Zaza Belage A few words with multi-instrumentalist Zaza Belage. This is what his biography has to say: Zaire Belage, better known as Zaza by his friends, is passionate about music.   It all started for him when at the age of 11, in 1974, when he began to learn the guitar under the enlightened guidance of his brother. From 1978 to 1984, he perfected his technique while playing with family members and several groups of friends.  He then experimented with styles such as Rock and World Music, among many others.  In 1985, Zaire moved into the professional world, playing with the group called AFOUS until 1987.  They recorded their album Oh!  Les Beurs and performed as first feature of Cheb Khaled?s show at the Eldorado theater in Paris. Zaire then became part of the SALAMALEK group, whose style can be labeled as Afro Jazz, Funk, and participated in numerous concerts and events, such as SOS Ca bouge and on many stages in the area close to his home, and in the cities of Bobigny, Drancy, Blanc-Mesnil, near Paris. He also notably recorded with Fellah?s musicians in a Parisian studio. In his ceaseless quest for new skills, he came to spend one year in Denver, CO, where he played with diverse Heavy Metal bands. Back in France, he toured with FUNKADELIK, ending with the concert TRANSEXPRESS 91 in Bobigny.  From 1991 to 1993, Zaire joined the French Rock group NYCTALOPE, which offers a repertoire of songs with strong poetic and social contents. After learning so many different styles, he decided to learn percussions with Ali Fares in order to add to his musical talents a rhythmic dimension.  After two years of courses between 1993 and 1995, Zaire completed his musical education with a year in Burkina Faso where he was in daily contact with local musicians and percussionists.  The African influence is plainly discernable in some of his compositions. He took the same approach with the other main source of his musical inspiration, the USA, where he visited several times again, in 1997, 1999 and 2000, and worked in pubs and restaurants, especially in Dallas and Tyler, TX. He performed on Beur TV in a show dedicated to Richard King.  That year also, Zaire worked in the Singe Bleu recording studio in Paris composing songs for the Raga-Reggae artist Papy-Ninj?as and accompanying him in the music video promoting his CD.  Finally, in June 2005, he participated in the composition of the sound-track of Allez, yallah, a movie featuring the actress, singer and dancer Sapho. To sum up the main qualities of this artist, one can say that behind the apparent facility of his performance on guitar and percussions, Zaire went to the trouble of studying on site the influences that give him his characteristic style. These experiences have also enriched him as a person, who is fond to share them with other people with a simplicity and warmth that make him particularly engaging Leicester Bangs: So, when did you start out making music? Zaza: When I was young. 10 or 11 years. LB: Who did you grow up listening to and how do they influence what you’re doing now? Zaza: When I was a teenager I listened to heavy metal, reggae, rock, funk, afro jazz funk, etc etc... LB: Tell us about your latest release. Zaza: My Album The Earth My Country, reflects my travels around the world. It is inspired by my experiences in Africa, America and Europe. LB: Do you get out and play your music live, and if so, what can an audience expect at one of your shows? Zaza: Not right now, because I don't have a band. LB: What aspects of playing and recording music do you most enjoy? Zaza: I enjoy composing and arranging in the studio. LB: Where can people find (and buy) your music? Zaza: www.cdbaby.com/cd/zaza http://store.bentmusic.ca/zaza-belage www.promofm.com/zare_belage www.myspace.com/zazabelage