When France Met Geordieland: My Experience Recording Flossie Malavialle Live!

One of the most rewarding CDs I’ve ever recorded was for Flossie Malavialle, a French-born singer who lived in the North East of England from 2002 until 2019, before returning to home.

At the time, I didn’t know Flossie very well—she was another brilliant musician introduced to me by the ever-resourceful Keith Donnelly. Just speaking with Flossie is an experience in itself. She has this delightful blend of a French accent mixed with a touch of Geordie, which is simply wonderful to hear!

Keith explained that Flossie wanted to record a live performance and had invited a larhe group of his friends, along with some local fans of Flossie, to his house for a private gig. My job? Just record it.

The idea immediately appealed to me. I’d never recorded a live gig before—how hard could it be?

Well… it’s harder than it looks!

Thankfully, Flossie made the whole process easy. She’s an incredibly accomplished singer and guitarist, and the audience absolutely adored her. A few days later, when it came time to mix the CD, it was a breeze—her voice sounded fantastic.

This became Flossie’s very first live album, featuring songs by legendary artists such as Bob Dylan, Sting, Vin Garbutt, The Beatles, and Tracy Chapman—all of whom have influenced her music over the years.

If you haven’t discovered Flossie yet, I highly recommend you check her out. She tours the UK most years, and her performances are always fantastic.

You can find more about her at: www.flossiemalavialle.co.uk