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Guest column - Ill communication? How to record with someone who doesn't speak your language
How do you make a record if you don't share a common language with your collaborators? That's exactly what Joe Driscoll and Sekou Kouyate have done for their album Faya. With the pair set to head out on tour together in March, Driscoll explains how the music itself allowed them to communicate.
Sekou and I met at a festival in France, and within the first few hours of jamming with him I had begun planning an album in my head. There's a lot of elements to consider when planning an album, but I'd never dealt with collaborating with someone who didn't speak the same language. The first few weeks, we sat just the two of us and jammed all day with a little dictaphone on the table. I felt in those sessions that language wouldn't be a problem, but I was still a bit nervous to see how it would all play out in the studio.
We didn't find it as difficult as I'd first imagined. Musically speaking, we would just act out what we wanted to hear. Tempo too slow? Clap your hands a little faster. Too much bass in the mix? We'd imitate the sound of bass feedback with a whooo sound. End that bridge sooner? Hum the phrase, and then wave your hands like a referee to indicate a sharp ending. I think it actually provided a lot of the good vibes and laughter in the studio, having to communicate mainly via beatbox musical charades.
Of course, along the way we began picking up each others important words. Still, at present both of our vocabularies are very limited (to put it politely). Now with the addition of James 'Jimbo' Breen on drums, and John Railton on bass - we've added two more French illiterates, so at least I can feel a bit smarter for knowing more vocab than them. However I am at times reminded by Sekou that I still have a very long way to go. I think we've all found that trying to convey elaborate ideas using only pigeon language requires a lot of patience, but because we're all collaborating on something we are passionate about and are eager to communicate, it doesn't feel like hard work. In fact, many of the funniest moments in the studio and on tour have been us laughing at each other's attempts with language. Mispronounced words, or complete butchering of phrases. A common irritating one is instead of asking Sekou if he's hungry, I mispronounce it to seemingly ask him if he is a woman.
Overall though, it's just confirmed what I've always felt about travelling. It's funny to realise exactly how few words you need to convey the essential and core ideas. One of my favourite films is Jim Jarmusch's Ghost Dog. The two characters are best friends, though one speaks no English and the other knows no French. They sit and play chess every day. It's exactly the same as my musical relationship with Sekou. We're similar cats like that; I think we both enjoy the free headspace. It's nice at times to have company but never have the pressure of small talk. You only get enough words to relay the brass tacks.
The day I was asked to write this article, Sekou and I were discussing all the logistics of the tour. I was attempting to translate for the band and our manager, thinking maybe soon I could be close to fluent and it would change this whole dynamic. I was relaying a lot of information back and forth between everyone, until eventually Sekou said, Joe, please - speak English! It keeps us all laughing, and for now - our caveman vocabularies continue to see us through. As Longfellow once famously said "Music is the universal language of mankind" and that is what this project is all about."
Joe Driscoll @driscollmusic
For more and the full tour head to Joeandsekou.com.
10:25 AM | 22/01/2013
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Good on Q for commissioning this. I've never looked back since I stumbled across Joe and an assortment of his musical friends and associates, thanks to One Taste-Chai Wallahs-Passing Clouds and the UK festival circuit. These guys are doing things that I find far more interesting than the mainstream or even the famous names of my younger days who are still at it.
Posted by Peter Verney at 1:27 PM | 22/01/2013 | Report Abuse
Ghost dog! Lol That's brilliant Joseoh- such a sweetheart! Even in the studio- Love is blind!! (to put it politely;)
Posted by Tea Monet at 4:12 PM | 22/01/2013 | Report Abuse
As a psychology major, I find it fascinating how Joe identifies himself with the 'ghost dog'. Seemingly we have a Kora virtuoso with his canine sidekick and couple illiterates. This is classical Freudian stuff!! Love it! Bravo!! Zion-bound, for sure;)
Posted by MadDie Farmiga at 5:14 PM | 22/01/2013 | Report Abuse
As a psychology major, I find it fascinating how Joe identifies himself with the 'ghost dog'. Seemingly we have a Kora virtuoso with his canine sidekick and couple illiterates. This is classical Freudian stuff!! Love it! Bravo!! Zion-bound, for sure;)
Posted by Maddie Farmiga at 5:15 PM | 22/01/2013 | Report Abuse
Gold record boys.. Gold record.
Posted by Piscapo, J. at 5:30 PM | 22/01/2013 | Report Abuse
This is priceless!! Thanks for the laughs jd!
Posted by T-money at 5:43 PM | 22/01/2013 | Report Abuse
Joey D- thanks for the tip! Big love from the leading gypsy in the 315th!! Comin straight from the heart darlin;)
Posted by Gypsy T. at 8:57 PM | 22/01/2013 | Report Abuse
Does anybody know where the Barry Gibb talk show commentary is?! Not sure how I ended up in the pound..
Posted by Nancy Pelosi at 1:05 AM | 23/01/2013 | Report Abuse
These boys are into light-sucking vampire vibes- love it!! With a rebel yell.. She cried - more more more! Silly boys- tricks are for kids..hahaha
Posted by Xena- draconian prinCess at 1:32 AM | 23/01/2013 | Report Abuse
Great article testifying to the fact that music is a Universal Language! Keep it up Joe and Sekou, the album is... Faaaaayyyaaaa!!
Posted by Kiuri Mburathi at 12:52 PM | 24/01/2013 | Report Abuse
Great article testifying to the fact that music is a Universal Language! Keep it up Joe and Sekou, the album is... Faaaaayyyaaaa!!
Posted by Kiuri Mburathi at 12:53 PM | 24/01/2013 | Report Abuse
Great article testifying to the fact that music is a Universal Language! Keep it up Joe and Sekou, the album is... Faaaaayyyaaaa!!
Posted by Kiuri Mburathi at 1:01 PM | 24/01/2013 | Report Abuse
When I return from my holiday, I'm gonna light a faya for my local funky boy! ;)
Posted by Vick Tim at 9:31 PM | 24/01/2013 | Report Abuse
I love the way Joe shows his love and affection- its a beautiful marriage of two souls burning in faya. Bittersweet love.
Posted by Ur Beloved at 9:42 PM | 24/01/2013 | Report Abuse
Saw Joe and Sekou at Womad last summer
On a Sunday morn they cut thru sat nite
Fog nicely! Putting them on in Penzance May 18th
Acorn theatre with support from Mankala.
Looking Forward to it!!
Posted by Nigel smith at 2:07 PM | 25/01/2013 | Report Abuse
Saw Joe and Sekou at Womad,enjoyed so much
Putting them on in Penzance on May 18th
Acorn theatre,supported by Mankala.
Posted by Nigel smith at 2:12 PM | 25/01/2013 | Report Abuse
Saw Joe and Sekou at Womad last summer
On a Sunday morn they cut thru sat nite
Fog nicely! Putting them on in Penzance May 18th
Acorn theatre with support from Mankala.
Looking Forward to it!!
Posted by Nigel smith at 2:13 PM | 25/01/2013 | Report Abuse
I Love joe sing is amzing
Posted by BENJAMIN at 5:16 PM | 03/02/2013 | Report Abuse
I Love joe sing is amzing
Posted by BENJAMIN at 5:16 PM | 03/02/2013 | Report Abuse
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