Anne Paceo merges music and spirituality in her album “SHAMANES”

Since its origins, music has always had a spiritual dimension, in all cultures. If it has become a common consumer good, several artists very often like to remind us of its soothing and introspective virtues or its mystical force. Anne Paceo is one of them. His new album SHAMANES is part of an approach that goes far beyond a collection of songs. The percussionist, but also author-composer-singer, answered our questions.

In 2019, Anne Paceo accompanies her grandfather’s departure until his last breath by singing songs in his ear. “A rather moving moment, but which completely changed my perception of life” explains the musician. “And who triggered questions about the afterlife”.

A few days later the piece was born Here and everywhere (“here and everywhere”) which, according to its author, expresses “the dissolution of the soul while life chirps all around, happier than ever.”

Following this “founding event”and having long been interested in different shamanic practices around the world, Anne Paceo decides to dig a little deeper into the subject through music, readings, meetings with researchers…

But as in all her projects, the musician is not in imitation. She feeds on this matter to produce something else, which really belongs to her.

I never try to reproduce, I let the music I hear infuse, I let it mature, and then comes the inspiration

Shamanism is often associated with Amerindian cultures, but Anne Paceo’s record makes us discover the universal side of this ancestral practice. She explains : “The culture of shamanism was very present in Siberia before the USSR banned it. And also in South America, Asia, Africa, Haiti with the voodoo ceremonies, among the Aborigines, and even in France as Jeanne Favret-Saada talks about in her book ‘Les Mots, la Mort, les Sorts’.”

"It is often said that I am solar" (SYLVAIN GRIPOIX) — “It is often said that I am solar” (SYLVAIN GRIPOIX)

This research of very detailed documentation impregnates the album, rich of all these influences. If the opening title Wide Awake and travelers have Native American colors, the other pieces take us to other shores.

remains a birdwhere Anne Paceo forsakes the chopsticks for a time to appropriate the microphone, evokes both moulting and reincarnation. “I like the idea of reincarnation. I find it nice to think that if we have done beautiful things we will still have a beautiful life that will follow.”

The clip directed by Juliette Bonvallet transcribes well this dreamlike, mysterious and magical universe in which Anne Paceo’s music is immersed.

When we listen to the album SHAMANES, one can only be transported by the luminous melodies and the cosmopolitan arrangements. Music that soothes and does good to the soul.

I hope my music makes people feel good. Music has always carried me, taken me to the light

Although profane, the music of Anne Paceo nevertheless conceals a mystical dimension. “I have no religious practice”specifies the musician, “but for me playing music is spiritual. Like praying or reciting mantras”. She adds : “Music is something deeply human and also universal and turned towards the world. I always have the impression that there is something beyond us.”

And for music with a universal reach, what could be more natural than breaking down the barriers of musical styles. Impossible to classify the music of Anne Paceo and that’s good. “I have a jazz education (national conservatory editor’s note). It’s my culture, but I would say more that it’s my school.”

And indeed, if we feel many jazz accents on certain rhythms or sax solos, the richness of the album takes us to atmospheres as diverse as the oriental consonances of Glamoursthe superb vocal harmonies, sometimes pop as in the finale Walk Until Nightor even more rock atmospheres such as the second part of wide awake.

My music would not necessarily appeal to the ayatollahs of classical jazz

Anne Paceo clearly embodies a music without borders, which makes fun of labels, in particular through this use of the voice in “instrument and texture like any other”. This approach also refers to the shamanic practice which also uses the voice in this way. “Sometimes there are words like for example in Colombia, but very often they are more textures, songs, rattles, very solar melodies, very different things.”

Universality of shamanism, universality of music. Anne Paceo merges the two in this magnificent album set out to meet the public this month of March.