The prominent representative of contemporary Swiss music, Sophie de Quay, has arrived in Baku. As part of the "Building Bridges Between Switzerland and Azerbaijan – World Tour," she will perform concert programs in Baku. She will be performing with Simon Jaccard, known for his multi-instrumental talent and nicknamed "octopus man," on September 18 at 19:00 at the Rashid Behbudov State Song Theatre and on September 19 at 20:00 at the Events Hall. Ms. Sophie will also conduct a seminar at the Azerbaijan National Conservatory on September 19. Sophie de Kue and Simon Jaccard have performed in Lebanon, Switzerland, Belgium, the USA, China, India, Singapore, Japan, Romania, Poland, Turkey, Italy, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Interview with the Swiss singer Sophie de Quay for APA News Agency
– It is interesting how the initiative about the concert in Baku came about.
– You never know in advance what the impact of a concert will be. The Swiss Ambassador to Azerbaijan, H.E. Thomas Stähli attended one of our concerts in China in May 2023, and that’s how he discovered my music. He contacted me a few months ago to perform at the Swiss National Day celebration in Baku. It’s a wonderful opportunity because Azerbaijan is a country I want to discover!
– Have you ever had a chance to get to know Azerbaijani music? Or have you ever heard of any Azerbaijani musicians?
– I’ve discovered several Azerbaijani artists through Eurovision in recent years, and I’ve just discovered Qorqud, which I like. As for the rest, I look forward to discovering more.
– How is Azerbaijan seen from far away—from Switzerland—through the eyes of a musician?
– Friends who know Azerbaijan well have told me it’s a beautiful country. When people mention Azerbaijan to me, they talk about the Formula 1 Grand Prix and Eurovision. I’m excited to explore the city of Baku. I always start by getting lost in the streets when I discover a new country, to feel its energy and atmosphere. I look forward to exchanging with the people and our future audience, tasting the local specialties, and immersing myself in the culture.
– Let’s talk about your life and activity: one of the interesting points in your career is your performance in different languages. Even during your foreign trips, you sing a song in the native language of the host country. It is interesting to hear your thoughts about it. It needs great effort. What gives you the stimulus for that?
– One of the reasons I make music is to build bridges between cultures. It’s a first step toward peace and a better world. When I have the chance to be welcomed by a country to perform, I find it normal to at least learn a few words in their language. If I manage to find the time to learn a song in the language, I do it. If the opportunity arises, I suggest a collaboration with a local artist.
– I think your family played a big role in your interest in world music. Since childhood, you have visited different countries and cities related to your father’s work. Can we see such a connection?
– I was born in Switzerland, and at the age of 7, I moved with my family to Singapore for 5 years, then to New York for 4 years. I had the chance to travel a lot during this period, meeting people from all over the world, from all cultures, religions, and social classes. I witnessed different ways of living that opened my mind. I later lived alone in Paris and Shanghai. Traveling is part of my DNA; it’s my source of inspiration. I’ve visited about fifty countries, and Azerbaijan is the 16th country where Simon and I will perform.
– As far as we know, your mother is an actress. Perhaps your interest in the artistic world comes from this.
– In my mother's family, we sang at every family gathering. My mother became an actress at the age of 48 when we returned to Switzerland after 10 years abroad. She is a great source of inspiration. She proved to me that if you have a dream and want to achieve it, it’s possible at any age. It’s a powerful life lesson that I convey through my songs. I chose to take her name "de Quay" as my stage name to honor her.
If my father had focused on the development of his voice, he could have been an opera singer.
– You had concerts in 15 countries. Among them, which concert is the most memorable for you?
– It's hard to choose, so I will tell you about a few of them. One of the most moving concerts was in Beirut in 2016, in honor of the martyrs of the Lebanese Red Cross. We played in a beautiful amphitheater, in front of 1,000 people dressed in Red Cross uniforms. During our cover of the well-known song “We Are the World,” about thirty volunteers joined us on stage to sing the chorus. It was a very emotional moment, and I felt that through music, I could soothe heart. In Shanghai, in May 2023, we performed in front of a thousand students at a university. We were the first concert they attended after COVID. They sang and danced with us, and we received an immense wave of love. Our concert at the Montreux Jazz Festival was also a great recognition, as it is a legendary festival known worldwide.
– You are the author of the music and lyrics of some of your songs.
– Simon and I write, compose, and produce all of our songs, but we are always open to collaborations.
– How is the environment in the Swiss music world? What kind of problems do you have?
– The main challenge is that the market is small, and there is a real barrier between the French-speaking and German-speaking parts of Switzerland as if they were two different countries. A Swiss artist needs to be able to export themselves. Many French-speaking Swiss artists try their luck in France, and German-speaking Swiss artists try their luck in Germany.
– Is there also a debate about classical and modern music?
– I don’t know if you can call it a debate, but they are certainly two separate worlds in terms of both the industry players and the audience. Classical music seems more valued than contemporary music by the institutions in Switzerland.
– You are visiting Baku together with Simon Jaccard, known as the “octopus man” for his talent and performance as a multi-instrumentalist. You have been working together for many years. When did you meet him? What makes you want to work with him?
– I met Simon 8 years ago; he was already doing world tours, and I had the chance to hire him for a concert in Switzerland in 2016. After we came off stage, he proposed that we start a project together. That same evening, the Swiss Ambassador to Lebanon, François Barras, offered us a tour of Lebanon. We have never been apart since, and we’ve been married for a week.
– Which creative feature of Simon appeals to you most?
– He's my dream maker. As soon as I have an idea, he finds a way to make it happen. Our audience calls him the "octopus man" because Simon is a multi-instrumentalist. He is a genius with instruments, curious, persevering, and loves to try instruments from other cultures. He has been learning the saxophone for a month and is very eager to discover the traditional instruments of Azerbaijan and to interact with the students of the conservatory.
– Will you sing an Azerbaijani song in Baku?
– It won’t be a song in Azerbaijani, but a song by an Azerbaijani artist: Qorqud.
– Is it expected to perform with local singer Gorgud? What performance is expected?
– One of our most famous songs is called “Building Bridges,” and I suggested to Qorqud to sing it as a duet and translate part of it into Azerbaijani. We will also cover his song “Bridges in the Dark,” a story of bridges and love—everything we love.
Photo - Rufat Mustafayev ©️ APA GROUP
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