Michel Sanchez came up with the idea of mixing Baka Pygmy chants with modern music after hearing on-site recordings of these tribes. Along with Eric Mouquet they created the project Deep Forest. Their first self-titled album (nominated for a Grammy) was released in 1992, with Sweet Lullaby being the smash single which would put Deep Forest on the musical map (UK Top 10 hit). The song "Sweet Lullaby" is adapted from a traditional song from the Solomon Islands. The album Deep Forest was dance-driven and the samples were heavily digitised and edited. It was re-released as a limited edition in 1994 under the name World Mix.
For their second album Boheme, Eric and Michel left behind the sounds of the forest and ventured into Eastern Europe bringing tender, lonesome Hungarian and Gypsy chants with upbeat, yet sad, music. The chants were no longer brief, instead extended phrases had been sampled from Hungarian, Russian and Transylvanian sample CDs. Marta Sebestyen performed on this album.
The duo also performed and produced the remixes for the Youssou N'Dour single "Undecided" in 1994, with guest vocals by Neneh Cherry (who featured on n'Dour's break-through single "Seven Seconds"). That same year Deep Forest made remixes for Jon Anderson's "Deseo", Apollo 440's "Liquid Cool" and Cesária Évora's "My Fatigue is Endless". In 1996 Deep Forest collaborated with Peter Gabriel on the song While the Earth Sleeps, which was written for the film Strange Days.
The follow-up third album, Comparsa, contained sounds and chants from Madagascar and Cuba. The music is often upbeat and celebratory. The last song from the album Media Luna, which was also released as a single, features a duet of Syrian and Spanish singers Abed Azrei and Ana Torroja from Spanish band Mecano. The duo collaborated with Joe Zawinul during the recording of the album. A recording of their live concert in Japan was also released on a CD called Made in Japan. Although all the songs featured in the show are from the previous three albums, they have new often-longer arrangements and all the chants are performed and reinterpreted by live performers.
In 1999 Deep Forest worked with Cheb Mami and Catherine Lara on the song "L'Enfant Fleur" which had been composed for Sol En Si (a French charity which helps HIV families).
In 2000, Deep Forest released a music for the movie Le Prince du Pacifique, Pacifique. It mixes pacific and island beats with electronic music. Music Detected was the title of their fifth much-anticipated official Deep Forest album which saw the duo turn its attention to the Far East and the Orient for inspiration. It also signalled a change in musical style for Deep Forest, from dance to a more rock-influence.
In 2008 Eric Mouquet released Deep Brasil, this album is a collaboration with Brazilian artist Flavio Dell Isola Amazonia.
In 2009, 2010 Eric Mouquet went on tour and prepared the upcoming album Deep Africa.
This album should be released in summer 2011 and will feature lot of African artists, Lokua Kanza, Blick Bassy, Oliza, Wasis Diop, Zama Magudulela, and Wes's brother, Dany Dikoume.
Deep Forest
Deep Forest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Deep in the jungle,
Are living some little men and women,
They are our past,
And maybe,
Maybe they are our future
The lyrics of Deep Forest's eponymous song evoke a sense of mysticism and wonder, as it speaks of the possible existence of a tribe of humans living deep in the jungle. The song suggests that these people may be a remnant of our ancestral past, yet still hold relevance to our future. The phrase "deep in the jungle" suggests a place of obscurity, a space unexplored by the modern world. The idea that we may find something of our past within this space is both tantalizing and intriguing.
The lyrics also suggest that there is a connection between mankind and the natural world. By alluding to a tribe of jungle dwellers, the song highlights the significance of nature in shaping human history. This connection is further emphasized by the whimsical and ethereal quality of the music which mimics the sounds of the natural world. The haunting vocals and tribal beats create a sense of depth and mystery, ultimately leaving the listener with a deep sense of awe and wonder.
Line by Line Meaning
Somewhere,
Out there, in some unknown place,
Deep in the jungle,
Amidst the thick foliage of the forest,
Are living some little men and women,
Residing among the wilderness are tiny individuals,
They are our past,
These beings hold a history that we have left behind.
And maybe,
Possibly,
Maybe they are our future
These beings could potentially be our future.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ERIC MOUQUET, MICHEL SANCHEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind