(Seychelles News Agency) - Veteran Seychellois singer well-known and much appreciated for his Creole music Jean Marc Volcy, features among this year’s winners of a regional award dubbed ‘Les Voix de l'Océan Indien’, [Voices of the Indian Ocean].

Volcy has been voted the 'best Seychellois artist, by a panel of jury who had to choose from a group of artists nominated for the Reunion-based award.

“I do not make music to obtain awards…I have it in me…the talent…to produce [music] but at the same time I like to be recognised for my work, and opportunities like this comes as an encouragement and it confirms my perception and belief that Seychellois music is as good as any other music,” Volcy told SNA in an interview on Friday, after being informed that he had been designated the best Seychellois artist, for the 6th edition of 'Les Voix de l’Ocean Indien'.

The annual award hosted by Reunion island was initiated in 2010 to recognise artists in the French overseas department in the Indian Ocean.

Over the past two years, it has been extended to include artists from other Indian Ocean island nations.

Young Seychellois female singer, Sandra Esparon, who made her debut ten years ago with group 'Dezil' in 2005, with hit single 'San Ou (La Rivière) which was released in France by Sony Music, selling more than 500,000 copies in France was voted 'Seychelles best artist' in 2014.

Esparon was also voted the 'Best artist of the Indian Ocean' for the 2014 edition of the award.

Voix de l’Ocean Indien’s representative in Seychelles, Derrick Young-Khon, who works for the island nation’s first privately owned radio station Pure-FM as Director of programme and closely follows Indian Ocean music, told SNA said that Volcy met the criteria established for the award.

Young-Khon noted that he has been one of the most successful artists in the Indian Ocean archipelago of 115 islands for the period of July 2014 to June 2015, the time frame that is used by the panel of judges to choose the winning artists.  

Volcy has been active in music since the age of 20. (Patrick Joubert, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

Some of Volcy’s achievements during that period include being voted the best male artist and winning the award for best song with his number titled ‘Dyelelo’ at the Seychelles Airtel Music Award, held in March this year.

He also composed the song ‘Meyer plas anba lesyel’ that led female duet Antoinette Dodin and Judith Hoareau to win this year’s National Day Song competition in June.

Last year, Volcy was also honoured along with three other local artists with a spot on the ‘Seychelles Wall of Fame’. This was in recognition of the artists’ contribution towards promoting the Seychelles culture, especially through their music.

Throughout his music career, which started at the age of 20, the 49-year-old artist who hails from Baie Lazare, a district in the southern part of the main island of Mahé, has remained true to his Seychellois culture, with all his songs mostly rhythmic sega written and sang in Creole.

Volcy who also plays the guitar and banjo is well-known for including ancient tales and jargons dating as far back as the times of his grandmother in most of his compositions.

“Yes I do it on purpose because I believe in myself, in my country and in my culture….I did not come here to stay but after this journey, I want people to remember when I’m gone that this was Jean-Marc Volcy, a Seychellois, who spoke Creole and sang in Creole. Through this, I have reached that level of respect, and popularity and whatever comes with it. I will never change.”

The Seychellois artist is encouraging others in the field always to have the thinking that the music they are producing is not only for themselves and the country, but something that can be exported and promoted further.

He is also among a group of artists working towards obtaining international recognition for the island nation’s traditional music.

Volcy is well-known for his songs all sang in Creole and which feature ancient tales and jargons. (Patrick Joubert, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

Volcy will be receiving his award from the representative of ‘Les Voix de l’Ocean Indien’ in Seychelles, Derrick Young-Khon, as he will be unable to travel to Reunion for the award presentation ceremony planned for November 6, 2015, due to work commitment.

Five other artists voted best in their respective Indian Ocean island are expected to make the trip to Reunion to be presented with their award.

They are Blakkayo from Mauritius, Tence Mena from Madagascar, Mtoro Chamou from Mayotte, Costy from the Comoros and Aubin from Rodrigues.