Rachel Ratsizafy grew up listening to traditional Malagasy songs, pop music, Afro-American and
African music. In the nineties, she performs with various bands, such as
Zoukafri, an Afro-Caribbean trio,
Pososhok, a South African and Cameroonian band with whom she ensures the first part of a tour of
Salif Keita, and,
Time-Mozam, a Mozambican group.
In 1994, she meets
Emmanuel Djob and joins
The Black & White Gospel Singers with whom she still sings
today in a more international concept,
The Black & White Xperience.
It was in 2003 that she starts singing with
Jazzpel and records three albums,
« Pa Walloo ! » (2003),
« Let them talk » (2004)
and
« Live à l'archipel » (2006).
The following year, Rachel Ratsizafy records her first solo album
« Natural Born Stranger », taking inspiration from
her roots, the beautiful island of Madagascar.
Rachel called on
Olivier-Roman Garcia, a globe trotting arranger who is well acquainted with the music of the
Indian Ocean. With Olivier, she wrote and composed most of the songs on the album, that was released in January 2008.
Her voice is exceptional, the music is tinged with jazz, gospel and Rachel's Malagasy roots.