Gwendoline absalon

Gwendoline Absalon was born on May 8, 1992 in Saint-Denis de la Réunion. Immersed in music as a child, she was encouraged by her uncle to take part as a backing singer in the recording of a compilation showcasing the island's musical culture. The experience encouraged her to continue down this path. She learnt to sing lyrically and entered the Caravane des Talents competition at the age of 17, which she won. She also won the competition for "La meilleure chanteuse de jazz de La Réunion", which gave her the opportunity to open for Manu Katché and Hugh Coleman in 2010. She then entered the TV talent show Music Explorer, les Chasseurs de Sons , broadcast on France Ô, and reached the semi-finals with a cover of Henri Salvador's "Jardin d'hiver" . In 2014, she left La Réunion and moved to Bordeaux to study music therapy and train as an auxiliaire de vie. She didn't give up on music, however, and brought her passion to fruition with the recording of a debut album in 2018, Dig Dig. It was followed two years later by Vangasay (named after a wild mandarin orange), on which she sings in Reunionese Creole and Portuguese. It includes the track "La Diva de la Morna", a tribute to the artist Cesaria Evora. It features contributions from pianist and arranger Hervé Celcal and guitarist Rija Randrianivosoa.