Justine, who are you?
I come from Reunion Island, I am a singer under the name Sibu Manaï and a free-surfer.
You are a woman of many talents, tell us about it.
I grew up in the water and learned to surf at a very young age, but I was also immersed in music at the same time. From a very early age, I made a living from longboarding and traveled to almost every continent. Having always written songs and no longer finding my place in the values of competition and the surf business, today I am fulfilled as a musician.
What are your musical influences?
I listened to a lot of folk (Joan Baez, Fleetwood Mac), soul (Etta James, Candi Staton), even urban (Lauryn Hill) and reggae (when I was little and still do today). When I left my island I became aware of its musical heritage and I immersed myself in traditional Reunion music (Alain Peters, Danyel Varo, Urbain Phileas, Lindigo, KalouPilé). Today my influences gravitate around West Africa (Nigeria in particular) and Maloya.
How did music come into your life?
First, with my musical awakening, with a passionate teacher who taught me music through melodies and rhythms, on piano and percussion. A technique that went beyond the conventional framework and that allowed me to remember years later what she had taught me. My father taught me guitar around the age of 12 and my first band came to life in high school.
Your favorite song to dance to?
I'll dance as hard to Jimi Hendrix as I would to Burna Boy...
To escape?
The Durutti Column - LC Album
What inspires you?
Emotions and sensations, our body, our life on this sublime Earth, being a woman.
A typical day?
A day that is neither like yesterday nor like tomorrow.
Your best trip?
It's hard to choose, but Papua New Guinea and Mexico are still stuck in my mind.
A meeting that left a mark on you?
Kenneth Ploquin, the first sound engineer to listen to my work. I took my first steps in a real recording studio with him, and a series of wonderful encounters followed.
What is your relationship with beauty?
Beauty is sensory and also releases an emotion within us. For me, beauty makes me feel good, so beauty comes through care. I feel beautiful when I take care of my body. Cherish the flower and it blooms. Taking care of your body through plants (medicinal, flowers), textures (oils, waters), contact (massages, stones, yoga), scents (inhalations), or even states of mind (meditation) and colors, are all links with beauty.
How do you take care of your body?
I use natural oils and essential oils that I blend in reusable bottles. For supplements, I only use eco-labeled brands whose products are as natural as possible to minimize my impact on the environment. Alaena Nourishing Oil has accompanied me almost everywhere (including Papua New Guinea), it's a faithful addition to my travel bag!
Photo Credit @Thomas Lodin