You may not know about Jessica Fichot (yeah, that rhymes) but she’s playing a show at Solar Culture on May 13. This will be her first time in Tucson, and the first time her two-year tour will hit the Southwest.

This French-Chinese-American singer-songwriter and her backup orchestra produce a very unique type of music, what Fichot describes as “”French chansons, influenced by gypsy jazz and funk.”” She uses instruments from a toy piano and the accordion to a conventional clarinet and upright bass

Fichot grew up in France, but was mainly interested in American music. When it came to her creating her own, she wanted to do something different.

“”Everyone wants to be Tori Amos,”” Fichot said. “”So I thought, ‘What can I do that’s different?'””

She said she prefers writing in a group and works best with a percussion track.

“”We experiment with percussion and everyday objects, like silverware and matches, to make a groove,”” Fichot said. 

Fichot also experiments with languages. Although she mainly speaks French and English, with some Spanish and Chinese, she explores languages she doesn’t know as well.

“”I’m interested in foreign languages for the sound of it,”” Fichot said. “”There’s this musical aspect to foreign languages that I love to explore.””

Her show will highlight tracks from her album Le Chemin, as well as new tracks from her next album, due later this year. She will also play some folk music covers in different languages.

Fichot will be joined by Robby Marshall on clarinet, sax and flute, Michael Papillo on the upright bass and Antoine Salem on guitar.

“”I just want to share my songs with as many people as possible and travel the world playing my music,”” Fichot said.