No Format!
Encyclopedia
No Format! is an independent record label
based in Paris
and created in 2004.
The label seeks to invest in original musical projects, be them instrumental
or vocal
, and has built up a catalogue of 18 works since its inception. Among them, the duets between artists with a traditional west african
musical background and artists more familiar with western
traditions (Chamber Music
by Ballaké Sissoko
and Vincent Segal), but also albums by singer-songwriters (Chocolate Genius, Inc.
, Mélissa Laveaux
or Solo Piano by Gonzales
to name a few).
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
based in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and created in 2004.
The label seeks to invest in original musical projects, be them instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
or vocal
Vocal music
Vocal music is a genre of music performed by one or more singers, with or without instrumental accompaniment, in which singing provides the main focus of the piece. Music which employs singing but does not feature it prominently is generally considered instrumental music Vocal music is a genre of...
, and has built up a catalogue of 18 works since its inception. Among them, the duets between artists with a traditional west african
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
musical background and artists more familiar with western
Western culture
Western culture, sometimes equated with Western civilization or European civilization, refers to cultures of European origin and is used very broadly to refer to a heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, religious beliefs, political systems, and specific artifacts and...
traditions (Chamber Music
Chamber Music (Ballake Sissoko and Vincent Segal album)
Chamber Music is an album by Ballaké Sissoko and Vincent Segal. It was released in 2009 by the French label No Format! and in 2011 by the U.S. label Six Degrees Records...
by Ballaké Sissoko
Ballaké Sissoko
Ballaké Sissoko is a noted player of the kora. He has worked with Toumani Diabaté and Taj Mahal and several others. He can be heard on Diario Mali. Ballaké's father, Djelimady Sissoko, was a notable musician in his own right.-Biography:...
and Vincent Segal), but also albums by singer-songwriters (Chocolate Genius, Inc.
Chocolate Genius, Inc.
Chocolate Genius, Inc. is a loose collective of musicians centered around Marc Anthony Thompson, a singer-songwriter from New York City....
, Mélissa Laveaux
Mélissa Laveaux
Mélissa Laveaux is an Ottawa musician of Haitian descent signed to No Format! records...
or Solo Piano by Gonzales
Gonzales (musician)
Gonzales, , is a Grammy-nominated Canadian musician currently residing in Paris, France. Though best known for his first MC and electro albums, he is also a pianist, producer, and songwriter....
to name a few).
Artists
- Ballaké SissokoBallaké SissokoBallaké Sissoko is a noted player of the kora. He has worked with Toumani Diabaté and Taj Mahal and several others. He can be heard on Diario Mali. Ballaké's father, Djelimady Sissoko, was a notable musician in his own right.-Biography:...
and Vincent SegalVincent SégalVincent Ségal, is a French cellist and bassist born in 1967 in the French city of Reims.He is a conservatory musician from the National Music Academy of Lyon who also studied at Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada. He is mainly known for the variety of his collaborations and out of the ordinary... - Chocolate Genius, Inc.Chocolate Genius, Inc.Chocolate Genius, Inc. is a loose collective of musicians centered around Marc Anthony Thompson, a singer-songwriter from New York City....
- Faya Dub
- GonzalesGonzales (musician)Gonzales, , is a Grammy-nominated Canadian musician currently residing in Paris, France. Though best known for his first MC and electro albums, he is also a pianist, producer, and songwriter....
- Kyrie KristmansonKyrie KristmansonKyrie Kristmanson is a Canadian singer/songwriter, guitarist and trumpeter. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, she has lived in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and in France. Since appearing at the 2006 Winnipeg Folk Festival at the age of fifteen, Kristmanson has performed widely in Canada and...
- Lansiné Kouyaté and David Neerman
- Julia SarrJulia SarrJulia Sarr is a Mezzo-soprano born in Dakar, Senegal. She comes from the Serer ethnic group . As one of the most sought after backing vocalist, she has worked with several prominent artists over the years including Youssou N'Dour and Patrice Larose.- Career :Julia launched her singing career...
- Mamani KeitaMamani KeitaMamani Keita is a singer and musician from Mali, best known for her album with Marc Minelli, Electro Bamako. She was raised speaking Bambara, and was once a backup singer for Salif Keita. She is credited on four tracks of the soundtrack album of the French animated film Kirikou et les bêtes sauvages...
- Mélissa LaveauxMélissa LaveauxMélissa Laveaux is an Ottawa musician of Haitian descent signed to No Format! records...
- Misja Fitzgerald Michel
- Nicolas Repac
- Rocé
- Gerald TotoGerald TotoGerald Toto is a lyricist, composer, performer, multi-instrumentalist and artistic director.-Music career:Part of the underground scene in the middle of the 1990s, he chose a new direction by becoming the artistic director and composer of the first album of the well known Faudel On the heels of the...
, Richard BonaRichard BonaRichard Bona is a jazz bassist and musician. His real African name, as he said live in Montreal in a show with Bobby McFerrin, is Bona Pinder Yayumayalolo...
, Lokua KanzaLokua KanzaLokua Kanza is a singer, songwriter, and composer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is known for his soulful, folksy sound, which is atypical of the dancefloor friendly soukous music that is common in the Congo.-Biography:...