Felì en concert

The passionate ambassador of a unique culture FELÌ, a name and a voice that have been resonating in the Corsican art world for 35 years. With one of the most extensive discographies of the island's musical heritage, including 12 studio and live albums, over 150 songs composed with his long-time accomplice, the late Ghjuvan'Terramu Rocchi, Jacques Fusina or Patrizia Gattaceca, with several thousand records sold, millions of streamings and views on platforms, and countless concerts to his credit... The child of Casinca is much more than an artist. He's the passionate ambassador of a unique culture, whose timeless melodies and authenticity transcend generations and touch hearts far beyond Corsica's borders.

A spirit of openness and sharing without frontiers FELÌ draws its strength from the roots of this culture and language, of which it is today one of the most fervent ambassadors. In every way, Corsica is at his heart. With the people and the land, an unbreakable bond that continues to pave the way. Artistic openness and sharing are key words for Felì, who over the years has multiplied his collaborations, starting in the 80s with a leading Corsican polyphonic singing group, A Filetta, before joining another emblematic group, Surghjenti. These particularly enriching experiences gave him a taste for composition, which led to the release of his first opus, "Campà", in 1989, marking the already promising beginnings of his fusion partnership with Ghjuvan'Terramu Rocchi. In turn, FELÌ has put his talent at the service of other artists, such as pioneers of Corsican culture Petru Guelfucci ("A puesia hè libertà" and "A mio musa"), Antoine Ciosi ("Mulinu di sognu" and "Primu amore"), the group Canta u Populu Corsu ("Ch'ellu canti u populu corsu") and Jacky Micaelli. But also with up-and-coming talents such as Sekli, Ghjuvan'Francescu Luciani and Diana Saliceti. FELÌ builds bridges not only between generations, but also between cultures.

From Casinca to Ireland, via Occitania...
The song "Terre", a duet with NADAU, the emblematic Gascon-Béarn artist with a 50-year career, is a vibrant incarnation of this blend of Corsican and Occitan languages. Another open door, another journey, to Ireland with a new kind of project for FELÌ, launched in 2023. The singer, a former carpenter, is shaping the music for Jean-Pierre Alessandri's forthcoming documentary film (Ramona Productions). Entitled "Dancing in Corsica: les comédiens", it tells the story of 8 amateur actors from Rogliano, in Cap Corse, who decide to take up acting, adapting a play by an Irish author. The Corsican-French-Irish production is scheduled for theatrical release in late 2024.

... before composing the Mediterranean anthem
At the same time, FELÌ and Scola In Festa, the singing, music and Corsican language school he runs, are working on a project whose scope and influence promise to be unprecedented. The project is the result of a meeting between FELÌ, Aadel Essaadani, a leading figure in Moroccan cultural life and President of the "Racines" association, and Franck Lidon, Director of Mediterranean Initiatives and Resources at Radio France. The idea is to give substance to a song, accompanied by a philharmonic orchestra and destined to become the anthem of the Mediterranean. Co-written by Alisgianincu poet Jacques Fusina and FELÌ, also a composer, and arranged by Dominique Mattei, conductor-arranger for large orchestra, it will be performed by the children of Scola In Festa. The first version of this song, "Mediterraniu", is due to be released in Corsican at the beginning of 2024, but the aim is to have it translated into several other Mediterranean languages, including Italian, Sardinian, Greek, Spanish, Catalan, Occitan, Berber, Arabic, Turkish and French, with a view to its inclusion on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

A daily tradition of transmission
Since its beginnings in 1989, FELÌ has evolved with the times, while remaining true to its roots and placing great emphasis on transmission and sharing, as demonstrated by its unwavering commitment to children and the Scola In Festa school it founded in 2001, which is now a veritable conservatory of rural culture. With over 350 pupils aged from 3 to 80 - 95% of whom are children or teenagers - Scola In Festa is heavily involved in language training. The school has produced 3 albums containing a total of 65 nursery rhymes and songs performed by children (composed by Ghjuvan'Terramu Rocchi, Jacques Fusina, Pierrot Santucci and FELÌ): "Brame zitelline" in 1995, "Girasole: Cantà cantà cantà" in 2015, and "Eiu Cantu" in 2019. One of the special features of these albums is their distribution, accompanied by an educational kit, to the 2,000 primary, middle and high school teachers in the Académie de Corse.

The power of Corsican music and language, the audience, the stage...
FELÌ firmly believes in the power of music to create unbreakable bonds between cultures and individuals. "Opening up to the world means engaging in dialogue with other cultures by putting the collective first, and the Corsican language is an extraordinary asset in this quest for universality," says the singer. This state of mind finds a particularly resounding echo in his latest opus, "Amparate mi à cantà", released in March 2023, with two new compositions adding to his already impressive repertoire and 22 emblematic tracks chosen by the public via social networks; including "Golu", "Dà mi tù", "Ci campanu i mei", "A casuccia", "Sò ind'è mè", "Di stu paese", "À dì ti", "Fior'd'alisu", not forgetting "Innamurichjate", "A voline più", "A mo prumessa", "O Corsica la mea" or "Quand'è tù balli" in a Corsican-Spanish version, performed with Cuban percussionist Piro Barrios, among other musicians gathered for two memorable concerts at the Spaziu Culturale Charles Rocchi in Biguglia, to immortalize FELÌ's greatest hits from where he feels most at home: the stage.

2024: A historic tour, a crazy gamble...
2024 marks 35 years of FELÌ's career. A rich artistic journey, from the local to the universal, over the course of which he has forged an inalterable relationship with his land and his people, which is felt in each of his songs, which are much more than a collection of melodies. They reflect the Corsican soul and his desire to share with as many people as possible his centuries-old values and culture, a history as euphoric as it is tormented... The depth and power of her voice and her interpretations have already won over a wide audience, both on and off the island. Today, FELÌ is determined to give a new dimension to his musical approach, by thinking outside the box. Self-produced, he has programmed a historic tour for the occasion, with a series of 15 concerts that will build to a crescendo between Corsica and the mainland.