Biography

Mathieu Desvignes was born in 1984. When he was 6 his parents enrolled him for music courses.

« Thanks to my parents and relatives I have discovered music very early. I studied piano for 4 years and classical percussion during 2 years. I started the drums at 12, thanks to an extraordinary musician: Pascal Bertrand who communicated his passion for the instrument to me. »

Mathieu main influence was rock and the powerfull Red Hot Chili Peppers "Blood Sugar Sex Magic" was a real shock. He found Chad Smith playing really impressive.
Mathieu was also listening to Nirvana (Never Mind), Noir Desir (666 667 Club), Stereophonics (Words Get Around ), Offspring, Dandy Warhols, Queen...

« My first experience in a band was with the “Funky Sheeps”, a pop-rock style combo.
I discovered team work and played my first live gigs. That was a valuable experience. »

Then Mathieu started digging into Funk, and listening to "Tower Of Power" live album was a real mile stone. Power and groove in their music, is truly impressive. He listened extensively to Maceo Parker, Prince & James Brown, the latter being for him a living legend and among the greatest musicians of our time.

Mathieu discovered and listened to many jazz combos, going to jazz festivals in his area. Though his not a big fan of “classical” jazz music, he was influenced by Latin Jazz musicians like Tania Maria, Carlos Maza, Omar Soza.

« I joined “Mister Moon”, an “electro disco funk” band. Mister Moon was a great experience both on musical and personnal side.
Most members of the band are today my closest friends. This is when I started writing my own music. »

Mathieu moved to Lyon in 2002, and attended the musicology curriculum at university and the ENM in Villeurbanne where he studied Afro-Cuban percussions with A. Pistre. The following year he joined Anthony Gatta drum class, a great teacher from which he still learn a lot.

Mathieu Desvignes favourite drummers:

Gene Lake for his extraordinary groove, Sonny Emory such a great showman, Dave Weckl for his contribution to modern drums playing, Brian Blade for his creativity and energy, Chad Smith for his funky and so powerful playing, David Garibaldi from his musicality and precision, Miguel Anga Diaz who bridged the worlds of percussions and drums, his work with Omar Soza is fascinating.