Spin & Spells + Celia Kameni Méduse

SPIN & SPELLS

France

After working with the jazz punk trio NOUT and the noise duo Five 38, Rafaëlle Rinaudo returns to a more acoustic sound in a trio with a unique chemistry.

With Spin & Spells, harpist Rafaëlle Rinaudo, who is more commonly associated with punk or high-energy explorations, resolutely embraces the magic of her craft. Joined by her two spellbinding partners, Simon Winsé on ngoni and Peul flute, and Raphaël Quenehen on saxophones, the instrumentation might suggest a fundamentally melodic approach, but here it takes on a rhythmic focus to give rise to harmony. “Spin” refers to rotation, like grooves that, swirling and clashing, produce enchantment—the “spells.” “Spin” also evokes spinning and weaving, blending groove, intertwined strings, and polyrhythm, bridging contemporary jazz with new sonic worlds to explore.

Simon Winsé: kamalen N’goni, Peul flute; Raphaël Quenehen: saxophone, percussion; Rafaëlle Rinaudo: electric harp

© Morgan Triqueneaux

CELIA KAMENI Méduse
FRANCE
Revealed as a leading figure in French vocal jazz, Celia Kameni breaks free from traditional classifications in a luminous personal project.

While her deep and textured voice excels in jazz, which has hailed her as one of the best French singers of today, Celia Kameni has already demonstrated her ability to embrace a wide range of musical styles with her own sensitivity. With Méduse, she takes it a step further, surrounded by a talented team accustomed to experimentation. Echoes of Nina Simone, Björk, or Nick Drake resonate in her music, and the project also aligns with contemporary artists like Moses Sumney, Shida Shahabi, or Arooj Aftab, blending improvisation, poetry, and the depth of resonant singing in search of a new form where the voice becomes a stunning channel of emotions.

Celia Kameni: voice, Juliette Serrad: cello, Giani Caserotto: guitar, Thibault Gomez: piano, Julien Loutelier: drums

© DR