Passionate about drums, Fred Cousin began his career as a musician by beating on cans in an attic, he was eight years old and his great masters at the time were Phil Collins and Dennis Chambers.
Born in La Ciotat to a French father and a Gabonese mother, it was when he discovered the djembe at the age of 15 that he became aware of his African roots and began to study traditional music with fervor. He then founded with a few friends a first group "Saklak Percussions" and experimented with scenes such as Le Théâtre du Moulin or La Machine à Coudre in Marseille.
Then comes the army, which he joins as a musician where he will learn to play the guitar with tablatures by Bob Marley. On his return he created the group "Rasbaille" of which he is the drummer-singer. He was quickly noticed in the region for his performances within the formation and this is how the reggae group "Daïpivo" offered him to become their percussionist.
After 2 years with Daïpivo, Fred Cousin met the members of the Kabba Roots association which offers, through music, to discover Jamaica and thus creates a bridge between Aubagne and Kingston!
It's a new adventure for Fred but above all a turning point in his approach to music, thanks in particular to meetings such as Brother Moses Nelson, founding member of "Mystic Revelation of Rastafari" and a true living legend of reggae, but also Putus Roots and Cédric "Jah fuzzy" Treston members of the "Johnstown Music Club" of Kingston (Jamaica). Within the musical project Kabba Roots during 4 years of fruitful exchanges, Fred will be nourished, in contact with the elders, with the true values of reggae music.
More than 40 concerts and tours will further enrich him musically but also give him a taste for singing, the writing will come naturally little by little with pieces such as Mama Africa or Easy rider in collaboration with the singer of Reggae / ragga "Malik Fahim".
For several years, Fred Cousin shaped his dream of the stage as a lead singer and tirelessly wrote texts which he sang accompanying himself on the guitar.
His meeting with Stéphane Cavin, musician, composer and recognized director, will be crucial in the realization of this 1st album "Cool and Calm".
360° openness with feet in Europe and head in Africa, or often the other way around. A jazz ear, an African sensibility, the drift of the musical continents deeply inspires Fred Cousin. His way of being "Cool and Calm" can be heard in 12 tracks that encourage positive thinking, to understand that a smile is often more powerful than a closed fist. Made in Marseille at Twenty k studio, this album is sung, danced and laughed at life with joy...
To follow up on this Fred continues to write, compose, play in small bars and in the street.
A telescoping with Kemar singer and leader of the group "No one is innocent" will change things for Fred, this meeting initiates new musical horizons by working in particular with Camille Ballon, director recognized on the Parisian scene.
From this encounter was born the demos "Sing my Song" and "The love is gone".
Today presents the album "In the middle of all that" which will be released in Spring 2023.
Produced and recorded by François "Shanka" Maigret guitarist/director of "No one is innocent" and "the Dukes" among others, Fred offers us a thoughtful journey among all his influences.
With varied themes, this album sounds like a desire to go even further in mixing genres.
