“I WANT TO TEAR DOWN THE BARRIER THAT SEPARATES AFRICAN MUSIC FROM THE MAINSTREAM. I WANT TO GET INSIDE THAT SPACE AND BRING ENOUGH AFRICAN FLAVOR IN THE ROCK N' ROLL WORLD TO CREATE A DISTINCTIVE SOUND.”
- FRANCK BIYONG -
‘LIWA YA WECH’…NEW AFROSOUND SINGLE
FRANCO LUAMBO & T.P O.K JAZZ tribute…
OUT MARCH 15TH 2024
"For the second single from his forthcoming and brilliant ‘Radio Masoda’ album, Franck Biyong has transformed Congolese genius Franco Luambo’s 1961 rumba standard ‘Liwa Ya Wech’ into a sophisticated Afro-Jazz anthem that oozes romance and late night grandeur.
Powerful velvety horns, understated piano and swinging heartbeat percussion lay the stage for a moving vocal performance from the Kenyan female singing group Karama, whose spiritually-charged voices elevate Franco’s original message to the cosmos. Not dissimilar to UK band Kokoroko’s much loved ‘Abusey Junction’, Franck’s interpretation of ‘Liwa Ya Wech’ is a deeply emotional track that will add harmony to your life"
(Justin Turford / Ex-Friendly)
Released on TANGENTIAL MUSIC / Distribution by BELIEVE DIGITAL
‘OLADIPO’…AFROSOUND SINGLE
FEATURING CHIEF UDOH ESSIET & TONY ALLEN
OUT FEBRUARY 2nd 2024
“We’re thrilled to present Oladipo, the first single from Franck Biyong’s forthcoming 'Radio Masoda' album on Tangential Music.
The Cameroonian master musician and composer is joined by the equally masterful Chief Udoh Essiet (Fela Kuti & Egypt 80, Roy Ayers, King Sunny Ade) from Nigeria on this exhilarating tribute to their beloved elder Tony Allen, the co-founder of Afrobeat and one of the greatest drummers ever.
Propelled by Tony Allen’s high energy drumming (from when they all recorded together) and with passionately sung Yoruba lyrics that were written originally as a funeral mourn to him by Chief Udoh, Oladipo sounds more of a celebration than a memorial. As vital as anything from the ‘golden age’ of African music, this is a stunning tribute to one of the elders who made it so golden”
(Justin Turford / Ex-Friendly)
Released on TANGENTIAL MUSIC / Distribution by BELIEVE DIGITAL
‘MOONWATCHING 2’…NEW ALBUM
AFRICAN ROCK GUITAR HERO
OUT DECEMBER 15th 2023
The brand new album Moonwatching 2 tells a story of self-‐assertion and current societal challenges. And it incorporates
Franck's African musical influences into his style from all his eras. He sounds defiant, loud and proud and it is unmistakable
that his inner, wild lion is fighting with the rigid structures of the Western world.
Franck moves the limitations of African music with “Moonwatching II”, extending the palette of newer sounds
in creative guitar music. As Afropop and Nigeria's Afrobeats are recognized worldwide, African rock is almost missing, although
it’s one of the fundaments of Western rock music.
Is Franck Biyong the African Jimi Hendrix? Well ... Let’s put it this way: “Moonwatching II” combines the abrasive sonics of a James
Blood Ulmer with the melodic structures of early progressive and art-‐rock. So yes, Franck (who by the way never intended to copy
Jimi) naturally deals with similar topics and sounds in his music…
Driven by eerie melancholy, surreal guitars, ghost voices and strong musicianship, the psychedelic music does not get transfigured through the gentle but clear melodic lines. With Moonwatching II, Franck Biyong swaggers from Funkadelic style rock before leading
us to Frippertronics-like sound scapes...
Released on AKHETATON RECORDS / Distribution by BELIEVE DIGITAL
AFRIMA (ALL AFRICA MUSIC AWARDS) UNVEILS NOMINEES LIST FOR 2022 EDITION
Franck Biyong backs two nominations
for rock & jazz categories
The International Executive Committee of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), in conjunction with the African Union
Commission (AUC), on Wednesday September 14, released the official list of nominees for the 2022 edition.
Culled from a total of 9,067 entries submitted- the highest number ever recorded by the awards, since its inception - the AFRIMA
jury selected a total of 382 nominations across 39 categories, to represent all five regions in Africa, as well as in the diaspora.
Importantly, the public voting portal for the 2022 AFRIMA edition would be live on Sunday, 25th September, 2022,. Meanwhile, the
2022 All Africa Music Awards will now be held on January 12-15, 2023. In partnership with the African Union Commission, AFRIMA is
a youth-focused music platform that recognizes and rewards the work and talents of African artistes across generations.
