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Summary
Soysoy short bio / CV
"Vous pleurez la disparition de Dead Can Dance ? Séchez vos larmes, Soysoy va mettre du baume sur votre cœur"
'Crying over the disappearance of Dead Can Dance? Dry your tears, Soysoy will relieve the pain'.
Bernard Dagnies (Les Inrockuptibles)
From 2000 until 2002
In a manner similar to off-beat artists such as Lisa Germano, Mary Timony or Stina Nordenstam, Cécile Gonay (vocals, guitar and violin, ex-White Lie, Psykotrops, Rise & Fall, Malone...) and Franck Marchand (bass, vocals, ex-Peekaboo, So -now Venus, Collector, What The Hell...) formed Soysoy in order to put behind them the clichés of the pop and rock scene.
Their own brand of romantic pop, strongly influenced by, among other artists, Blonde Redhead, Lush, Stina Nordenstam and Kate Bush, was filled with sorcery tones stemming from traditional celtic, nordic and balkanic music. Because of some incantatory and spine-chilling aspects in their music in addition to Cécile and Franck's unusual vocal combination, Soysoy was soon to be compared to Dead Can Dance.
After a few special live performances and the recording of the self-produced mini-album 'Six Teaspoons of Eiran Cari', Soysoy, tired of the endless search for the perfect drummer, gives up playing live at the end of 2002.
"La rencontre de Kate Bush et Nine Inch Nails, un soir de pleine lune, dans la forêt de Brocéliande"
'Kate Bush and Nine Inch Nails meeting under the full moon in the Forest of Broceliande'
Tyan (Utopia, Pure FM)
2003 until today
One year later, during the Winter of 2003, Soysoy rises from its ashes when Sébastien Lhoest (keyboards and programming) joins the duo. An electronic twist is added to Soysoy's music, while Cécile's taking up of the violin reinforces their link with traditional music, as well as with folk/worldbeat artists such as Mouth Music, Hedningarna, Värttinä, Gjallarhorn...
In June 2004, the trio adds the finishing touches to their 'Six Pinches of Stage Flavour' album made up of recordings done during their live performance at Le Botanique when supporting Collection d'Arnell-Andréa.
Although there have been talks with a few record labels (including German label Dark Wings which got in touch with Soysoy in the Spring of 2004), nothing has yet come of it since the band has not received sufficient guarantees regarding their beloved artistic freedom. Talks are still under way....
Meanwhile, Li Mohe Music, an independant belgian record label, locally released Soysoy's self-produced full-featured album "Liquid" in june 2006.
Style and influences
Soysoy's singular musical blending makes it difficult for the band to be categorised. However, one might find similarities with artists from the adult alternative pop-rock, dream-pop and worldbeat genres.
Among perceptible influences, one can pinpoint Dead Can Dance, The Creatures, Värttinä, Kate Bush, Stina Nordenstam, Collection d'Arnell-Andréa, Blonde Redhead, Minimal Compact.. and also traditional celtic and balkanic music, plus music from Asia Minor.
Soysoy's distinctive musical brand has been named 'magick-pop'.
Discography
- 2002: 'Six Teaspoons of Eiran Cari', self-produced mini-album (sold out)
- 2004: 'Six Pinches of Stage Flavour', self-produced live album (available)
- 2006: 'Liquid', 11-tracks studio album, self-produced, released on independant label Li Mohe (available)
Live shows (of Soysoy as a trio)
- 2006/04/28 : LES ANTHINOISES, NIGHT OF THE FAIRIES
With Ataraxia, O QUam Tristis and Keltia - 12/11/2005 : BLEENLIVE - HALL DES DOYARDS (Vielsalm)
support-act for ANGE - 24/06/2005 : FESTIVAL TROLLS ET LÉGENDES (Mons)
- 06/05/2005 : LE GUE-TAPANT (Bruxelles)
with Adieu les Guêpes - 11/06/2005 : LA FERME DE SAMME (Virginal)
with Mosolyog - 16/04/2005 : VENUS-ROCK (Huy)
with Soldout, Robots in disguise, As Dragon, Superbus - 19/03/2005 : L'ENTREPÔT (Arlon)
with Arts of Erebus, The Cold - 18/03/2005 : LE COTTON CLUB (Bxl)
Festival du Film Fantastique (BIFFF) - 15/01/2005 : LA ZONE (Liège)
ARCANUMNOCTIS, with EOZ - 30/12/2004 : L'ÉTABLE D'HÔTES (Ittre)
- 24/12/2004 : LA FERME DE SAMME (Virginal)
with Mosolyog - 16/12/2004 : LE GARCIA LORCA (Bruxelles)
- 11/09/2004 : LA PÉNICHE (Bxl).
with Fifrelin, Mosolyog. - 03/04/2004 : LE BOTANIQUE (Bxl)
support-act for Collection d'Arnell-Andréa - 28/02/2004 : LA NUIT DÉTEND (Bxl)
with Mosolyog, Elisabet Brouillard - 28/11/2003 : LE GUÉ TAPANT (Bxl)
with Zaccharia - 03/10/2003 : LE PRÉSIDENT (Bxl)
with Naifu