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Inside the Groove: Franck Biyong’s Journey from Progressive Rock to Afro Jazz
Mar 15, 2024
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In this insightful interview, Franck Biyong, a seasoned musician in the realm of progressive and experimental rock, takes us on a journey through his musical evolution, creative process, and influences. From his early fascination with the guitar to the intricate storytelling behind his featured track “Dreamland,” Franck shares the challenges he’s faced as an artist, the ever-evolving music scene, and his unique contributions. As he reflects on memorable moments and future projects, Franck offers a glimpse into the dynamic world of his Afro jazz and rock-oriented endeavors. Join us as we delve into the mind of Franck Biyong, exploring his passion, influences, and the intersection of his music with the broader artistic landscape.
Let’s start with a glimpse into your musical journey. How did you find your way into the world of progressive/experimental rock?
Franck Biyong: That goes way, way back… It’s a bit of a cliché to say that, but as a youngster, the guitar was a complete fascination to me, and even while listening to music, I would always primarily notice or appreciate guitar contributions to hit songs that were playing on TV or the radio—that is probably how everything started. During my teenage years, I was fortunate to have an older brother who was part of a band, writing songs and playing piano and guitar quite well… I became way more serious about music from then on, even though it literally took ages before my skills gradually improved. This was ultimately life-changing to be part of such an environment, and I realize how formative these years were now as I am getting older.
Let’s dive into the featured track on the compilation. Can you share the inspiration or story behind “Dreamland”?
Franck Biyong: Strangely enough, DREAMLAND is the first song I had worked on for the album project and the last featured on the record…I wasn’t expecting it to be featured on a compilation either, but again, once the music is out there, no one knows where it may go or reach…The chord progression came kind of naturally, and I thought for some time that this came from a song I had heard somewhere else…The world we live in today is a very challenging place, things are changing and evolving at such a frantic pace, and not necessarily for the best… Utopia and nostalgia are more influential than ever as a result, and DREAMLAND kind of evokes that…that feeling of a beautiful memory, or lost love that you know can’t be found again or brought back to life… It is also about being very realistic while trying to keep the “faith” at the same time…
Walk us through your creative process. How do you typically approach writing and composing music? What was your creative process like for your recent album “Moonwatching 2” in comparison to your previous efforts?
Franck Biyong: Writing music for me is quite a long process because I am a merciless judge about everything sung and played on records I produce, and even more critical about my own contributions… So a lot of time is spent just making sure chord changes and melodic lines or rhythms that you have are well-structured, have meaning, and have sustenance to them before considering releasing any piece or song… The new record I knew would be based on the guitar, and an instrumental one…So the idea for these lengthy sessions was to use guitars the same way we use lead and background vocals. We also made the conscious decision to avoid using keyboards or synths, and experiment as much as possible with pedals and effects to create eerie and surprising sonic textures… I don’t like repeating myself album after album, and facing musical or creative challenges for every new project forces you to dig deep and come up with original ideas… I hope that will filter through a bit for those curious enough to give this music a listen.
Who or what are your major influences in progressive rock? How do they impact your own musical style?
Franck Biyong: The obvious ones, I would say…Frank Zappa, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, also “fusion” bands like the early incarnations of Gong or Soft Machine etc…SPIRIT OF EDEN and LAUGHING STOCK by Talk Talk were mind-blowing and quite inspirational too…Zappa and Crimson are much more influential to me because of the very large music horizons they explored, the fusion of music styles and genres in Frank’s case, and a clear African polyrhythmic influence in Fripp’s playing from 1982 (the BEAT album) onwards…forward-thinking artists like them help you figure out that certain things you hear or wish you could play or write do exist but require you to broaden your knowledge and interest for all things music. Fortunately, I think that is what I have done so far…
What challenges have you faced as an artist in the scene, and how have you overcome them?
Franck Biyong: Where do we start?? Does it ever end?? The major challenge to me is remaining relevant and keeping on producing music that may potentially stand the test of time, because that’s all that will be left behind us once we’re not here any longer… I understood my limitations early enough, so I always knew what I had to improve or work on harder… I also realized that the independent artist route was a much, much harder path to follow, but that dedication and resilience could help overcome a lot of these obstacles we encounter while progressing in this business… Working relentlessly is also an absolute necessity, and being fearless in another…
How do you see the scene evolving, and what role do you believe your music plays in that evolution?
Franck Biyong: That is difficult to say; I would lie if I pretended I was fully aware of all the newest trends and styles that appeared on the music scene just a few months ago… I’m trying to keep up with most of what’s happening, even when the music presented is not my cup of tea… I think what is important is that musicians acquire a sharper sense of entrepreneurship when it comes to owning and producing music in the AI and streaming age. What role could my music play in there? Hopefully inspire a new generation of African musicians to reconsider their views about musicianship and production.
Share with us some of the most memorable moments in your musical journey so far.
Franck Biyong: Playing at iconic venues such as the SOB’s in NYC or the Jazz Café in London was thrilling. A few years ago, I was the music director for a continental African music TV show that showcased an entire new generation of artists. The band was great and very creative, and this was indeed a high point in my journey… The best, I hope, is still to come…
Do you have a personal favorite among your own compositions? If so, which one and why?
Franck Biyong: Let’s put it this way: there are albums I can still listen to and enjoy a few things on… I have a hard time listening to older works because all I hear are the flaws, subpar compositions, or technical limitations we were facing then… In the past few years, the production quality has improved, so that’s a plus… Being critical about your own work forces you to remain active, focused, and willing to do better the next time… That’s how we keep things going.
Can you give us a sneak peek into any upcoming projects or collaborations you’re working on?
Franck Biyong: The new record is a 360° stylistic change from MOONWATCHING 2..This is an Afro jazz/Afro funk record that pays tribute to the founding fathers of modern African music (not so-called “world music”) scheduled for release before summer 2024…We’re also currently working on another rock-oriented album scheduled for late 2024, and our main new project is the band AFROBRAINZ I have been performing with for the past 5 years. After a few line-up changes and delays caused by the pandemic, we will finally be able to get things started soon enough. I will keep you posted about that…
What does it mean to you to be a part of our compilation? How has the experience been for you?
Franck Biyong: It is always interesting to be featured alongside so many artists from different horizons and walks of life, and it is also a good surprise because this was unexpected. Positive and interesting experience considering very few African artists are featured on the compilation.
Is there a message you’d like to convey to your fans who will be discovering your music through this compilation?
Franck Biyong: Yes, I’d encourage them to listen to the compilation in its entirety and to go check the social media pages and links of the bands or artists they appreciated.
If you could collaborate with any artist, living or not, who would it be?
Franck Biyong: Among those who unfortunately aren’t with us anymore, I’d say Miles Davis… Being one of the 2 guitar players in his 1973–75 band would have been something else…Robert Wyatt and/or Tony Visconti would be my picks for the living ones.
If you had to pick one instrument (besides your primary one) to master, what would it be?
Franck Biyong: Piano or Tenor Saxophone for sure…I have always been mediocre at playing Keyboards and tried the sax a few times, but never really had a chance to follow through or learn… But I would really like to…One day, maybe…
What’s your all-time favorite progressive rock album, and why? One album that you always return to.
Franck Biyong: That is a tough one… There are a few to be honest, can’t really pick just one: There is no particular order, but I’d say “RICOCHET” by Tangerine Dream, “EXPOSURE” by Robert Fripp and “FISH RISING” by Steve Hillage.
Are there nonmusical influences that find their way into your music? (e.g., literature, art, science)
Franck Biyong: Afro-futurism in its various incarnations (photography, literature or astronomy) is certainly an inspiration, but not in a scholarly sense but rather in a conceptual sense… Sun Ra man…Fortunately, he gave us the keys to his visionary kingdom, and more importantly ways to approach these ideas without sounding too bombastic or pretentious…
Any final thoughts or reflections you’d like to share with our audience?
Franck Biyong: Thanks again to Niko and the PROG SPHERE team for selecting our song for the compilation and looking forward to seeing the reception this ambitious project will receive.
