Yannick Koffi is one of Australia’s most exciting emerging musical talents. This 9 year old multi-instrumentalist of Afro-Australian heritage has a unique sense and understanding of music that is a rare pleasure to witness, especially in someone barely as big as his bass guitar.

Born in Sydney in 1999, his musical talent was almost immediately obvious. At 10 months old, to the astonishment of his Mum and Dad, he spat out his dummy and flawlessly sang the melody to an Ivory Coast classic from his car seat. As he learned to walk and talk, his home opened up a world of musical possibilities; banging on pots and pans, strumming rhythms on his plastic guitar and singing along to the many musical influences that floated through his daily life. At two, he memorised Michael Jackson 30th anniversary concert and delighted in performing it in front of the TV. Never shy of the limelight, around this time he took his toy guitar and climbed onto the stage at a Café Carnivale concert and started performing beside his Dad.

Approaching music with strong intuition and innate feeling, it seems Yannick is able to master an instrument as quickly as he lays his hands on it. His 5th birthday present was a jazz drum kit, but within 6 months he was also playing the keyboard and as soon as he was strong enough to hold it, the bass guitar.

It wasn’t long after that Yannick made his professional debut. In 2006, aged 7 he performed on the keyboard with his older brother Jean- Eric and the African Diaspora, Sydney’s premier West African group, lead by his father Gervais Koffi. Since then, Yannick has become an integral member of the group, playing both keyboard and bass at many gigs and events in Sydney including New Year’s Eve 2007 at Darling Harbour, Bastille Day celebrations at Paddington Town Hall and Dockside, Cafe Carnivale and Musica Viva as well as festivals including the National Multicultural Festival in Canberra.

In 2008, Yannick become one of the youngest endorsees in the Australian music industry. In an email to info@fender.com his Dad posted a link to his myspace page featuring some clips of performances, in the hope of alerting them to his outstanding talent. It only took 2 days for a reply to filter through the Fender network from the USA to Australia with a fantastic offer to support Yannick’s musical development - his choice of bass. Yannick was so excited to visit Fender headquarters and chose a beautiful Marcus Miller Signature Bass Guitar.

There is no doubt that his dexterity defies the size of his fingers as they dance up and down the fretboard as he feels, understands and executes a piece of music as soon he hears it. He is able to store and reproduce complex and challenging pieces effortlessly, rendering African, Caribbean, Pop, Rock and Blues with enviable class and style.

Yannick has a huge appetite for musical discovery and has started recording several songs, in which he sings lead vocals and backing harmonies as well as playing bass and keyboards. In terms of the next instrument, there is no question, his sights are firmly set on the sax!