HERMAS ZOPOULA
espoir

a truly unique record for asthmatic kitty. hermas zoupula is many things. he is the youngest of 36 children. born in a small village named yoro, he is burkinabe, a citizen and resident of burkina faso, west africa. he is a moped enthusiast, orphanage volunteer, and internet cafe proprietor. hermas is also a psalmist, and 'espoir' is his first international recording. hermas sings in four different languages on the album: french, english, dioula, and sissali (hermas' mother tongue). the only way to introduce hermas' sound was to release 'espoir' as a two disc set. the first disc, recorded in a government studio in burkina faso, presents a refined and practised hermas. but the hermas on the second disc is the one most burkinabes know, just him and his guitar in his backyard. comparisons to singer /song-writer seu jorge are inevitable, but listeners will find hermas' voice sweeter and warmer. other audible influences in hermas' music are afro-pop pioneer thomas mapfumo and toumani diabate's symmetric orchestra.