The famous French singer Florian Peppuy, known as Pep’s, performed at several venues in French Polynesia, invited by Arnaud Bertrand from la Casa Mahina restaurant.
Between concerts, bringues (Festive Tahitian parties that include lots of live music and singing) and encounters, Pep’s received a full eyeful. As songwriter and performer of the hit, “Liberta,” his stay in the fenua has already inspired him with lots of ideas.
How did you imagine Tahiti?
Pep’s: There are atolls, colors, coral and all the fish…and I thought there would be a jungle with wild animals…In my head, I had images of a tropical place. I thought it was paradise and I was not disappointed. It is idyllic. Bora Bora has an immense aquarium coast which is quite surreal. The problem is you never want to leave. The people here are very open and very nice. All of them are musicians with a musical culture that does not exist in France. The concept of a bringue is awesome! They never stop playing music for several hours, much like a musical marathon.
Did artistic exchanges take place?
Yes! Nonstop! During each concert, Polynesian musicians came to play with us. We also had a local drummer in the group (Frédéric Rossoni, who is also the drummer for the band Tikahiri), which allowed us to immediately make contact with the locals and become close. Polynesians brought me so many gifts. There was so much generosity.
How did the concerts go?
There was an amazing ambience in Tahiti and Moorea. In Bora Bora, it was different. There was not as much roots reggae. It was the people most of all who struck me with their concept of life, their serenity. Since I am a party animal, we had jam sessions every night! I never felt threatened. I never expected to meet people so welcoming and so well-versed in music and song. The athletic side of French Polynesia also appealed to me. I went diving but my session was too short and I had to come back to go hiking.
You tried your hand at ukulele…
Yes! I must learn the hand positions; but I have already played a bit with the help of a Polynesian.
Did you find inspiration?
Tahiti will be in my next songs, that’s for sure. I think I’ll put some ukulele on my next album. Words like Ia ora na, fiu, mana will probably also fit into a song. I never calculate when I write. The idea also of this stay was to fill up a maximum. The writing will then allow me to release all this emotion. A moment particularly marked me. A Polynesian offered me a ukulele. During the concert in Moorea, he came to see me and he found me the next day at the hotel to give me the instrument. I offered him one of my guitars in exchange. It was very moving. There is something here that is touching here, with a lot of sensitivity.
This trip has impacted you…
This is a trip that makes you want to come back. It makes you think about your life on a daily basis. I have just got back from being in nature and I have been living in Paris for the past two years for the music. It is the total opposite of Tahiti: it is grey. People don’t smile. It is hard. Before coming here, I underwent a major blow. Two days later, I arrived in Tahiti. This voyage happened at the perfect moment just when I needed to clear my head. They say you either accept or reject an island. I believe I have accepted it and in turn, it has adopted me. I return to France filled with good vibes.
In your hit song, “Liberta,” you speak of a country of dreams. Is it like this a little here?
This is the country of dreams because I also got to see dolphins. I totally absorbed new perspectives and I took advantage of everything this visit had to offer. I found nothing negative at all. I love being in nature and here there are so many spaces that are still preserved. This song “Liberta” was conceived by the sea. Perhaps another hit will result from this trip…
