Jessica Fichot answers 8 questions about who she is, what she does — and what she likes to read when she’s not making music.
Lotus:
Where do you come from … where are you now … and where are you going?
Jessica Fichot:
I was born in upstate New York from a French father and Chinese mother, but I grew up near Paris (my family moved back to France when I was three). I live in Los Angeles now. As far as where I’m going, I hope that my musical adventures enable me to perform and travel over the world.
Lotus:
How do you describe your music to someone unfamiliar with it?
Jessica:
The best term would be “French chanson,” but my music also has some elements of Chinese folk music, some gypsy jazz grooves, and some Latin American influences. While the main language I sing and write in is French, I also like to experiment with other languages — some of which I speak, some of which I don’t – so my performances usually include some French, Chinese, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Portuguese and sometimes — but not very often — English.
Jessica + band
Lotus:
Why do you love your band?
Jessica:
They make me sound good! I’ve played all kinds of venues since I put my band together, from small coffee shops to big festivals – and I can’t imagine being on that stage alone, without their musical (and emotional) support. And also because, personally, I couldn’t imagine better guys to share a van with, load equipment with, and couch-surf with. [Pictured at right with Jessica, l-r: Brian Carmody, Dave Wilson, Brandon Turner, Marcel Camargo]
Lotus:
You may not know this, but you’re the second toy piano player we’ve had in two years. How long have you been using toy piano?
Jessica:
I’ve been using in for about three years. Dave Wilson (my clarinet player) occasionally plays it when I’m on vocals and accordion.
Lotus:
Have you heard of us before, or been to Bloomington or Indiana before?
Jessica:
Yes, I’d heard of the festival, only good things. Some of the musicians I play with studied in Bloomington. Dave, who will be playing clarinet, flute and sax with me at Lotus, graduated from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. But this will be my first time in Bloomington and actually my first time in the Midwest. We tour for two weeks after Lotus, including stops in Madison, Detroit, Indianapolis, Farmington [Missouri], the Chicago World Music Festival. This will be my first time in all of these places, so I’m very excited.
Lotus:
Where/when are you most creative? What inspires you?
Jessica:
I write best when things are going great, and I can reflect on the times when I was feeling sad or melancholy. The best songs, in my opinion, have to feel honest – even if the stories they tell have some elements of fiction. Travel inspires me a lot, but what inspires me the most is . . . other music. Occasionally, I find this one song or album that’s so good, I listen to it all the time. And it gives me this drive to create something great myself.
Jessica Fichot: singer, songwriter, accordion and toy piano player...
Lotus:
What do you do — where do you go — when you need to rest, recharge, or find refuge from . . . stuff?
Jessica:
Here in Los Angeles, I like to go to the Observatory in Griffith Park – there’s a great view of the city and, even though there are lots of people, it’s the perfect place to be alone. I also love to read fiction – mostly epic adventure stories written for kids and young adults. I’ve been reading these types of stories since I was a child, and I’ve accumulated quite a collection. I just love great fiction and, somehow, I never seem to find great storytelling in the books written solely for an adult audience.
Lotus:
What kind(s) of music do you like (or love) that you don’t perform?
Jessica:
I love dub/reggae, especially for dancing, but I’ve never performed it. Maybe in the future?
See Jessica Fichot at the 2010 Lotus World Music and Arts Festival at Lotus in the Park, on Saturday evening, and at the World Spirit Concert on Sunday. Visit Jessica’s site to discover more about her life and music.
Jessica performances are supported in part by Women of Lotus.
