In Brest, six rappers set fire to Leo Ferret’s space

About fifty people, gathered in the darkness of Leo Ferret’s space, waited in Brest on Saturday 24 June 2023 for the start of the “Women want to be heard” concert. On the show, six rappers ranging in age from 19 to 44, slam artists, and amateur urban music singers present their scripts and musical world.

This project has been proudly carried out by Lætitia Dagorn, founder of the recording studio Locamusic Records. “Women want to be heard is first and foremost a ‘boostcamp’ bootcamp in partnership with Espace Léo-Ferré and La Carène. For a year, the girls have worked on writing and stage expression. This concert is the right time for them to present their work,” she explains. Nael, seen from behind the scenes, is smiling despite the pressure. Going on stage with your scripts is the first. “I can’t wait to share my world with the public,” she tells me, before slipping away to open the ball.

“Tense like a lion in a cage.”

Nael, Surhani, Yona, Maylej, Zazu and Lucy Soule. The six performers take turns closing their performance with a few words to introduce the next show. The aesthetic hit of Nael, the rap of Yuna, the solar universe of Zazu … Some performers, comfortably on stage, warm up the room, raise the microphone to the audience and invite them to repeat a few words. Zazu, who has confided before her visit to feel “tense like a lion in a cage,” continues her dance moves and interacts with her audience.

Mutual aid rapper

Phone in hand, Maïlegh photographs her colleagues and friends. “This booster camp is about mutual aid and organizing a sorority,” she says. Becoming a professional in rap or urban music, when you are a woman, is not easy. “There are women as amateurs, Maïlegh continues, but when it comes time to turn professional, we see mostly men. I hope things change.” A bit later, in one of her songs, the young woman speaks to the “haters” (haters) who criticized her after the cover of her video Out for the music…rap. Accompanied by the audience and her five colleagues, she sings “Get out, get out”.

Arm in hand, the six artists returned to the stage to greet their audience after Lucie Solé’s captivating performance. “We could not have dreamed of something better,” says Laetitia. We have shown that women have their place on the stage and that our proposals are as worthy as those of men.” The adventure ends on a high note. “This camp is an artistic, personal and human enrichment. I come out of it stronger,” Zazu savors. So much so, that she’s already signed up for next year’s camp!