Franck Biyong

FRANCK BIYONG

The creator of the hybrid Afrolectric sound in pan-global pop.
(Artist Biography by Thom Jurek)

Franck Biyong grew up in Gabon, Nigeria and Ivory Coast. Franck and his siblings attended the National Institute of Arts in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. He originally studied piano but dropped it in favour of drums, percussion and eventually, guitar. Franck credits African-American Jazz guitarist, Wes Montgomery’s “Canadian Sunset” as the song that piqued his interest in electric guitar.
At age 14, Franck moved to the United Kingdom where he started recording demos influenced by his musical heroes William Onyeabor, King Crimson, Sun Ra, Francis Bebey and Frank Zappa.

By 1996, the Lumen label had picked him up and Franck began working as a session man and back up guitarist in Brighton. However, Fela’s death in 1997 spurred Franck’s return to France. He formed a twelve-piece band called Massak —a Basaa (Cameroonian tongue and tribe) word that means music, trance and enjoyment through rhythms and sounds—to pay homage to the legendary musician and his Africa 70 and Egypt 80 ensembles.

This would mark the beginning of Franck’s career and musical experimentation. With his 4-piece horn section, drummer, percussionist, bass player, keyboardist, rhythm guitarist and female backing vocalists, Franck began to tour several clubs and
festivals including SOB’s in New York, Jazz Café in London, Montréal Jazz Festival, Hothouse in Chicago and Floydfest in Virginia.

Franck Biyong & Massak were then considered one of the best-kept secrets within the international Afrobeat Diaspora. Franck’s first official single, B.L.A (which stands for Brain Liberation Army) was released as a 7’inch vinyl on Lenar/Soul Fire Records. The two-part jam greatly appealed to gritty funk and Afrobeat lovers across the globe.

B.L.A’s success hailed Franck Biyong as frontrunner in the Afrobeat revival scene. This led to new partnerships with independent labels and the release of a string of singles: Live! (2003), We Shall Overcome (2004), Power of Brain (2005), E.P (2006) and Afrofunkydance (2007). With German label Melting Pot Music, Franck released T&C / Junglectric, a medley of two popular songs that were an integral part of Massak's show. This special rendition was recorded in October 2002 in Dijon where Massak opened for Tony Allen (Franck dedicated this song to the legendary Afrobeat drummer).

Ranging from Egypt 80-inspired Afro sound to new-age music pastoral pieces, REALMS OF ATLANTIS would become Franck’s first full-length album. Released on September 2006, it was a collection of moods and atmospheres exploring a more relaxed and spiritual dimension of Massak’s music. Franck Biyong & Massak expanded their repertoire with the November 2007 sophomore release, HAITI MARKET. The album was an Afro pop trip to the underground world with generous doses of funk, jazz, folk, soul and lyrics sung in English, French, Pidgin English and Portuguese.

In 2007, Franck wrote an Afro-Opera called KNOWLEDGE IDENTITY RECONSTRUCTION in honor of the great late West Indian poet Aimé Césaire. It was based on the history of African Diasporas living in...