“I think that to make the blues more popular today, a musician needs to blend it with other musical styles, so that more people can relate to it. He can also write about universal or modern themes — subjects that people can identify with. That’s how you keep the blues alive and relevant.”

Enzo Cappadona:

The Blues Kid & His Guitar

Enzo Cappadona born in Marseille (France) on April 2007, Enzo has been playing guitar since he was 7 years old. His passion for the blues led him to attend jams and concerts in the region at the MJC of Graulhet, at the MJC of Albi, organized by BLUZ TRACK Productions as well as the jams of the Toulouse Blues Society. Very quickly, he is noticed and is invited to cross the iron on stage with artists such as SANDRA HALL, Neal BLACK, Kaï STRAUSS, the group AWEK, Sam Mr TCHANG, Fabrice JOUSSOT. He will even make a passage to the Cahors Blues Festival, invited by the Toulouse Blues Society, while he is only 12 years old. In 2019 Enzo participates in the show « The Voice Kids » where he will honor his favorite music by interpreting on national TV a vibrant « Hoochie Coochie Man », causing the unanimity of the Jury.

(Enzo Cappadona - The Blues Kid / Photo © by Maêlle Lefranc)

In January 2020, on the occasion of the Albi Jazz Festival, Enzo “The Voice Kid” had the immense honor of accompanying on guitar and vocals the late great Blues legend Lucky PETERSON on 2 pieces live on CFM Radio in the Hall of the National Stage of Albi. His debut album, titled “Gaston’s Guitar” on BluzTrack Records will be released on October 17th, 2025 with the help of Neal Black and Arnaud Fradin.

Interview by Michael Limnios   Special Thanks: Pascal Delmas/BluzTrack Productions

How has the music influenced your views of the world? What moment changed your music life the most?

Music, and especially blues, has helped me open up to others and develop values of sharing and respect toward the people I play with and those who support me. The moment that truly changed my musical life was when I met my guitar teacher. He told me that blues was the foundation for improvising in any style of music, and he taught me the scales that gave me the freedom to “speak” on stage through my guitar.

How do you describe your sound and songbook? What's the balance in music betweentechnique and soul?

I’d say my sound is a mix of all the styles I love: Blues, Funk, Soul, and Pop. In my compositions, I try to blend all of these influences while keeping the blues at the heart of it. To me, technique is essential to feel comfortable when playing, but music is meant to believed and felt — especially the blues, which was originally a cry of revolt from African Americans during slavery. You need to learn and practice technique to play properly, but that’s not enough. The soul, the emotion, and the feeling are what truly make the difference.

Why do you think that French Blues Scene continues to generate such a devoted

following?

I think it’s because there’s a real community here. Between the festivals, the clubs, the associations, and especially the passionate musicians, the blues still holds a strong place in France. Many major blues festivals also make an effort to highlight young artists, which helps attract a younger audience and keep the scene alive.

“Music, and especially blues, has helped me open up to others and develop values of sharing and respect toward the people I play with and those who support me. The moment that truly changed my musical life was when I met my guitar teacher. He told me that blues was the foundation for improvising in any style of music, and he taught me the scales that gave me the freedom to “speak” on stage through my guitar.” (Enzo Cappadona - The Blues Kid / Photo © by Maêlle Lefranc)

Which meetings have been the most important experiences for you? Are there any memories from gigs, jams, and open acts which you’d like to share with us?

There have been several. First, meeting my guitar teacher Irakli Khutsichvili, who guided me and taught me the art of improvisation. Thanks to him, I started singing and even took part in The Voice Kids in 2019. Later, he brought me to jam sessions where I met Pascal Delmas, who gave me the opportunity to play with many European and American artists such as John Primer, Neal Black, Kai Strauss, Sandra Hall, Shaun Booker, and Chrystal Thomas — which really helped me improve my blues playing. During those jam sessions, I also met Fabrice Joussot, who gave me valuable advice about stage presence. In 2020, I had the immense honor of performing with the blues legend Lucky Peterson, live on CFM Radio during the Albi Jazz Festival.Later on, BluzTrack Productions allowed me to release my first album, “Gaston’s Guitar”, on BluzTrack Records — out on October 17 — with the help of Neal Black and Arnaud Fradin. Neal helped me a lot with the American accent and lyric writing, and gave me precious advice that really shaped my first record.

What do you miss most nowadays from the blues of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

What I miss the most are, of course, the legends who are no longer with us — B.B. King, Lucky Peterson, Freddie King, Muddy Waters, Albert Collins… For the future, I truly believe that blues is making a comeback, thanks to artists like Christone Kingfish Ingram, Samantha Fish, and Jontavious Willis. People are slowly returning to the classics and the roots. Live band music — with real musicians on stage — is getting stronger again, and that gives me hope. What worries me, though, is that some festivals in France are being forced to stop because of financial difficulties and lack of funding.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

I’ve learned that you should never rest on your achievements — always keep working to be better than the day before. Be grateful for the audience’s support, because without them, an artist is nothing. And above all, I’ve learned lessons of humility, sharing, and respect toward everyone I play with, whether they’re amateurs or professionals.

“It’s important to preserve the blues because it’s the foundation of almost all modern music. In France, some associations work hard to introduce this timeless genre in schools. I personally had the chance to give a masterclass in a middle school, in front of 14-year-old students who were pleasantly surprised to realize that they could actually dance and sing along to the blues! For me, music is essential to life — it brings people from different cultures and backgrounds together. It has positive effects on health and gives life and work to so many people around the world.” (Enzo Cappadona / Photo © by Maêlle Lefranc)

How can a musician truly turn the blues into a commercial and popular genre of music for the today's audience?

I think that to make the blues more popular today, a musician needs to blend it with other musical styles, so that more people can relate to it. He can also write about universal or modern themes — subjects that people can identify with. That’s how you keep the blues alive and relevant.

Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues? What is the role of music in today’s society?

It’s important to preserve the blues because it’s the foundation of almost all modern music. In France, some associations work hard to introduce this timeless genre in schools. I personally had the chance to give a masterclass in a middle school, in front of 14-year-old students who were pleasantly surprised to realize that they could actually dance and sing along to the blues! For me, music is essential to life — it brings people from different cultures and backgrounds together. It has positive effects on health and gives life and work to so many people around the world.

Enzo Cappadona - The Blues Kid / BluzTrack - Home

(Enzo Cappadona - The Blues Kid / Photo © by Maêlle Lefranc)