New York est leur scène. Certains réussissent à en vivre ou espèrent se faire remarquer, d’autres, aux profils plus improbables, font vibrer la ville uniquement par amour de la musique. Reportage.">
In the corridors of the metro, on a street corner or in a park… Street musicians are everywhere. New York is their scene. Some manage to make a living or hope to be noticed, others, with more improbable profiles, make the city vibrate only for the love of music. Reportage.
From our correspondent in New York,
Every day of the week, he is an entrepreneur, at the head of a fleet of private jets. But on Saturday night, Nik Tarascio falls off the boss’s outfit. With a group of friends, in the streets of New York, he turns into a showman: singer and guitarist. For him, the life of a street artist began six years ago.
« It’s really special : after a week of work, it’s a bit of my magic space », He explains, tuning his guitar.
Its magical space is Washington Square Park, a square with a fountain and a small Arc de Triomphe. In Manhattan, it is one of the beating hearts of the city that never sleeps. You will find there the small fanfare of Friday afternoon, the pianist of Wednesday evening, the painter, the poet and even from time to time, a lyric singer.
Here, every day, musicians come to install their piano, their drums or take out their saxophone, to liven up the lunch breaks of the executives of the local companies or the students of the university which borders the place.
From early in the morning, musicians are there. And until late at night. Like the Wicked Straps, Nik.
At his side that evening, the other singer guitarist of the group, Nick Ganju. With his long black hair tied in a bun, his t-shirt and his jeans, nothing would suggest that he is one of the big names in the online economy in New York. In town, he’s the head of a company estimated at over a billion dollars, but in Washington Square Park, he only comes for the love of art. ” We don’t do this for the money. We are simply music lovers », Says percussionist Michael. He is a Wall Street trader. ” We never talk about what we do for a living. We are afraid that it will change the dynamic with the public if they learn that we are businessmen », Adds Nik Tarascio.
The Wicked Straps, that’s right, a group of enthusiasts that have become, over time, the festive meeting place for dozens of New Yorkers.
Rain is forecast tonight, but the show is going on. The instruments are ready, the microphones are in place, and a light garland gives a final touch to the whole.
Saturday night fever
At the first notes of a song by Justin Bieber and Ed Sheeran, a few passers-by stop. Some do shy dance movements. Nick Ganju takes the opportunity to heat up the crowd. ” Come on, it’s Saturday night, we’re here to party ! », He launches before himself joining the dancers in the middle of the circle.
« The first time I came to this park was fifteen years ago Nick recalls, there was a group of old people playing classics. I stayed listening to them for hours. The following week, I joined them with my guitar. This is how the man who became a father a few months ago joined the New York community of street musicians. Today, he is in his element when he begins a cult song of the Jets.
Gradually, the crowd grew. More than fifty spectators of all ages surround the group. From Lady Gaga to Michael Jackson, via Britney Spears, the Wicked Straps string together hits accompanied in chorus by the crowd.
« They really set fire », Exclaims a young person while dancing with his fiancée. “” I like the way they interact with the public. We were there last weekend and we are here tonight. We are satisfied customers », Laughs a young woman alongside her friends. ” If they were performing on stage, I wouldn’t hesitate to go see them, ”Adds another spectator, filming the show on his phone.
New York, open-air scene
In New York, street musicians are an institution. Many live mainly from their art, like Joe Mitchell. The 28-year-old drummer comes every day from neighboring New Jersey to perform in public. ” I like to play in the metro, because it resonates, the acoustics are nice. But nothing beats playing in a park when the weather is nice »He explains.
Because playing in the corridors of a station is playing in front of passers-by who are often in a hurry, sometimes distracted. ” It’s true that it’s rarer to have a connection with people in the metro, Joe says before specifying that there are still some magical moments, in the middle of their crazy day, people stop to listen to us ».
For Lindsay James, whose voice is reminiscent of Whitney Houston, “ singing in the street is a good way to get noticed. You may be asked to sing at a wedding or in a club ».
Unlike other cities like Paris or Brussels, anyone can play in the New York metro as long as they respect certain rules: do not obstruct traffic, do not ask for money directly… It is therefore impossible to know how much. of street musicians counts New York.
The only figure concerns artists who go through the official selection program of the MTA (New York Metro Company). 350 people chosen by casting. The advantage is that the best places in the metro stations are reserved for them.
In Washington Square Park, no reserved seats. Everyone has their usual spot. The first announced raindrops begin to fall. It’s midnight and the Wicked Straps are playing their last song. Their fans already know they will be there next weekend. “JI think we’ll keep doing this as long as we can traffic Nick Ganju,we will have white hair, or more hair and we will sing Lady Gaga again. I think that’s also what people like about us, graying thirties who also play teenage songs ».
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