We had the good fortune of connecting with Vincent Raffard-schwartz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vincent, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
Finding and pursuing what you love is my definition of success. It entails being committed, believing in it, and sharing it with others. Above all, for me, success is based on how you perceive it. Today’s socially accepted materialist definition of success is a form of delusion. Thus said, for me, a life filled with love, happiness and health is surely a more successful one than a life based on appearances and materialism. Nevertheless, success is also based on how people perceive you and your work. I am one of the lucky ones able to make a living from my passion. By being able to perform and share my music with others who find joy in my songs, I am fulfilled and consider myself successful. Based on my lived experience, another form of success consists of being able to transform a tragic situation into a positive one. On January 17, 2020, my life flashed before my eyes. In plain daylight, a truck ran a red light and crashed into my motorcycle, leaving me hospitalized in intensive care for over two months. Despite a prolonged coma, a fractured arm, broken ribs, displaced lungs, multiple strokes and the risk of a brain aneurysm, I fought back to stay alive. Never did I let negativity take me down! Thanks to everyone’s help (and perhaps even divine intervention), my recovery was a total success. As soon as I was released from the hospital, my main motivation was to be able to play music again. After an intense period of rehabilitation, on June 21st, I was back on stage to celebrate Fête de la musique (an annual French music festival). Performing at this concert was the successful culmination of my efforts towards the road to recovery. Driving up the East Coast from Miami to Ithaca in the company of a good friend, I have since surmounted my road trauma and undertaken a project to record a new, personal album in upstate New York. I invite you to follow me for news on the release of this album, which will be all about collaboration, serendipitous reunions, and life’s stories. I wish its success!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I moved to Miami in 2007 from Paris France, as a professional musician. I found Miami very eclectic and interesting city. The mix of culture touched me. After few years of observing the city, in 2012 I created my business « The French Horn ” specializes in Old Jazz and French songwriting in the live entertaimennt music industry. Finding my project interesting, different venue started contacting me and the collective was born. What make the difference to the other band is I mix my original music as a singer songwriter and jazz. I enjoy singing in French and that make me connect with my roots and make people travel with me. Today I am extremely thankful for the opportunity and work the city gave me and I am very thankful for the people I met and who are working with me on this beautiful entertainment business adventure. It was a smooth road with some struggles, but I was still confident. I worked very hard and had lot of determination, putting a lot of effort to be successful. Also today and during this pandemic of 2020 it’s been a challenge for live music performer, with venues shutting down, corporate events and wedding canceled, our Miami’s music scene was and is suffering! We need to reclaim outdoor public spaces for live music and Art performances, support more the “live entertainment of local artist », we can encourage people to enjoy and suport live music and cultures, by going to show, having affordable home private concert, support marchandise and Album records and create a strong local community around it. Miami has so much to offer, so let’s receive it! So I am just going to continue planting my seed and let the tree grows! 

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Miami as a lot to offer and also a lot of venues are changing all the time. I can’t recommend something specific, because we never know for along it will be. So I assume we can explore by neighborhoods. Of course after Miami Beach area, I Personally like the area around biscayne boulevard between 54 and 79 street. It’s full of good restaurants. I also discovered a new place, who is creating a project., this incredible open space called “ Magic City “ located around 61 street and NE 4 ave In little Haiti neighborhood will have soon a Live music entertainment and some great outdoor restaurants!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
All of my fans, my musical collaborators, and life‘s twists and turns.

Website: Thefrenchhorncollective.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefrenchhorncollective/channel/
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/thefrenchhorn/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8y7O0gQ9TJAfrZ4c6Tncg

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