lucky in western Europe to have peace, freedom and clear rights and obligations… do we really make the best of it?

§ Simone