Audacity, audacity and more audacity… The Josephine Prize, which borrows its first name from Joséphine Baker as much as from the song by Alain Bashung, rewards for the second year a fine line-up of new artists and , if not, of musicians who finally deserve to be in the spotlight.
The jury of artists of this 2nd edition unveiled this Monday evening June 26 in Paris the ten selected albums: Zaho de Sagazan, (in concert on September 9th at Paris Paradis the « Parisian » festival) Benjamin Epps, Eesah Yasuke, Voyou , Blick Bassy, Blau Bird, Prince Wally, Acid Arab, Tuerie, Flavien Berger…
Initially, there were 250 albums. A first jury, made up of eleven journalists from a wide variety of media, including Le Parisien-Aujourd’hui in France, selected forty who were submitted to a second jury of professionals. It looked great and also wanted to be eclectic with eleven artists, Eddy de Pretto as president, the singers Pauline Croze, Léonie Pernet, Vendredi sur Mer and Vernis Rouge, the female duo Ibeyi, Arthur Teboul, singer of Fire Chatterton, pianist Sofiane Pamart, electronic musician Superpoze, producer and composer Dany Synthé, sound engineer Taissa Arruda.
This prize rewards artists who are not seen enough in classic ceremonies. Apart from Zaho de Sagazan, Flavien Berger and Voyou, who could very well appear in the next Victoires de la Musique, the others are, for the most part, real discoveries. Rap takes the lion’s share with four albums, signed Eesah Yasuke – the rapper from Roubaix was already present last year in the selection – Tuerie, Prince Wally and Benjamin Epps.
Electro and jazz represented but not rock or metal
« We wanted a bold artistic positioning and a beautiful diversity, which also represents our generation, explains Eddy de Pretto, the president of the jury. That rap is strong makes sense, because it’s also our generation and we had to highlight this scene. The genres absent from the Victories and the Flames, the two greatest musical ceremonies, are represented, such as electro and jazz. Unfortunately, no rock or metal album caught the jury’s attention. It must be said that there were few at the start…
Who will win the 2nd Josephine Prize, one year after the singer November Ultra and her album « Bedroom Walls »? We will discover it on September 27th at Maison de La Radio et de la Musique, during a flip evening where the ten artists will sing live and live. At the same time, a jury made up of young Pass Culture holders will award its own prize for the first time in October.
