Fanny Diercksen aka Phanee de Pool began her artistic career as a singer between 2016 and 2017. The latter is illustrated through a musical genre halfway between rap and slam, which she nicknames “slap “. This time, the singer with three albums decides to take a new direction and release, on November 7, her hand-written autobiographical diary. Interview.
First of all, we are going to remind listeners that you were a presenter at Radio Fribourg, what memories do you have of it?
Especially the trips I made between Bex-Villars, to my parents, and Fribourg. In the early foggy morning, following beet tractors traveling at 10 km/h and each time being almost at a loss. But also, in particular, good memories and great encounters within the editorial staff.
You did the show from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Saturdays. You had to get up very early. Besides, you come from Bienne originally, in fact, what is your link with the canton of Fribourg?
I think I created a link with Friborg by coming to work on the radio and I also came to play in front of the Friborg public. And it’s an audience that I particularly like for its authenticity, like the people of Valais. You are not a canton, but you are a country unto yourself.
So on November 7, your first book comes out with 265 pages, called Phanee de Pool, written by Fanny Diercksen. How did you get started?
I told myself that it was basically a rough draft, because Éditions Favre approached me a few years ago and offered to make a book with my texts. And I figured I could just give them my raw texts. But, they wanted me to create something with “my touch”. I understood then that they were giving me carte blanche. I started “700 Books in Four Years”, I didn’t know how to get started and they insisted that I really get into it after a while. I started a story on some junk paper, pitched it to the publishing house and they decided we were going to present the book in draft form. I added drawings, photos… it started to take on a wacky shape that ultimately appealed.
It must be said that you reveal yourself in this book: your choices, your sorrows, your childhood. Everyone goes through it: your parents, your grandmother, your dog, the sound engineer… are there any chapters that were more complicated to write than others?
I don’t think they were complicated to write, I think they were more beneficial to write, the chapters a little tangent. Ultimately, it’s true that people only know me through my scenes or my music, but people don’t really know the character who is behind it all. Basically, I am extremely modest, in fact, I had to overcome this “obstacle” to create this book. I didn’t want to repeat in this book what I’ve said in interviews over the last seven years. This is why I had to break down barriers in order to let go of modesty. This is why there are subjects like the theme of family and others that I have addressed.
We’re going to talk about your dog, the love of your life, Leon, who you found in Sicily… he’s part of your daily life, you even talk about him in a song. Do you draw inspiration from your environment and everything you experience to write?
Yes, there are a lot of snippets of my daily life in my songs or in the book that will be published. I also have to be careful because it might seem like I’m describing my life. This is not always the case, it’s also like in a play, I invent scenes. But, yes, I try to tell somewhat candid stories with a fairly detached perspective, even if it concerns me.
You are also a beast of the stage, your shows resemble “one-woman shows” by focusing on communication with the public. Is that what nourishes you and does the public give it back to you?
Yes, I think, that’s also what bothers me. It’s true that during the first scenes, I was consumed by stage fright. But after three or four songs, I realized that I had slaps of love and adrenaline that took me to the Zenith. And I was good, I realize now that it is these emotions that make me want to continue performing, even if we also go through negative phases in this profession. But putting smiles on faces is what motivates me and feels good.
Three albums to your credit, since 2017, you have been traveling the stages in France, Switzerland… you even make a living from your passion. Today, what remains for you to conquer?
Still a lot of things, I don’t sit back on my achievements. The French-speaking world is very large. We have conquered part of French-speaking Switzerland, but Canada, Belgium and other parts of Switzerland remain. I want to travel, but not too far because I don’t like taking a plane and sleeping out of bed (laughing). The ultimate dream, for me, would still be to be able to play at the Olympia in Paris.
