Rouhangeze

Biography

Rouhangeze aka Ruh is a truly remarkable talent, hailing from the beautiful and vibrant island of Mauritius, now settled in London, UK. Her music is a reflection of her rich cultural heritage and deep connection to her roots.

She is a vocalist, songwriter, music producer, radio presenter, vocal therapist and cultural ambassador renowned for bridging musical diversity. Raised immersed in Mauritius’ rich rhythmic tapestry, she relocated to London in 2009 to pursue creative passions. There she rapidly rose, collaborating with luminaries across various genres, including Linley Marthe, Antonio Forcione, Jerry Léonide, Meddy Gerville, Tomasz Bura, Gérald Toto, Éric Appapoulay, Rachel Z, Omar Hakim, Harvey Mason, Bernard Maseli, Telemakus, George LePauw, Greg Spero amongst others. Having cultivated versatility across genres from jazz to soul, Rouhangeze “fuses the rhythms of her homeland with London’s kaleidoscopic energy,” melding cultural exchange with empowerment. Through lyrical gifts spanning musical boundaries, she brings the world closer in melody and message.

In 2017, Rouhangeze started a collaboration with pianist composer Tomasz Bura, then called “The Scientists”, renamed “The Tomasz Bura Group. The various band formations included artists and musicians such as Guitarists Guthrie Govan (The Aristocrats), Eric Appapoulay (Neney Cherry, Yusuf/Cat Stevens, Sona Jobarteh…), drummers Mark Mondesir (John McLaughlin 4th Dimension, Deep Purple), Joshua McKenzie (Keziah Jones, Labrinth…), Jamie Murray (Beat Replacement, Donny McCaslin), Saleem Rahman (Robert Mitchell, Chester Kamen…), Bassists Laurence Cottle, Kevin Glasgow (Scottish National Orchestra, Peter Eskine, Randy Brecker…), Joey Grant (Keziah Jones), Yolanda Charles (Hans Zimmer, Squeeze…), Tabla player Aref Durvesh (Susheela Rahman, Nitin Sawhney, Sting…)

“My look ahead is a nod to Polish keyboard player Tomasz Bura and his band The Scientists. This is hard-hitting fusion á la Chick Corea or Ursula Dudziak, with vocal improv from the enchanting Rouhangeze Baichoo, reframed for today. The revelation of 2019 - One of the most exciting bands on the British jazz scene right now. Inspirational music to leave you brimming over brilliantly composed and executed with an obvious synergy and joy.” - Chris Philips (Jazz FM)

Rouhangeze, a Mauritian artist now immersed in London's vibrant cultural landscape, embraces her role as a cultural ambassador for Mauritius. Her diverse experiences include representing her homeland at the International Women's Day event in Wuhan, China (2021), and performing with the transcultural Sur Vasudha Orchestra in honour of the delegates of the G20 Culture Ministers’ Meeting in Varanasi, at India's G20 Summit (2023). The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has praised ‘Sur Vasudha’, a musical marvel.

In January 2024, she took on the roles of presenter and pitcher at the International Society for The Performing Arts Congress in New York, where she represented The Third Orchestra. This ensemble, founded by the late John Cumming of Serious and The EFG London Jazz Festival, is currently under the direction of Peter Wiegold.

With a voice as smooth as velvet, she creates a captivating soundscape that is both soothing and exhilarating. What sets Rouhangeze apart from other singers is her unique approach to improvisation, infusing each performance with a fresh and spontaneous energy that is nothing short of thrilling. Her phrasing is impeccable, her timing spot-on, although she finds great pleasure in blending perfections and imperfections, like silk and grit together within her sound. Her delivery is so full of emotion that it leaves listeners feeling deeply moved. As a multi-genre singer-songwriter and composer, Rouhangeze's musical abilities are as varied as they are impressive. Her versatility and ease of expression, and her ability to articulate a dynamic story with every note is truly awe-inspiring.

Rouhangeze’s music is genre “non-binary”! It’s soulful, lyrical, spiritual, other worldly and connects with one on a visceral level that is hard to describe. Her voice comes from the depths of our world and soars above it like a beautiful bird. When you listen, you have to surrender. - Elliot Moss (Jazz Shapers, Jazz FM)

Radio Host & Presenter

Rouhangeze joined the UK's JazzFM family as a specialist presenter in 2021, hosting Jazz Odyssey broadcasting live every Friday night. In 2024, she took over as the new host of the award-winning global show Jazz Travels previously hosted by the legendary Sarah Ward. The shows both explore the musical cross-pollination of jazz and beyond, celebrating unity in diversity, the universal language of jazz, sharing stories, cultures, and the boundless creativity of musicians worldwide. That same year, Rouhangeze joined OneJazz global radio with SoundShift, bringing her unique voice and deep musical sensibility to this exciting new platform. Founded by Chris Philips and Jez Nelson, OneJazz is a 24-hour global online jazz network that champions both the vibrancy of new music and the rich traditions of jazz in its broadest sense. With over fifty curators from around the world, OneJazz is a thriving hub for creative music, ever-evolving and forward-looking.

She also produced shows for RadioAlhara Palestine, Keakie, Reprezent and Voices Radio

In 2021, she was included in the She Said So - Alternative Power 100 Music List. This list celebrates those at the forefront of this new era for the music industry which has been ushered in by independent creators, and entrepreneurs breaking down the barriers that have limited their success in the past.

On the occasion of the annual economic forums Women In Africa on the 8th of March 2021 celebrating the International Women's Day, she represented Mauritius and its islands at the Mamas Benz exhibition in the magnificent museum of Wuhan in China, a collaboration with the Consulate of France and artist-photographer Floriane de Lassée who travels every year to meet African women from the diaspora. She produced portraits of herself and of exceptional women who are leaders in various fields and "young shoots" in search of "business angels".

In 2022, Rouhangeze joined The Third Orchestra as a composer, singer and co-artistic director. The Third Orchestra is a ground-breaking, inclusive, multicultural orchestra which sets out to dissolve boundaries between cultures and build acoustic bridges between style and genre. With a unique methodology, the sound of the orchestra is shaped by each musicians' vibrant background, embodying a futuristic step within contemporary music and live performance. The orchestra is directed and led by the British innovator, distinguished conductor Peter Wiegold. The orchestra’s first incarnation was generously hosted by the Barbican Centre in 2019, and the co-curator was the late John Cumming, for 25 years director of production house Serious and the EFG London Jazz Festival.

From London’s vibrant music scene, she has performed at venues such as Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, Tate Modern, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Opera House, the O2 Arena, Roundhouse, The Cockpit theatres and festivals in the UK such as the EFG London Jazz Festival, Cambridge Festival, The Posk Festival of Jazz Voice and across Europe to the legendary Olympia in Paris singing with RockAway alongside Zazie, Amir, Michael Jones, Anne Sila, and Philippe Lacheau's band.

She performed, and recorded vocals for ABBA Voyage, Wolf Alice, Nitin Sawnhey, Jools Holland, BAKAR, Emeli Sandé, One, Pete Tong, Jules Buckley, YouTube Festival, part of the LCV Choir (London Contemporary Voices), one of the leading choirs in the UK.

As a session singer, arranger and composer, she has recorded at Air Studios, Metropolis Studios, Abbey Road Studios, Assault & Battery 2, Church Studios, Steinway Studios, The Sanctuary, Strongrooms, Nevo Studios, Snap! Recording Studios, Helicon Mountain Recording Studios.

Rouhangeze was a featured artist for German pioneers Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH for the new release of music software Cubase 9 and Cubase 9.5 (2016 -2017. In 2018, she featured on various promotional videos for their new audio interface UR-RT2 and UR-RT4 (2018 – 2019) in collaboration with Yamaha and Rupert Neve. Additionally, she featured on their latest campaign for their AXR4 Audio Interface Series (2020).