Bio:

Isma grows up in the late seventies near Paris. Music-making was essential to the family’s way of life, following the influence of his grandfather, an acclaimed oud player in Tunisia. At the age of 9 Isma has chosen the piano as his instrument at the local conservatory. Musically he is strongly influenced by later joining a joyful gospel choir. Music and especially Afro-American colours have ever since been his passion. Yet, in his early professional life after graduating in management studies he advises and coaches start-up entrepreneurs for a Paris-based business incubator. At the same time music remains his personal “core business” which he grows during the late hours. Venturing into the world of electronic music, sampling and computer-aided composition he makes the first “beats” for hip hop and R&B artists of the Paris area.

In 2004 he decides to bring together his passion for music and entrepreneurial expertise creating the label “FEETprod” jointly with the musician Bastien Mayras. The duo : FEET produces several maxi singles of "soulful house" and an album of vocal house music with soul, funk and latino intonations. Each new composition project provides opportunities to collaborate with new musicians and singers including Marcia Maria, Simon Grey (Incognito,), Rasmus Faber, Sophie Delila... and to discover different aspects of music writing, arrangement and production.
Isma also nurtures a passion and expertise for selected vintage keyboards which quickly become his signature sound (Fender Rhodes, clavinet, Moog, Hammond organ, talkbox, vocoder). Extensive studio work for FEET productions and a variety of collaborative projects including a series of “eye and ear opening” concert experiences in West Africa allow him to gain expertise in recording and mixing and to refine his piano technique spanning different styles of gospel, R&B, soul & funk.
Since 2008 Isma is performing live with the Parisian soul scene in various formations including a backing band created with Stéphane “Shorty” Jandon. Collaborations develop with singers such as Brendan Reilly (Basement Jaxx), Elisha La‘Verne, Jennifer Philipps, Shaun Antony (Lemar), Bastien Picot, Flo Malley, Bruno Endjeguele, Fil Straughan, Lifford Shilingford, Stefan Filey, Valerie Belinga and others. Today Isma pursues a diverse set of projects ranging from world (Manu Dibango, Lokua Kanza...) to electronic and pop music with black music remaining his preferred terrain of experimentation.
“The Line” 2014
Work on début the album “The Line” starts in 2012. Conceived to pull together and reinterpret different styles ranging from contemporary gospel, neo jazz, soul, hip hop, R&B, fusion and funk it shines in a spectrum of rather distinct colours. Each of the 7 titles lined up creates its own atmosphere, supported by the musical fabric itself and the attention paid to characteristic sonic qualities.

Guest performers: Darien Dean (voice), Jennifer Philipps (voice), Elisha La’Verne (voice), Mister. E (rap), Franck Diandoki (voice), Erik Truffaz (trumpet).

Contact:  booking@ismahillmusic.com