Episode 12, Bachot Muna - jazz musician, sound engineer, music producer

This is episode #12 of Entrepreneur Mindset-Reset.

Hi everyone! Thanks for tuning-in today for a new episode of Entrepreneur Mindset-Reset, THE podcast where entrepreneurs just like you and me share how they master their mindset to overcome obstacles to their success.

In today’s episode, I am so excited to be speaking with the extremely talented and driven Bachot Muna, jazz pianist, sound engineer, singer, music producer and extraordinary human.

He shares his journey from being a barefoot child growing up in a village in Cameroon to professional musician living in Europe. Bachot decided when he was 9 years old that he would one day live in Europe. His mother asked him not to leave Cameroon, but Bachot felt the magnetic pull to Europe and was so determined to go, that he made the 15 year-long journey to become a musician in Europe. 

Bachot is self-taught on several instruments, but found his real love in playing piano. I am so impressed with his determination, extreme focus and unwavering belief in his abilities and calling, and I know you will be too.   

You won’t want to miss when he shares his story about how he managed to cross borders, even when he didn’t have money or a place to stay, and yet, he managed to convince border officials to allow him to stay and continue his journey through western Africa to Europe. 

Bachot reminds us to be honest with ourselves, follow our dreams no matter what, and to not be discouraged, even when things don’t go our way, because we will learn so much along the way. His journey is remarkable and inspirational, and is a great reminder to keep working hard for the things we love. 

Be sure to check out his music on Spotify, SoundCloud and YouTube. We’ve provided links in the show notes. You will love his gorgeous music. So, grab a beverage or a snack and settle-in to listen to Bachot and his amazing journey.

You can find Bachot here:

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Lsn7ecPmH5Wv7oM9pVKDG 

SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/bachot-muna 

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz7fXAsgwGb_BoLvsbONrYA 

Email [email protected]  

Bachot’s Bio:

Bachot started singing while still at school. Few years later he decided to make his passion his life, composing at the time his first song entitled "Essukud'am" (My studies) Bachot and some friends created a band called "Man-walk with whom he began to play organ; having no instrument at his disposal on wich to pratice, Bachot drew the keyboard on paper and excercised the melodies he memorised. 

In Nigeria Bachot conducted an orchestra of 16 people with whom he took part in the "Sokoto Fishing Festival". Due to political unrest in the country, he was forced to leave and went successively to Benin, Togo, Niger, Burkina and ended up in Abidjan. Bachot decided to add another feather to his cap and learned how to become his own sound-engineer, resulting in the production of his fourth album "Africa Sa" (Dance Africa), thanks to the track"Loh Yonme", Bachot won the awards of "best singer" and best clip" of 1999 in Cameroon. 

2003 Bachot was invited to perform as headliner for the 10 years celebration at the summer festival "l'été sous le charme" in  Dreux north of Paris France

Bachot is a self-taught pianist, singer-songwriter Interpreter and arranger of a great talent who based in Brussels since early 90, having in his score several Cd's produced like, Ashikogo, Donne ton Dada, "Jazz & Dreams", a solo piano album release in 2012 with wich Bachot performed in the "Montreal Internaional Jazz Festival 2013" wish is the world must prestigeous Jazz Festival, in the concert hall "Theatre Maisonneuve" playing the first part of Maestro "Chucho Valdes" where the audience were entirely captured. Leaping out of Africa with the spirit of the indigenous wildlife, Bachot is capturing the heart and soul of music fans on every continent. Melding a unique combination of musical influences from many African nations, Bachot has created his on genre with the Afro Jazz fusion and Afro Pop music scene by fusing native rhythms with funk, soul, Latin Jazz and jazz. And now, Bachot has just release his new album entitled "Back To The Roots". 

But what inspired Bachot  to compose the album Back To The Roots?

After performing the Montreal International Jazz Festival 2013, Bachot decided to come out with a new album project. But the most important for him was to work with other experimented and expressifs musicians around the world. First of all, Bachot wanted to find a great Brazilian percussionist, because he had in mind to record and Afro Jazz Fusion Album. Bachot went to meet his friend Andre Bontems owner of Avalon Studio Brussels and told him his ambition. Andre Bontems after listening to Bachot said to him, I wanna show you something. He brought out a live video he recorded where was performing a wonderful Brazilian percussionist named ZE LUIS Nascimento , Bachot was blow out by the performance of this guy, and he said to Andre his friend, this is my man. The first piece of the puzzle was found. It is important to notice that ZE LUIS Nascimento perform often with Michel Legrand and many French great artists. 

Bachot started the recording in Paris at Bopcity studio with ZE LUIS Nascimento, where he recorded the percussions and some vocal parts of Essukud'am, Hey Ohohah with the participation of his nephew Ray Dikoumé.

And after Paris Bachot flew away to Tallinn at Green Room  Studio  to record with the bass player Kareel Liive, the guitarist Paul Daniel, and the great Trombonist Eduard Akulin who did a tour with Freddy Cole the brother of Nat King Cole few years ago. And then back to Brussels where Bachot recorded lady Dunia Molina cristal voice parts . The mixing and mastering done in New York City, was handled by the 13 grammy awards winner Mike Makowsky. (Mike credits: Amy Winehouse, Mariah Carey, Gorillaz, Usher, Maxwell, John Legend, Kenye West, Kid Cudi, Jim Jones, Kelis, Nas, etc..) This album "Back To The Roots" is a mix of African Brazilian groove and Jazz. The final result is a pleasant and groovy Afro Jazz Fusion album. (Heavily recommended this genius to everyone...Amazing talent, said Mike Makowsky) All those who have listening to this album "Back to the roots" of Bachot are unanimous that it's an so happy and uplifting album, full of great spirit, émotion and happiness that capture your soul. 

(Anecdotally, when Mike Makowski was mixing with Bachot and the music began to sound like Bachot wanted, then Bachot smiled with pleasure, Mike looked the spirited smile and said, I feel that I am in the studio with Miles Davis, you really resemble like him a lot) 

January 2016, Bachot won "the Akademia Awards" Los Angeles for best Latin Song from his track "Samba Makossa", and in 2017 he won another award of best Afro soul with his track" A Muto"

2018-2020. Known also as a great entertainer, Bachot is touring around the world as a solo pianist singer and interpreter in country like: Hong Kong, Shenzen, Canada and Germany where is performing as resident artist in the world top 5 stars:  Brenners Park hotel Baden Baden, Hessischer Hof Frankfurt, Breidenbacher Hof Dusseldorf, Maritim Hotel Travemunde, Maritim Ulm, Eden Rock hotel Ascona...

You can find Bachot here:

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Lsn7ecPmH5Wv7oM9pVKDG 

SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/bachot-muna 

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz7fXAsgwGb_BoLvsbONrYA 

Email [email protected]