Sous L'Arbre Acoustique

So my closest American friend here and I are part of this awesome acoustic band called “Sous l’Arbre Acoustique” (under the acoustic tree) We have a big concert for independence day (April 4th) and we featured guest stars for that, I’ll be on keyboard and Abi on vocals and guitar. We even have our own shirts!

This group has the most simple and stress free lifestyle I have ever seen. They have this tree down the street that they drink tea at every day from around 3 to 5 and play music. Their motto is “a l’aise” or “at ease.” The lead singer’s name is Pierre, but everyone calls him Big. He is pretty much an African acoustic hippy. His life is music and sports, and being in harmony with everyone and everything. Oh and drinking tea. He is quite a character! He is always saying “no stress, always peace.” Another thing I really love about this country is their sense of togetherness and paying it forward. in the US, people keep track constantly of how much money they owe each other, but here, there is just this mentality that "on est ensemble" (we are together, or we are family) and the giving circle just cycles around; People are happy to share everything here, or buy things for people and not keep track of who owes who what. I love how here people are so much less motivated by money here, and don't greedily cling on to it like Americans tend to do. 


One of the first days we were here at the beach we played some music together on the beach while the sun was setting, it was so happy! Here's a link to the video on youtube (): 

Music on the Beach

On Sundays they rehearse in their studio, and recently Abi and I have been coming and rehearsing with them for the upcoming concert, and just recently they brought the keyboard out and I've been playing along with them. I’m starting to realize that I am capable of jamming along on the piano with other instruments if someone tells me the chords. I feel like my musical side is definitely coming out in this country.

Big also works at a gym and leads us in workouts and step routines. One time the power went out but there are candles there so we worked out in candle light at it was quite magical!