Peter Solo
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Peter Solo

Lyon, Rhône-Alpes, France | MAJOR

Lyon, Rhône-Alpes, France | MAJOR
Band World Funk

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Discography

Analog Vodoo (Athos / Buda Musique) - 2012
Miadome (Cherry on Top / Socadisc) - 2008

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PETER SOLO
Analog Vodoo

Mixing voodoo-funk, afro groove and 70's psychedelic sound, the explosive new album from the Togolese guitarist and singer, former sideman of Myriam Makeba and Papa Wemba, Analog Vodoo is the new record of Peter Solo, somewhere between James Brown and Orchestre Poly-Rythmo.

« Another colour of Africa resonates from a rich journey and a new dimension »
Peter Solo bears witness to a unique journey, full of experiences and openings. After a stunning success in Togo, he travelled the paths of West Africa, Europe and Asia. Full of willpower and individuality, his music is rooted in Togolese tradition while absorbing West African and other far-reaching influences. The result is a highly original expression of a powerful, lively and palpable culture.

« The Togolese legacy »
Of Mina ethnic origin (southern Togo), Peter Solo (born Viwanu Déboutoh) was born in 1972 in Aného-Glidji-Agdomé, villages located close to Lomé, a leading Vaudou
region where secular ceremonies are still practiced. In an environment rich in popular traditions, Peter grows up at the heart of Vaudou practices with a devout Vaudoussi mother and a christian father. At 11 years old, his parents both deceased, he lives for a few years with his grandmother until M’Pa, a fetishisthealer, takes over his care. At 13 he constructs his first guitar with an oil drum, wood and break cables, and his brother, a musician, teaches him his first scales.
At 16 he joins a band as a guitarist for the first time and plays in the capital’s key hotspots and at many ceremonies. By no means is traditional percussion (Kada, Kpéchi, Sogo, Tavougan) put aside – he plays regularly with the dance group Ayigafrik (Ass Ayiga’s group), one of the biggest traditional and contemporary groups in Togo. Between 1995 and 1999, sought-after for his great talent as a guitarist, Peter accompanies many groups all over West Africa – Papa Wemba, Myriam Makeba, Monique Seka, Fifi Rafi Atou, Aifa Mala, Akofa Akoussa, Gnonas Pedro, King Mensah, Orchestre Sassamasso, and Aurius Mabélé with whom he goes on tour in Africa in 1998. The same year, his first album makes him 'Artist of the year' in Togo. But the desire to learn and develop drives him to more far-reaching horizons.

« England, then France »
At the age of 27, Peter spends four years at the heart of London between 1999 and 2003, totally immersed in the Gospel tradition. There he developed his singing technique while working as Choir Master for several Gospel choirs. He also plays regularly with various African bands. After this British experience, he chooses to move to France where he dedicates his time to his own creations. The group Kakarako is born of a combination of acoustic and electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, keyboards, Togolese percussions and kibéou (traditional guitar from northern Togo with one string and a calabash). Kakarako builds itself up a robust scenic reputation from audiences and professionals, sharing stages with prestigious artists such as Manu Dibango, Tinariwen and Touré Kounda. One year of extensive and meticulous creation ends at the beginning of 2008 in the release of the album " Miadome ", produced and mixed by sound-ingeneer Patrick Jauneaud (Pink Floyd, Rokia Traoré, Kate Bush, Alpha Blondy), the fruit of numerous meetings and experiences in which Peter Solo widened his horizons.
Miadome receives unanyme recognition from specialized press :
« A true revelation » - VIBRATIONS
« A variegated reading of the groove, transcending musical and physical borders » - WORLDSOUND

« Sukiafrica Sukiyaki Allstars »
Peter Solo then gives three years of concerts in France, Europe and Asia, with tours in August 2009 and 2010 in Japan and South Korea, before Africa in 2011 with the Sukiafrica Sukiyaki Allstars, the Afro-Asian creation of the famous Japanese festival gathering the Zimbabwean singer Chiwoniso, Camroonians Erik Aliana (vocals) and ChouchouBass (bass), and the Asian percussionists Jang Jaehyo (Korea), Sakaki Mango and Ndana (Japan). The group performs in Japan on the various stages of Sukiyaki Festival, in Shibuya Club Quattro of Tokyo, as well as at the South Corea Gwangju World Music Festival in Seoul. The adventure continues at the beginning of 2011 through South Africa (Moyo), Swaziland (House one Fire), Zanzibar (Tanzania) at the Festival Sauti Za Busara, and Zimbabwe. Live performances of high flight conquered full-rooms audience : no doubt that the success gained in gave ideas to these eight artists.

« Analog Vodoo, back to the 70's »
Strengthened by these musical experiments, and rich of these meetings and exchanges, Peter Solo enters studio in April, 2011 for a new album. He asserts his unique identity between voodoo-funk and afro-groove, and puts away traditionnal instruments for a return of the analogical sound of the 70s, at the crossroads between James Brown, The Funkees, the Doors, Orchestre Poly-Rythmo, El Rego, Black Santiago and K. Frimpong