This October, 32 year old Yannick Bovy from Europe is celebrating 100 years of Nat King Cole with a special world tour that stops right here at Istana Budaya, Malaysia. We got the opportunity to sit down with the jazz singer to find out more about his music career and to sneak a peek on his performance this coming month:
- Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
I’m a 32 year old crooner/jazz singer from Belgium in Europe. My career started 7 years ago when I got a worldwide artist deal with Universal Music and released the album ‘Better Man’. Apart from my homecountry and several European territories a track from the ‘Better Man’ album, ‘Theoretical love’, became an instant radio hit in SE Asia. So in less than a year I was invited for concerts, radio-and tv shows in Malaysia and Indonesia. Since them I have been performing in SE Asia on a regular basis.
- At what age did you realise that music was your calling and what led up to that?
I’ve known Nat King Cole’s repertoire since I was a teenager. His voice, his pronunciation. His warmth and depth. It was so easy to remember his lyrics and words, because you could understand him so well. This inspired me to become a singer.
- What has been your biggest challenge in your career so far?
To make crooner and big band music, which normally is looked at as ‘old’ music’, accessible to a young audience. With the current tour, which celebrates the music of Nat King Cole, I get a lot of reactions from girls and boys in their teens and twenties that they discovered some fantastic songs from Mr. Cole like ‘Unforgettable’ and ‘When I fall in love’ through my shows.
- Let’s talk about the “Yannick Bovy Celebrates 100 Years of Nat King Cole Album” World Tour, which Nat King Cole song are you most excited to perform and why?
NKC has so many amazing songs, but there was a discovery I made between the songs the VRT Bigg Band suggested to record with them for the album. This was ‘The Rules Of The Road’. A fantastic lyric, message and melody about life and love, where you live and learn…
- What are you expecting to get out of the experience of this tribute album tour?
To be able to introduce the amazing repertoire of Nat King Cole to a young audience. The songs might be from the 50’s and 60’s, but the lyrics have a message of love and hope that is timeless and is for all generations.
- Give us an insight to your concert; the setting, the musicians, the scale of the whole thing and special guests – just so we can get our readers excited!
For me a concert is all about the music. We want to make the incredible NKC repertoire come alive when played by some fantastic musicians. I will highlight some facts from the amazing musical story of Mr. Cole and will ask the audience to join in when we play some of his most beloved songs. But I will also sing some of my own songs that have become favourites on Malaysian radio. I want the audience to go home with a smile on their face.
- What are you looking most forward to about visiting Malaysia?
Actually, I’ve visited KL before and I always love coming here I extremely like the food and rooftop bars here, like Marini’s on 57th. Once, a Malaysian friend of mine took me to this place in Changkat Bukit Bintang to grab something to eat in the middle of the night after my performance, great food and experience there! I’ve already been to the Petronas Towers and the Batu caves, but there are many more things I want to see.
Catch Yannick Bovy as he celebrates 100 years of Nat King Cole on 4-5 October at Istana Budaya. Also, we are offering Vision KL readers with 20%off Premium, VIP ,Cat A and Cat B tickets when they purchase in a group of 4. Key in promo code NKCVKL to enjoy discounts at http://bit.ly/YannickNatKingCole