Franck Biyong Music

Cameroonian musician, band Leader and creator of the Afrolectric sound, Franck is a child of many worlds but is anchored to none. Instrumentalist, composer and singer, he grew up in Gabon, Nigeria and Ivory Coast before heading to the UK at age 14. Franck’s musical instincts were awoken in a Baptist household and sharpened by Rock n' Roll. The electric guitar would later become his tool of trade. “The ordinary ear does not perceive the vaster spiritual acoustic expression in the cosmic domain. The manifestation of sound to me is the subtlest, the most vital: even more so than light.” (Franck Biyong) An extensive and successful detour into AfroBeat and AfroJazz has seen Franck receive glowing praise for his soulful and dynamic performances. He’s got a trail of accolades spanning the globe. “[He] kept all of us entertained with a very international yet familiar sound. A very smooth sound.” – Malik Armstead, The Five Spot (Brooklyn, New York) Now,Franck is nimbly reinventing himself one wild electric guitar riff at a time. Liyomba Church’s fast-paced guitar and drum pairing reveal the Afrolectric ambitions he’s been developing for the past 10 years. It draws influences from rock, electro and experimental sounds. In the track, Franck’s deep voice melds with that of a female singer’s tenor and the singing takes on a chant-like quality. In staccato Swahili, the pair reveals that it is time to break into ululations and join in the celebration of life. .On stage and in person, Franck’s persona draws from the deep well of Afro-Futurism. Floating in a haze of white smoke, Franck has ascended the throne. This is the new face of Black Rock and just might be an alternative that the world has been waiting for. (Notes by Wanjeri Gakuru)