Biensure

Marseille in one of the coolest cities in France: The cafés, the terraces, the clubs, the Mediterranean sea and the mountains not far, make for a perfect setting for the wildly creative rebellious youth to express their art in a world of perpetual change. This is the setting in which Biensüre was born: Inspired by the diverse influences of the city and moved by an urge to experiment, the four band members, Milan Petrucci, Hakan Toprak, Anselme Kavoukdjian and Benjamin Dauvergne met there and quickly started jamming together. The alchemy was instant and after a handful of sessions, the desire to build from there and start a group was the natural way forward. The group's first concert took place on a sunny Marseille terrace, surrounded by friends and the warm breeze of Marseille: Biensüre was born. Their name also came naturally: it is drawn from the French expression "Bien sûr" ("of course")

"You worked all day today, aren't you too tired?

- "Bien sûr"

"Are we still meeting up to jam?

- "Bien sûr"

Hakan (vocals, saz) talks in a French that is not completely fluent, having learnt the language on the go as those who find themselves exiled from their home country would do in such circumstances. Hakan says "bien sur" frequently, as to proclaim his unwavering enthusiasm despite the difficulties of his everyday life. This simple, engaging expression also sums up the creative intention of the group. It's not just "yes", but "yes definitely" and the Turkish spelling is there to emphasize the group's inclination for cultural cross-pollination.

Biensüre's influences are varied and transcend generations and borders. Ranging from the Anatolian pop scene of the 70s and 80s with key figures like Erkin Koray and Barış Manço to 70s Jazz, Disco and early electro, their music is at the intersection of several musical continents. Obviously, Hakan's close connection to traditional Kurdish music is at the heart of the group's music, embraced by all the other members. In addition, Anselme, who is of Armenian origin, brings his own influences to the mix playing such instruments as The Saz, an Anatolian luth found in the whole region, which he had only seen in family photos dating back to the end of the 19th century, before his family was forced to flee Istanbul during the genocide. "The story of my family is that of Hakan's today in a way" he notes , "that of an exile forced to cross borders by oppression. It's like a transgenerational mirror".

Blending these influences to their pulsating disco beats, Biensüre show the breadth of their inspirations and their desire to build bridges between distant cultures. Their first release is scheduled for Oct 2022 as a self-titled 7-track album presenting their hypnotic and fascinating music to the world.