It was during this time that N'Guidjol's older sister died, which he says made him focus on his family and people close to him.

But the creative spark continued to burn bright with N'Guidjol both drawing and writing during these years. These talents would later be put to use in a project that was a radical departure from a normal musician's endeavors.

N'Guidjol worked with an animator to create a children's cartoon series, for which he wrote the music and story.

The animation was picked up by Endemol, creators of Big Brother - a hugely popular television series in many Western countries - but, so far, has not been released.

It was in 2006 during a visit to Hong Kong, his first visit to Asia, that N'Guidjol first considered moving to Shanghai. He says he arrived in the city later that year with not much of a plan and spent a few months enjoying the nightlife of the city.

A self-confessed night owl, N'Guidjol says it was through meeting and networking that opened up an opportunity at Bar Rouge.

He is very different from most MCs who play with a DJ.

When N'Guidjol performs, he leaves the DJ booth and sings in different parts of the club, often right on the dance floor. N'Guidjol worked at Bar Rouge until March this year and was also MC and entertainer at Bar Rouge's Riviera Pool Party at Purple Mountain hotel in Pudong over the summer.

On Sundays, N'Guidjol is the singer at a jam session at LOgO bar that offers an opportunity for some of the city's best musicians to play together. The make-up of the band changes regularly throughout the night and attracts a large number of both amateur and professional musicians.

'You have a lot of musicians in Shanghai and on Sundays at LOgO it's a place where people meet and can play together make contacts. Other bands have started from it. It's a very special atmosphere. '