My Essay for the BBC Podcast!

Hello friends,

Can you believe it’s already the month of March?! What Madness is this! Well it’s ok, as March also brings Women’s History Month, and I’m always thrilled to recognize the various female figures who have had a profound influence on so many.

At Digital Island Studio, recording my Essay for the BBC Podcast

For most, my love and admiration for Edith Piaf won’t come as a surprise. After all, I’ve been performing concert tributes to her work and legacy for quite some time, generating even an album titled “PHIRO chante PIAF”. What you probably don’t know is that I’ve recently had the privilege to write and perform an essay on this topic dear to my heart for none other than the BBC! The podcast, titled “The Essay”, which officially airs today, March 7th 2024 @ 5.45pm EDT, offers listeners a 14-minute long journey through Piaf’s iconic “L’Hymne à l’Amour”, during which her passionate and tragic love affair with world-champion boxer Marcel Cerdan, her very first performance of the song and subsequent translations are explored. Listen to the episode HERE.

What an honor to have been selected for such an endeavor! Thank you to producer Mark Burman for confiding this beautiful and enriching task to my humble hand. I hope you enjoy the piece!

I love Piaf. I could talk about her life, music, accomplishments, dedication and resilience all day. In a way, she has been a mentor figure in my life for quite some time. By continuing to inspire me to live and perform with truth and to have no regrets, she has fostered a raison d’être to my artistry. But did you know she was mentored by amazing female influences too? Composer/pianist Marguerite Monnot, who I mention in the BBC podcast, is one of them. But my favorite story is, of course, the thought of Marlene Dietrich taking Piaf under her wing to help boost her confidence facing anglophone audiences. What a remarkable feat; 2 of my greatest female influences conjoined by such an interesting story! Of course the tale doesn’t end there, as they were even rumored to have had an affair… But an undeniable fact was their role as female trailblazers in the arts & entertainment, as well as human rights & LGTBQ+ fields.

In addition to leading 2 cabaret shows tributing 2 legendary icons, I’m fortunate to also own a business, whose mission is to bring people’s musical visions to life by providing live entertainment done “sur mesure”, thanks to my 2 bands: Nuage Rhythm (French/gypsy Jazz & Bossa Nova) & the Phirocious Swing Orchestra (Swing & big band era). So, if you’re in the market for some customized live entertainment for an event, or if you own a venue (or know someone who does) and would like to experience state-of-the-art cabaret performances while supporting a woman-owned business, look no further! I invite you to check out this page and inquire within today.

Thank you so much for your continued support! I wish you a fantastic month of March! Please make it a point to celebrate all the wonderful women in your lives; not just this month but always! A bientôt Xx.