Bernardino Femminielli works in media including music, performance, poetry and film under the guise of a hyper-sexual, genderless provocateur. His work and character are a synthesis of mysticism, transgression, danger and pleasure– a detached crooner deep within a distopian discotheque. Narrating in French and Spanish, from classical arrangements to brutal Italo-disco, from heavy cosmic drone to mutant industrial: his sonic ventures reflect his adopted personas. His lyrics explore an imagined illicit paradise full of excess, drugs, bars, pleasure, darkness and companionship. Much of his poetry is arranged using the cut-up technique and is composed similarly to works of transgressive fiction. On stage, the confrontational yet intensely vulnerable performer explores the rich and dark energy of French and German cabaret– emphasizing the “total” performance where poetry, music, film, and dance coalesce.

Bernardino Femminielli performs as a solo act but is often joined on stage by musicians Pierre Guerineau and Asael Robataille from Montreal electronic projects Essaie Pas and Bataille Solaire, as well as with his side project Femminielli Noir (Jesse Osborne-Lanthier) and is a long time collaborator with Alex Zhang Hungtai (Dirty Beaches).

Press links

Pitchfork – Best New Track
XLR8R – Best of Dancity Festival
Resident Advisor – Best of Saturnalia Festival