French chanteuse Marianne Dissard wrote and recorded her first three albums of baroque desert chanson in her hometown of Tucson, Arizona. After close to three decades in the American Southwest, she now resides in sunny Europe where, in between tours, she writes songs and her first book, the junk memoirs of a yogini. Composed by Sergio Mendoza (Orkesta, Mexxrissey) who joins the ranks of previous composers Joey Burns of Calexico, Naïm Amor and Italian pianist Christian Ravaglioli, her third album 'The Cat. Not Me' (2014) confirms Dissard's ambition to bridge with meticulous arrangements and wrenchingly emotional musicianship the dramatic sensibilities of French chanson with the quirky, mariachi-infused, rough-tumbledness of Southwest art rock. After premiering 'The Cat. Not Me' in saloons across the American West in a live collaboration with Seattle musician Budo, Marianne now tours Europe with French guitar legend Yan Péchin (Bashung, Brigitte Fontaine). Together with vocalist Allyson Ezell, they recorded the hybrid CD/Record 'Cologne Vier Takes', fourth installment in the City Series of road albums. Marianne Dissard lived from her teenage years in the American West. She has toured her music worldwide, whether by foot with her donkey through the French Pyrénées or in China which she reached by Transsiberian rail. Trained as a documentary filmmaker in Los Angeles, she makes her own music videos and odd films. Since moving back to Europe in 2013, Marianne produced a couple of French artists including Orso Jesenska, taught yoga in Paris and collaborated with Berlin choreographers Ami Garmon and Frank Willens.