Ziaf will offer its take on the songs of French chanteuse Edith Piaf at Odette’s.
By: Jillian Kalonick
Christine Zufferey, the frontwoman of Ziaf, knows what the lyrics to the band’s songs mean. But the rest of Ziaf usually doesn’t have a clue.
Interpreting the songs of Edith Piaf, Ziaf has a fresh, rock-based take on the music made famous by the famed French songbird. Out of its four band members the others are guitarists Catherine Capozzi, drummer Tamora Gooding and pianist Dana Price only Ms. Zufferey, who is from Switzerland, speaks French.
"Originally it wasn’t so much knowing literally what the songs were about, but the feeling that we get when we play them," says Ms. Capozzi. "Some of them have these complex, beautiful orchestrations. As we learn more, it becomes, ‘What is this about?’ But really, most are about seduction, sex, loss of love, the getting of love, suicide in relation to love… They’re very dramatic and dark."
Ziaf, which will make its Pennsylvania debut with performances at Odette’s in New Hope, Pa., April 28 and 29, was formed completely by accident, says Ms. Capozzi, when someone heard their former band, All the Queen’s Men, do a cover of "La Vie en Rose."
"Someone was organizing a Bastille Day event and said, ‘You should do a set of Edith Piaf,’" she says. "We said, ‘Who is Edith Piaf?’ Being always up for a musical challenge, and without knowing what the hell we were getting ourselves into, we worked up 12 songs and it was a huge hit. People were talking about it months afterwards."
The foursome established Ziaf in October 2003, and released hommage à la Edith Piaf in 2004, followed by Hello Boy! You come with me? in 2005. It was an unexpected move for Ms. Capozzi, who had bought one Edith Piaf CD a decade or so ago, "because it reminded me of music you listened to in a vintage clothing store, or what you put on as background music when you want to have friends over."
Even Ms. Zufferey didn’t know Piaf too well in Switzerland, she grew up listening to American rock music. After more than three years of studying, Ziaf boasts a repertoire of more than 50 Piaf songs. However, they point out, they’re not a cover or tribute band.
"For us, it’s a boutique approach to learning other people’s music," says Ms. Capozzi. "We’re interpreting songs that she performed. We’re not trying to be her because we don’t know her, or imitate her… It’s something that no one else has done no one that we know does 50 or 60 of her songs. We do it in a way that’s fresh.
"We’re in love with Edith Piaf," she cotinues. "It’s the raw emotion and challenge of trying to get people to feel something from your performance even though half of us don’t understand the language, it’s the way we do it that makes it different."
Since their days performing an eclectic mix of rock and electronica on the underground music scene in Boston as All the Queen’s Men, the members of Ziaf have seen quite a difference in their audience. Playing Edith Piaf songs attracts everyone from 2-year-olds to their grandmas who saw Piaf perform firsthand. Some people think Ziaf is performing original music, says Ms. Capozzi. The surprise to her is that Ziaf has been successful both in Europe and in the States.
"It’s strange that this band has even taken off in the U.S., considering most Americans only speak one language," she says. "But in Europe everyone knows who Piaf is. For them, the funny thing is that you’ve got Americans bringing in their icon, and three of the band’s members don’t speak French. Some people find it endearing, and some are probably annoyed though if they are annoyed, they haven’t told us."
What Ms. Capozzi and the other members of Ziaf have found is that the music Piaf made famous songs of lust, love, passion and heartbreak still ring true today, and bring much more intensity than what’s found on the radio dial in the 21st century.
"She was the essence of rock ‘n’ roll like Jimi Hendix, Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin," says Ms. Capozzi. "From the early days when her first manager was found murdered, and she was implicated, she had a rocky road… She did get addicted to alcohol, and morphine because of car accidents she had.
"The thing that drove her, the only way she felt free or felt good about herself, is when she sang," she continues. "In a sense those are the things I can relate to not the drugs and sex and that part, but the feel of being free and being able to express yourself through music and let it all go. When we perform we let it all go."
Ziaf will play Odette’s, 274 S. River Road, New Hope, Pa., April 28-29, 8 p.m. Tickets cost $20, $10 food/drink minimum. For information, call (215) 862-3000. On the Web: www.odettes.com. Ziaf on the Web: www.ziaf.com