In 2005, Renes BBWI Lophanor released his first 10-track solo album (What are you Gonna Do ), entirely self produced, in the U.K. It was a limited edition to survey the market as the album did not cover only one genre and therefore could not be labelled in the traditional way that albums are traditionally labelled. Following the success of the launch where over 350 copies were sold within a month of live performances, Renes BBWI Lophanor decided to embrace this nonconforming pathway. Some of his songs, namely What are you Gonna Do and Beat it like Bobby (which features only vocal and beatboxing, as a tribute to the genius Bobby Mc Ferrin) have been aired in the UK on Smooth FM, BBC Radio Solent, Choice FM of London, Unity 101 and abroad. The track Fontamara has been featured in a TV program called Las Casas del cielo, in the USA.
In 2006, The Garden of Secret came out as Renes BBWI Lophanor’s first fully marketable album. The 10 tracks of the album cover is bound to cover one genre that you will be into, from urban soul to Jazzy ballad, not to mention the Afro rhythm beat of Pa Mete m Nan Zen.
Having become one of CDbaby’s favourite artists, Renes BBWI Lophanor launched his third solo album, I am Gonna, the following year and this time with 17 tracks that left no room on the CD for anything else. Like its predecessors, this album has been entirely self-produced. Renes BBWI Lophanor plays all the instruments on his albums, except flughorn on "Wonga" and on "Free like the season" from the album "Né Ici vivre Ailleurs". Although there is less beatboxing used on this occasion, the use of vocal is more dominant than in the previous albums. The artist also conveys a sense of maturity in his writing and compositions, whilst keeping the humoristic flavour in songs like My Definition, Je suis francophile and The Party.
Né Ici Vivre Ailleurs, came out in 2008 in the UK and was commercialised worldwide in 2010. The lyrics of the song “Né Ici Vivre Ailleurs” were written by Vanessa Loubier-Profir. Following some of his fans’ recommendation, Renes BBWI Lophanor has included a couple of Jazzy flavoured tracks in this album.
In 2010, L’amour et la misère showed up with, as expected, a variety of genres and the return of the beatbox drumming. There is a definite spirit of going back to the roots (of Africa and Haiti) in this album. You will notice the presence of the tenor sax which enters the range of instruments played by the artist. And as usual, besides playing all the instruments on his albums, Renes BBWI Lophanor continues to do all vocal parts. This new album is laden with extraordinary piano playing performed across some of his jazzy and sentimental songs.
For the record, this album is the outcome of 5 days of intense work. Composed and recorded within that diminutive period of time, L’amour et la misère is a tribute to people who are living in misery, namely those in Haiti after the devastating earthquake that has cause an unprecedented increase in poverty.
Lastly Renes BBWI Lophanor is also an inspirational solo acoustic performer and session player that has performed and continues to perform with some of England’s best musicians and bands. He has performed during 6 consecutive years with Lewis Allen (current musical director of Jessie J), Bill Mudge, Paul Young, Lonnie Liston Smith, to mention just a few. Renes BBWI Lophanor has always supported Maceo Parker, Osaka Monaurail, Blues singer Eric Bibb, Blues Rock artist Popa Chubby, the Brand New Heavies, James Taylor Quartet, Trumpeter Abram Wilson, etc…
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