French Curse

Olivia Ruiz rose to fame in 2001 as a contestant on the first edition of the TV reality show Star Academy, the French equivalent of American Idol. Subsequently, Ruiz exploited her popularity to secure a record deal and pursue a solo career. Certainly, her Star Academy background has been both a curse and a blessing for Ruiz. On the one hand it allowed her to become a recording artist; on the other it made her immediately suspicious to critics and music lovers, because of the dubious musical merits of such shows. It is thus an unexpected and pleasant surprise to realize than in her solo albums Ruiz is firmly bent in disowning the Star Academy stigma, enthusiastically embracing instead the French chanson genre. More surprising still is the fact that she actually fully succeeded in her goals with the release of her second album, La Femme Chocolat. A marked improvement, both artistically and commercially, over her 2003 debut, J'aime Pas l'Amour, La Femme Chocolat sold over a million copies and turned Ruiz into one of the best-paid French female singers of her generation.

The brand is highly recognised with its distinctive packaging and quality music selection. It is the unofficial soundtrack to the French Film Festival, which attracted 135,000 people nationally in 2014 - making it the biggest foreign film festival in Australia. This January So Frenchy So Chic live concert will be held around the country attracting an estimated audience of 10,000+ in addition to extensive media coverage. The extremely popular So Frenchy So Chic series is back with 29 tracks that lift the spirits, from jazz to pop to electronica. Just say Ye-Ye! and hop on board. After years of successful compilation albums and tours, Cartell Music has the savoir faire to pick French musicians that Australian audiences love. Continuing the fabulous compilations of the past few years comes So Frenchy So Chic 2015, featuring an amazing lineup, including Emilie Simon, The Do, La Femme, Francois & The Atlas Mountains and more!

“My time with ECM is a lifetime by now,” Terje Rypdal notes, as he embarks upon his fourth decade with the label that has documented his far-reaching achievements as both improviser and composer. For this anthology, Rypdal chose to focus on his groundbreaking electric guitar artistry, heard in settings ranging from symphony orchestra to the enlightened hard rock of the Chasers. “Music must have colours and freedom”, Rypdal once said, and his selection here lacks neither.