They appear in the AB Club for the first time on 8/12: Yusuf & Audri. He is sometimes referred to as ‘the new Tamino’ and he turns up on the charts of Most Promising Belgian Artists. Yusuf has his very own mysterious, intense pop sound. On debut EP ‘Balm’, for six songs long, you could hear echoing guitars, dark electronica and his impressive, fragile voice. ‘Fans van James Blake gaan hem goed vinden, maar de echte referenties zijn Seekae, Arca en RY X. Audri has been singing and playing piano her entire life already. After a series of support-acts for Tamino and solo shows at festivals, now it’s time for her first EP. ‘Fool’s Gold’ was released in October via Leuven’s Tangram Records and is a mix of jazz & pop with electronica influences and Audri’s velvety voice.
In ‘Meet the artist’, we subject our artists to an intense cross-examination before they go on stage.
WHO IS AUDRI?
AB: What do you do in everyday life?
AUDRI: Music, music, music. Read. Draw. Write. Trying not to get fat from all the chocolate I eat. Search for photos of dogs.
AB: How old are you?
AUDRI: 23
AB: Who/What is your biggest musical influence?
AUDRI: Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney are holy. Then there’s Kate Bush, Aurora, BADBADNOTGOOD, Bibio, Bon Iver, Feist, Nina Simone, Chet Faker (Nick Murphy), Ella Fitzgerald, 10CC, and so on.
AB: Do you come to AB and/or Brussels often?
AUDRI: I try to. I lived in Brussels for a while and fell in love with it. Hopefully I will go back one day, so I try to get there, often for AB concerts, as frequently as I can.
AB: What are you expecting of your show in AB?
AUDRI: Now that my show with band is as it should be, I just want to enjoy it. It doesn’t matter how big the audience is. If I can communicate my musical message, and I can lose myself on stage a bit, then I’m totally happy.
AB: Are there special things listed on your rider?
AUDRI: Chocolate... with extra chocolate.
AB: What are you musical ambitions?
AUDRI: Chocolate. No, ummm, I want to someday make an album that I’m really proud of and I reeeaally want to experience touring.
AB: What was the best concert ever you ever played yourself and that of another band?
AUDRI: My own: Last summer in Bar Bricolage, Ghent. That was the first time with a band. Really fun :-).
By an other band:David Byrne at Gent Jazz, and Natasha Bedingfield’s 'Unwritten' by my friend Femke at a drunken karaoke night.
AB: What is your favourite album of 2018?
AUDRI: At the moment, 'Infections of a Different Kind' by AURORA. And the EP 'Omla' by Pippin.
AB: What do you think of the Belgian audience?
AUDRI: Nice! They are really supportive of new artists. They have their feet on the ground and so you get honest feedback. It’s also nice that they are (usually) quiet during my set. Wonderful to play for.Sometimes though, they could use those dancing feet and move a bit more during shows. I often want to dance during a concert but very soon feel like people are staring at me. Maybe I just go to the wrong concerts. I really need to go see Roméo Elvis more, it’s always good there. :-)
WHO IS YUSUF?
AB: What do you do in everyday life?
YUSUF: Commute.
AB: How old are you?
YUSUF: 22 years young.
AB: Who/What is your biggest musical influence?
YUSUF: Lanark Artefax.
AB: Do you come to AB and/or Brussels often?
YUSUF: Not so often and yet I really like to.
AB: What are you expecting of your show in AB?
YUSUF: Too much.
AB: Are there special things listed on your rider?
YUSUF: Jupiler 0,0.
AB: What are you musical ambitions?
YUSUF: To arrive and stay.
AB: What was the best concert ever you ever played yourself and that of another band?
YUSUF: My own: Botanique, Rotonde – Les Nuits (support Blackwave.)
By an other band: Eartheater, Le Guess Who 2018
AB: What is your favourite album of 2018?
YUSUF: Oliver Coates – Shelley’s on Zenn-La.
AB: What do you think of the Belgian audience?
YUSUF: Gentle, shy, difficult to gauge.
