Artists at midem
Patricia sings Edith
Almost constantly on international tour, successful French singer Patricia Kaas came to midem to announce her new album "Kaas chante Piaf", a tribute to Edith Piaf. Although designed primarily as a live show, “Kaas chante Piaf“ (Kaas Sings Piaf) will also be released as an album. Revisiting Edith Piaf's greatest hits, this album is central to Patricia Kaas’ tribute to the great French singer. This major album, which will commemorate 50 years since the death of Edith Piaf, will be released on the 5th November 2012, just in time for the Christmas. Some of the most evocative titles will be remixed by young French electro artists under the direction of Fabrice Brovelli and Christophe Caurret producers of Woodkid, The Shoes and Yuksek.
Kaas Chante Piaf will tour in more than 35 countries from February 2013. France of course in the mythical Olympia Hall but also Germany, Russia and the whole CIS, South Korea, China, Turkey, Poland, the United States and many more.
Anggun sings for France
Anggun is one of France’s biggest musical export successes. After leaving her native Indonesia where she was a superstar with over 7m albums sold, she settled in Paris. She then met Eric Benzi, Céline Dion’s producer, and together gave both to the song «La Neige du Sahara» (Snow on The Sahara) which soon became a Top 10 hit in France, Italy, Spain and in a dozen more countries. Her self-titled album sold over 1m copies worldwide and her following 3 albums all reached Platinum or Gold Export. Recently, she performed the theme song of the #1 US Box-Office movie «The Transporter II» and her music has been synchronized in numerous major TV and campaigns worldwide such as Barilla, Swatch or Pantene. Her new album «Echos» (Echoes), released last November is already Gold-Export. Anggun is going to represent France at this year’s Eurovision song contest with the song «Echo (You and I)». Last year, Anggun has been named a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador.
The Ting Tings (Pop, Rock, UK)
The Ting Tings - a scrappy, dance-oriented indie pop duo consisting of singer/guitarist Katie White and drummer Jules De Martino - was formed in the Salford district of Manchester, England. The The Ting Tings began in 2008 and quickly earned spots on many Ones-To-Watch lists (including #3 in the much coveted BBC Sounds Poll).
With hit titles "That's not my name" and "Shut up and let me go," their debut album "We Started Nothing" went straight to #1 in the album chart on release in May 2008, and has since reached double platinum status in the UK, selling over 2 million albums worldwide.
The Ting Tings performed on the Midem Festival stage on the venue at Palm Beach.
Stuck in the Sound (Rock, France)
Four-piece Parisian indie rock band Stuck In The Sound released their debut album "Never Mind The Living Dead" in 2006 and gained a growing reputation for incredibly energetic live performances. After "Nevermind the Living Dead", with its marquee song ToyBoy, Stuck in the Sound release in 2009 their second album: "Shoegazing Kids".
Stuck in the Sound performed on the Midem Festival stage on the venue at Palm Beach.
Zoë Keating plays in the desert
Zoë Keating is a one-woman orchestra. She uses a cello and a foot-controlled laptop to record layer upon layer of cello, creating intricate, haunting and compelling music. Zoë is known for both her use of technology and for DYC ethic which has resulted in the sale of over 40,000 copies of her self-released albums and a devoted social media following. Zoë has performed and recorded with a wide range of artists, including Imogen Heap, Amanda Palmer, Pomplamoose and Paolo Nutini. She makes an effort to reach audiences wherever they are, performing on radio, television and webcasts, outdoors in the desert, in churches and concert halls, at universities, museums, technology conferences, executive brainstorming sessions, house concerts, bars and rock clubs around the world.
Zoë was an artist ambassador at midem's Direct2Fan camp and took an hour to answer questions about how she manages her DIY career.
The virtuoso Alison Balsom
Recently crowned ‘Female Artist of the Year’ for the second time at the Classic BRITs, Alison Balsom has cemented an international reputation as one of classical music’s great ambassadors and is ranked among the most distinctive and ground-breaking musicians on the international circuit today. Alison Balsom has also been honored with numerous awards by Classic FM, Gramophone and ECHO Klassik.
The 2011/12 season sees Balsom make return visits to China where she performed with Lorin Maazel and the National Symphony Orchestra and to Los Angeles Philharmonic with whom she makes her Hollywood Bowl debut.
Alison Balsom performed during midem’s Classical Night and hosted the gala. >> midem’s Classical Night
Shaka Ponk (Rock, Electro, France)
Red Hot Chili Peppers meet Frank Zappa, Manu Chao meets ZZ Top, AC/DC meets Talking Heads. And once all those meetings have taken place…welcome to Shaka Ponk, the French rock band obsessed with sound, image, video and design, recognisable in its omnipresent iconic virtual monkey and spokesperson Goz. Rarely does a band truly create their own universe. Shaka Ponk made that magical step and leapt from being a band to being a brand and an icon – just what it takes to succeed in the ultra-communicative 21st century. Musically, they fuse hip hop with Electro, Metal sequences, rap phrasings, and puzzle-pieces from across the globe into the fiery-hot SHAKA-mix.
Shaka Ponk performed on the Midem Festival stage on the venue at Palm Beach.
Mark Ronson's lessons for success
Mark Ronson is an English DJ, guitarist, music producer, artist and co-founder of Allido Records. He currently plays with his band under the name of "Mark Ronson & The Business Intl". His second album, "Version" won Ronson a BRIT Award for Best Male Artist 2008. His third studio album, Record Collection, was released in 2010. He worked numerous albums for various artists, including Amy Winehouse’s "Back to Black", which won five Grammy nominations in 2007, out of which he took the Grammy Award for Producer of the Year.
Mark Ronson was one the thought leaders and speakers of the midem's Visionary Monday conference offering deep insights on how to engage with audiences in a world connected by music.
Brigitte (Folk, Pop, France)
French retro folk duo Brigitte is a two headed french chick, a blond and a brunette, Sylvie Hoarau and Aurélie Maggiori, one crowning a headband and the other rocking big round glasses. Brigitte saw their 2011 debut album "Et vous, tu m'aimes?" go Platinum in France. In 2010, Brigitte recorded a glitzy cover version of French rapper Joey Starr's hit song "Ma Benz" and gained a huge buzz on social networks for it. Retro, funny, glamorous and crazy about hip hop, ABBA and Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte is considered by many as one of the hottest sounds to come out of France in recent years. Brigitte is a mother, a wife and a free liberated woman. To summarize, beware of these she-wolves. With great songs, amazing live presence and truly magnificent voices, Brigitte is definitely the next best thing out of the cheese country.
Brigitte performed on the Midem Festival stage on the venue at Palm Beach.
OrelSan (Hip Hop, France)
Often called the 'French Eminem', 29 year old hip hop and rap artist OrelSan is fast gaining notoriety on the music scene since his 2009 debut album "Perdu d'avance." No stranger to controversy, some of his most radical lyrics have seen him banned from festivals and stages. However, his writing style and arrangements have garnered him a faithful following among hip hop and rap fans and his flow and lyrics made him one of the most popular French rappers. Released in Sept 2011, "Le chant des sirènes", OrelSan's second album has already gone Gold in France, with more than 50,000 copies sold.
OrelSan performed on the Midem Festival stage on the venue at Palm Beach.
Paul Van Dyk at Visionary Monday
For more than two decades, the world has known Paul van Dyk as one of Germany's most successful musicians and as one of the ultimate superstars of electronic music. As an artist, DJ and producer, Paul has surpassed various milestones over the course of his career, including having sold more than 3.5 million albums and being twice voted the world's No.1 DJ. He has remixed the likes of Madonna, Justin Timberlake, U2 and Depeche Mode. Earning a Grammy nomination and accepting the “Order of Merit” from the state of Berlin are just two of Paul's numerous accomplishments and accolades for his talents. His sensational DJ sets attract expansive crowds on every continent. Not only does van Dyk fill the world's best‐known venues, but every year he transforms New York's Central Park into a unique open‐air festival. His solo, beach‐side performance in Rio de Janeiro attracted over one million people, and in May, he took over London’s O2 Brixton Academy for a standout show, whetting the UK’s appetite for his forthcoming summer festival appearances.
Paul van Dyk was a speaker on the Visionary Monday conference where he shared his visions on what genuinely works today.
