Benjamin Biolay renews his love for Argentina with a new visit and an intimate show

It’s difficult to introduce Benjamin Biolay without falling into the cliché of remembering some family relationships: he is the brother of the singer Coralie Clément and the ex-husband of Chiara Mastroianni, daughter of Catherine Deneuve and Marcello Mastroianni.

Better to say it He is one of the most important artists in France, with a solid career in film and music. She made her big screen debut with Star AND He was nominated for the César Awards for Best Supporting Actor.. He then made twenty other films, the last of which Rosaliepremiered last year at the Cannes Film Festival.

In music he has distinguished himself as a producer and songwriter. He has composed for figures such as Henri Salvador, Juliette Gréco, Julien Clerc, Françoise Hardy and Vanessa Paradis, as well as publishing a dozen of his own albums.

What the official biographies don’t say is that he has a long and lasting relationship with Argentina. He came for the first time in 2005, invited by the BAFICI festival, who also organized two recitals for him in Niceto. Since then he has been coming periodically and has even recorded two albums here, Palermo-Hollywood AND Returnwith musicians.

On this occasion he will give only one show, this one Thursday 11 January at the Niceto Clubaccompanied by Fernando Samalea on drums, Nathy Cabrera on bass, Gimena Alvarez Cela on keyboards and Julián Fraus on guitar.

Attraction for Buenos Aires

“I was there nine months ago,” he begins, “because I have family and friends here. It’s a strong relationship with this country, but I can’t explain it. It’s like a strong attraction, a crush. The first time it made me say “Wow!” and I still feel the same, even though I am aware of all the problems.

And he adds: “I like it not only from the point of view of a tourist who appreciates food and music, but also because I want to fully understand its uses, rituals and history.”

-You were deepening the relationship.

-Yes. I recorded here at El Pie and Romaphonic studios, with Fernando Samalea and many people. That’s why I’m very happy to be back.

-Who would you like to record a song or participation with?

-Lauren Hill! And obviously I’m a Charly García fan, but I don’t see it possible. There is nothing thought out, let’s say. The human relationship is very important.

-Who have you already registered with here?

-With Miss Bolivia, Bajofondo, Alika, Emmanuel Horvilleur and Dante Spinetta.

The recital in Niceto

-Is this new show similar or different from the French ones?

-We were on tour in France and other French-speaking countries and we want to do the same show and not a B-series show.

-There will be some reference to the live album you recently released, “A l’Auditorium”.

-The live album is with an orchestra, the Lyon Symphony, recorded 18 months ago. But this is something different from the tour we do, which is with Nathy and Ximena, also Argentinian, and two guitarists and a drummer.

-So you won’t sing the Frank Sinatra song you did in Lyon?

-NO. I did it It was a very beautiful year when the chance to sing with an orchestra arose. I wanted to do that song with string arrangements because I was a fan of Frank Sinatra when I was young.

-How would you describe the show?

-A collection of songs from my entire life. It’s for people who love my music because they’ll be able to hear something from each album. They are people’s favorite songs, because I know which song is important. And a little bit of the last album, but not only that, because I don’t like artists who only play the last one. They don’t connect with people!

acting work

-How is your life as an actor now: do you film a lot, a little or not at all?

-I’m not doing much. But it’s not another life! It’s the same life but with a break to make music. It’s important to stop for a while to find inspiration. For me it’s a great pleasure to make art with other actors and actresses, it’s something I love very much, but it’s not my job. I have no acting ambitions.

-The last one was “Rosalíe”

-Yes. It’s an incredible film, one of the best I’ve ever made.

-Then you have to take it to BAFICI and they will invite you again.

-! I love BAFICI. It is a festival with a truly special programme. It’s a treasure. There is no festival like BAFICI in France, only more mainstream stuff.

Songs and photos

-What is your dynamic or compositional routine?

-I don’t always compose, but I have small songs on the recorder and on my cell phone. Every day I have a small or big idea. And the moment I want to go to the studio I feel everything. It’s a bit tricky to compose on tour because it’s tiring, but there are hotel room songs at 3 in the morning, with a bottle nearby.

-Do you still take a lot of photos?

-Yes. I’m a fan of great photography artists. It’s incredible art. I am bad, very bad, but I have a special camera, although now I don’t know where it is.

-How is this new year going?

-In April we will start a tour in Europe, but I want to go into the studio and make new songs. This year I won’t make a film, or maybe just one but with a character who isn’t small but only has ten days of shooting. It is the year of the creation of the new album 2025.

Fernando Samalea writes

The famous and talented Argentine drummer Fernando Samalea has been playing live and recording with Benjamin Biolay since 2017, when they released Palermo-Hollywood.

Regarding his French friend, he wrote these words Clarion:

“Cultured, seductive, intelligent, sensitive, a great person, intoxicating, histrionic and an old-school host, Benjamin has built a spectacular career as a singer, pianist, trumpeter and violist in his home town and surrounding areas.

A true folk idol, he explores both classical and French song, as well as rock, hip-hop, cumbia and electronica. Even with the Gallic archetypes of deep voices and cigarettes as a flag, he is still himself. His mystique reminds me of the Montparnasse artists of the early 20th century. He writes orchestral arrangements, acts in films as a Nouvelle Vague heartthrob and makes several original clips of his creations.

Nothing better could have happened to me than meeting him in 2015. Since then I have been lucky enough to record a couple of his albums and accompany him on some European tours. I will always be grateful to him. “Here I am, in my beloved Buenos Aires, tuning my drums whenever I want.”