Biography of the ULICOYS band.
1997-1998:
Creation of Sofian’s first band, “EXPLICIT” with original compositions and different rock covers, he moves between the different music scenes in Paris and the suburbs.
The band was chosen to represent France for the 2nd EUROCZIC by the Forum de Vauréal “95” still a current music scene today.
He recorded his first two track single, “First” at the Abbaye de Goussainville Studio in the French department of Val d’Oise.
This ended the Parisien adventure and he moved to the island of Guadeloupe in the French West Indies.
2000-2008
The band “ULTIMATOME” was born in Guadeloupe with various compositions and Tributes to bands such as U2.
As a creator, Sofian had the urge to hit the scene harder at first with cover songs but his desire to compose music and and use his tucked away lyrics was stronger.
He arrived on the shores of the french Island of Reunion in 2009 and his musical adventure continues.
2010-2011
His meeting with the guitarist and professional drummer Nicolas Morillon gave the duo its Pop Rock energy. He then met up with the sampler Alexandre Nakos and from the fusion with electro grew new musical colours.
The concept was born... it became the collective ULICOYS touching very different music styles: Pop-rock, Electro, French popular music, Fusion.
For the more curious who ask the question, “Ulicoy is an instrumental declination of the russian language meaning “street”. The “S” was added to symbolise 7 (the 7 musical notes, the 7 days of the week, the 7 days of creation..)”.
“Our music is about what is happening on the streets of the world, the street being the theatre stage of trial and apprenticeship, revolutions, pain and joy...
Sofian does not however abandon the Rock scene from which he came. He lets himself drift through enriching musical encounters, adapting and evolving in his music.
2012-2013
Music writer, composer and singer, Sofian tries his luck and “tests” his compositions (in Paris) at the musical springboard “Zikmeup” and makes it through to the National final with two new musicians met
in Paris; Denis Kichtchenko a drummer from a jazz background and Vincent Bosser, guitarist, arranger, World music and Post-Punk.
After the musical springboard Sofian back in Reunion island, he shares the stage with the guitarist Dimitri Conte who is interested in the Ulicoys project, bass player Jean Rassiga (keyboard player for the group Ziskakan), drummer and arranger Gérard Teyssier and then the electro drummer, Dorian (Groups Zadig 2.0 and Abazdabu).
This is a new collaboration working on Sofian’s compositions and marks the end of cover songs. The show gains experience.
2014:
The ULICOYS band is honoured to be chosen to play at the Kabardock (Le Port 974) the opening act of the group “La Femme” who’s album won an award at the Victoires de la Musique.
All this time Sofian continues his creations in a rather electro style and releases “Mid Road” another two track single with sampler and arranger, Pascal Coguen (120 BPM) in continental France.
In June, Sofian is invited to participate in the second “fête de la musique” organised in the city of Saint-Agathe des Mons, Canada, with guitarist and composer,Denis Carignan.
2015:
The adventure continues for six months playing on multiple stages in Reunion, Dijon and Paris all the while writing new lyrics and music, preparing the way for more studio and to record the album of these epic times and diverse experiences.
Then came the dilemma of choosing between french or english lyrics. Having always sung the success hits of his Anglo-Saxon idoles, the choice to sing in both languages was made.
2016:
Finishing touches are put to the arrangements, touring multiple scenes in Reunion with five musiciens or duo.
Departure for the 2016 Rock en Bar festival to put his work to the test in front of a new public, Sofian’s compositions were well received by the local music scene.
The guitarist, Tom Lebreton became a new member of the Ulicoys collective in September.
He finally makes it back into studio to engrave his years of emotion onto an album, overseen by artistic director/arranger, Leo Levanti and 4 promotional clips for the album are under preparation.
2017:
The autonomously produced album “Exister” containing 10 tracks and 4 video clips was released. Now the project has gained sufficient maturity to seek out and convince professional labels and big- time festivals.
Ulicoys is back on the road for several dates in Guadeloupe, Reunion and continental France. Sofian’s musical personality through the Ulicoys experience is becoming more defined.
The objective is not to “kill” his creation.
The desire for original works in different music styles, stemming from diverse encounters and Sofian’s own story of life is an essential sharing with his musicians coming from varied musical horizons.
All this is the recipe for “Ulicoys” rich success. Elisa
