Accompanied by her accordion, toy piano, and fiery band, Los Angeles-based chanteuse and songwriter Jessica Fichot draws from her multi-ethnic French / Chinese / American heritage to create an intoxicating multilingual fusion of French chanson, Shanghai jazz, gypsy swing and international folk. With 3 acclaimed albums under her belt, Jessica has brought her music to audiences around the world - regularly performing in China, Mexico, Canada and across the U.S and western Europe - backed by her talented musicians (on clarinet/sax, upright bass, drums and guitar) and singing in French, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish and English. Jessica’s music has been hailed as “enchantingly original” by the LA Weekly, and “a glittering testiment to L.A.’s multiculturism” by the L.A. Times.
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Born in Upstate New York to a Chinese mother and French father, Jessica spends her youth in and around Paris. Moving to Boston after graduating from an international high school in France, Lycée International, she earns her Bachelor's degree from Berklee College of Music. While in still college, she polishes her songwriting skills by composing countless children's songs for a local children's theater, and later, for publishing companies specializing in educational material. Over a hundred of her children's songs are featured as part of ESL programs published in over a dozen countries.
Relocating to Los Angeles, she embraces her international influences and independently releases her critically acclaimed 2007 debut album, "Le Chemin", garnering the stamp of approval from tastemakers such as LA Weekly, San Francisco Chronicle, and KCRW – and licensing a few songs in major movies and TV shows on the way. She also gets a chance to tour the world – traveling regularly throughout the U.S, and occasionally to Mexico, Canada, China and Western Europe - performing on vocals, accordion and toy piano and accompanied by a fiery band of clarinet, double bass and guitar.
Fichot takes her time to architect the proper follow-up to her debut when she enters the studio to record her second album "Le Secret" (2012), this time looking to harness an acoustic sound with a hint of modern production. Sonically pristine, yet undeniably natural, "Le Secret" vibrantly comes to life – an international meeting point for French chanson, folk, gypsy jazz and world music.
In her latest EP "Dear Shanghai" (2014), a work sung entirely in Mandarin Chinese, Fichot celebrates the swing-era sounds of her mother’s hometown with intoxicating 1940s Shanghai jazz gems, Mandopop classics, as well as her inspired original songs - turning listeners on to the musical terrain of a bygone era half a world away.
Currently, Jessica is continuing her musical travels , and her work as a songwriter - both for her band, and for children’s educational publishing. An active composer as well as a performer, Jessica also creates interactive music and sound effects for mobile apps and indie video games.
