Toulouse (AFP)

"It's like a gift": the former singers of the group Zebda, Mouss and Hakim, have just set to music unpublished texts by Claude Nougaro, the great Toulouse musician from the same working-class district as them and who made them "dream "during their childhood.

With their new album, "Darons de la Garonne", which is scheduled for release on October 9, they hope, among other things, "to transmit Nougaro to the youngest who do not necessarily know it", explains Hakim.

In addition to these unpublished texts entrusted to the two brothers by the Nougaro family, this new opus notably includes another version of "Banlieue Boots", whose lyrics were written for them by the singer-songwriter who died in 2004.

The album is marked by "accordion colors, strings, quite a few strings. It's a first for us", explains Mouss.

There are also "bass-drums rhythms a bit as we like, that is to say with a bit reggae, a bit rock sides. But also things that are more spaced out, more breathable", he continues.

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In any case, it is not a question of "remaking the Nougaro. We weren't going to sing like that", adds, amused, Hakim, imitating the author and performer of "Nougayork" very well.

This album is the culmination of a long relationship, first with Claude Nougaro himself, then with his family.

Because, after having "dreamed" thanks to him, Mouss and Hakim met him on several occasions and received his support in different ways.

- "Aristocrats of the suburbs" -

In 2018, Claude Nougaro's younger sister, Hélène Bignon, seduced by the "spontaneous and warm side" of these "aristocrats from the suburbs", decided to entrust them with these unpublished texts.

"When his sister offers to send us unpublished texts, first we react as when we receive a gift which is a surprise. We are really touched, moved, and then immediately we want to take up the challenge", even if "we are also a little afraid," recalls Mouss.

For Hélène Bignon, who took care of the editions of her big brother for 24 years, "they made something very detailed, with a lot of care and a lot of respect, without deviating from their youthful side".

Cécile Nougaro, daughter of Claude, also notes with satisfaction that "death does not lurk" in this album.

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"Generally, when people take my father back, there is always this notion of homage. It's a shame because it puts a distance," she says.

However, Mouss and Hakim "carry a joy in them which does a crazy good".

Claude Nougaro, then Mouss and Hakim, grew up in the same working-class district of Toulouse, that of Minimes, near the city center, where small brick houses mingle with cities.

About forty years apart, they attended the same school.

When the future singers of Zebda are children, "Nougaro is already at the height of his career. He is one of the great French singers, just like Brel, Perret, Brassens, Trenet, even Piaf", tells Mouss.

"When we were told that he was from our neighborhood, it made us dream," he continues.

"He was the star of the district. He was the major artist of Toulouse and even more so of the Minimes", specifies Hakim.

A few decades later, he and his brother will occupy this same place.

But their affinities will go far beyond their attachment to the same Toulouse district.

Because Nougaro is not either "just any French singer. He is the guy who will make records in Africa, in Brazil, who will immediately go into world music", underlines Mouss.

"Of course, he will work on his poetry, his texts but he will also give a place to music, to arrangements. It's not piano-voice, it's jazz, java, Brazilian music , African music ".

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