Madjo named herself after two former owners of the house she was raised in, Madeleine and Joseph. There’s an African bloodline in her family and although she’s from France (Evian), she’s just not that into chansons. She likes dusty rootsrock (Calexico, Iron and Wine), moody electronica (Massive Attack, Anja Garbarek) and the grand dames of soul (Billie, Nina). She made an impression with her first EP, released last year, sporting a Leadbelly cover. On her first album, just out, she sings in French and English, with a voice that reminds me of Yael Naim. The music is a mix of the influences just mentioned, but because of her remarkable voice and the great production (Sebastien Lafargue, who also worked with Valerie Leuilliot), Trapdoor is an album you really would want to hear. Of course I wish she sang in French some more. But, contrary to other French singers, the English songs are as good as the French ones.
Madjo – Cracheur de feu