Yamê

If ‘unclassifiable’ were a musical genre, Yamê would be the definition. This Franco-Cameroonian artist arrived on the French music scene, breaking down barriers between genres and generations. Rap, trap, jazz, chanson, soul and afrobeat, it’s all there. As evidenced on the viral track ‘Bécane,’ he inhabits a unique musical world, with his high-pitched, highly melodic voice. He has won the admiration of big names in the industry, including American producer Timbaland and Stromae. Equally at home as a solo pianist or with his band, Yamê draws his inspiration widely:  from the rich sounds of Cameroonian music his musical father passed on at an early age; and by the jazz scene and jam sessions he attended as a keyboardist in Paris. This is his first time performing on the shores of Montreux, following a barnstorming performance at the MJF Spotlight Sessions in Villars earlier this year.