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Electro
Culture

La nouvelle scène musicale française: Electro

By Joffre Agnes
23/10/2008

A few time ago, the only French singers who were famous abroad were Serge Gainsbourg, Edith Piaf and Johnny Hallyday. French singers used to sing in French and in “the Hexagon” only. However this is not true anymore. Such artists like Daft Punk, Camille, Air, Yaël Naïm, David Guetta or Manu Chao have been crossing the borders for several years.

What’s the new generation of French artists to listen to? What’s interesting in the new French scene? Let’s follow the guide and discover each kind of music.

First : electro.

 

The French Touch

 

Air
Air

Everybody has heard about the French touch but it seems that almost nobody knows what it means exactly. It must be because now it is used for all French artists who are into electronic music.

In fact the term was invented in 1997 by the British magazine “Muzik” to define artists such as Laurent Garnier, Daft Punk or Air. When electro used to be only a few synthesizer notes, these artists created something new: by mixing musical genres they deeply shattered the musical world.

 

Around the World - Daft Punk
Around the World - Daft Punk

The best example remains Daft Punk’s first worldwide hit “Around the World” from their album “Homework” in 1997. This hit was hard to classify but it enthused people all across the globe. The French touch was born : several artists mixed old hits and personal creations, techno meets house, dance, trash, garage, trance, hip hop…

 

Even if these sounds are universal, the French turned out to be the best and to lead this musical genre with a specific class. Don’t be jealous English people, you may have had a part to play in this phenomenon. In fact House music began in the UK in the late 80s. During 1988 and 1989 summers, electronic dance music fuelled an explosion in youth culture culminating in mass free parties and the era of the rave. This period was called “Summer Love”. However Margaret Thatcher decided to forbid such big meetings with repetitive music and therefore electronic artists crossed the Channel to perform in France! Too bad since the first generation of all great DJs were... French.

 

Laurent Garnier
Laurent Garnier

Laurent Garnier who began at the Hacienda, the famous nightclub in Manchester was one of the first to be well known. Electronic music became noble since he awarded a "Victoire de la Musique" (famous French musical prize) in 1998. He was followed by Daft Punk , Etienne de Crécy, Air, Cassius, Boulevard Saint Germain…

 

 

Daft Punk
Daft Punk

Now the second generation is in da place and still as famous and as prestigious as the first one, even more. Daft Punk keeps on ruling the French touch all over the world. They have composed three albums now and created a worldwide phenomenon: "Harder, Better, Faster , Stronger", "Aerodynamic", "One more time" make everybody dance.

 

Their manager also created a label which is a major reference in electro music: Ed Banger Records. Its artists are the lucky ambassadors of the French Touch. They keep on mixing musical genres with different inspirations: from hip hop to pop, from rock to dance they want to shatter traditional creation limits.

 

Ed Banger Records
Ed Banger Records

 

 

Justice
Justice

Ed Banger’s superstar is of course Daft Punk but more recently, they have produced a new phenomenon: Justice, a new band which is presented as Daft Punk’s successor.  In fact this band is composed of two men Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnais and turn out to be Ed Banger’s most successful band. Their debut album, titled †, was released on Ed Banger Records on 11 June 2007 and preceded by the single D.A.N.C.E, a worldwide hit. Their style has been thought of as having some heavy metal influence and combines cut up bass lines with a compressed and distorted synthesizer sound. Their music often includes bass slapping which results in an electro house style. Additionally, Justice uses samples of other songs to add to the effect, as with their song "Tthhee Ppaarrttyy", featuring Uffie.

 

DJ Mehdi is more influenced by hip hop, he released his first album in 2002 (The Story of Espion), and Lucky Boy, in August 2006. With the popularity of cross genre hip hop into such areas as indie and electronic music, he had assisted to bridge the gap between dance genres.

 

Feadz
Feadz

The electro-rap siren’s vocals over Feadz’s killer beats have been tearing up shows around Europe, America and beyond over the last couple of years.  On tracks such as ‘In Charge’, ‘Hot Chick’, ‘Pop The Glock’ and ‘Ready To Uff’, Feadz has proved his ability to whip up club bangers treading the fine line between electro and rap. DJ Feadz often collaborates with the great American Uffie, his girlfriend.

 

Mr Oizo is most famous for his electro track 'Flat Beat', which became a hit all across Europe in 1999 as it was featured in a series of Levi's jeans TV commercials (don’t you remember of the stuffed animal ?)

 

SebastiAn
SebastiAn

SebastiAn may be Ed Banger’s new biggest promising artist. His first releases entitled 'Smoking Kills' & 'H.A.L.'were a string of remixes followed including Annie, Daft Punk, Cut Copy, and Uffie. Summer 2006 saw the release of the 'Ross Ross Ross' album, as well as a remix for Kelis. His remix of Kavinsky's Testarossa Autodrive, titled Testarossa Overdrive (Sebastian remix), is featured in the video game GTA IV.

 

Ed Banger produces many other artists such Mr Flash, Vicarious Bliss or Uffie, the American Dj... 

 

More genereally, by extension the French touch refers to all French Djs, let's have a look to the most famous and their styles.

 

Styles and French famous DJs 

   

David Guetta
David Guetta

 

Apart from Daft Punk, the most famous French DJ is the dance, house and disco influenced DJ David Guetta. There are few DJs in the world that create the reaction that David Guetta sparks. He can lead the recent massive Stade De France stadium party, make people dance and be locked in the groove during nine hours: David Guetta gets passions flowing. That’s because he treads a tightrope most DJs wouldn’t dare to traverse: the line between being an underground DJ and having huge crossover success. His most famous hits made the all world dance: "stay", "in love with myself", "love is gone", "baby when the light", "love don't let me go", "money"... His compilations " F#### me I'm famous" lead the nightlife all over the globe and he is a reference for partying in the jet-set.

 

 

Bob Sinclar
Bob Sinclar

Bob Sinclar  is one of the most famous DJs too with his electro-pop-disco hits such as "Kiss my eyes", "Love generation", "World hold on" or "Rock this party".

 

 

Martin Solveig
Martin Solveig

Martin Solveig is specialized in house music. You must know some of his hits as "Everybody" or "I want you".

 

 

Stéphane Pompougnac is the king of lounge music. You might don't know his name but for sure you heard his atmospherical music in the "Hotel Costes" compilations.

 

 

Sebastien Tellier
Sebastien Tellier

Sebastien Tellier represented France during the latest Eurovision song contest. Tellier is a figure who owes as much to pop stars of a slightly older vintage. "Sexuality", his last album is a prime example of the 21st Century’s obsession with the thick vintage synthesisers and clicking drum machines of the ‘70s and early ‘80s, an almost fetishist recreation of the warm, enveloping textures of progressive pop.

 

Kavinsky
Kavinsky

 

Kavinsky is a rising artist  who launched his first album "Teddy Boy" in 2006. He collaborated with Mister Oizo, SebastiAn and mixed during the Daft Punk World Tour. His most famous hit  "Testarossa"  is played in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV.

 

 

Gotan Project
Gotan Project

Gotan Project is a large band based in Paris. They mixed tango with electro. It's very original and they have created an unique lounge ambiance. Their most famous album is "La Revancha del Tango", 2001.

 

 

Birdy Nam Nam
Birdy Nam Nam

Birdy Nam Nam's goal is to use the turntable player as an actual musical instrument so it makes you wonder how they do it sometimes. Their hit " Abbesses" will stay on your mind.

 

 

Emile Simon
Emile Simon

Emilie Simon is now a world wild star. Her first album " Emilie Simon" was awarded by a "Victoire de la Musique" (French musical Prize) but she reached the top making the music for "March of the Empress". Cleverly mixed, her songs transport you in her own world.

 

Laurent Wolf is a tribal-house DJ, his last hit "No Stress" made French people dance all summer long.

 

TTC
TTC

 

TTC invented a new genre combining electro music and trash lyrics. Their songs are both chocking and funny but they find a huge audience especially in teenagers.

 

 

Yelle
Yelle

Yelle works in the same way. Her hit "Je veux te voir" is an echo to TTC's songs. In 2007 she is opening for Mika's European Tour. She is now an icon for the "fluo kids" and "tectonic" trends.

 

 

Miss Kittin is a major figure in electroclash (reaction against current electronic music with artits like Yelle, in favour of an artistic underground movement). Her songs are between disco and trash.

 

DJ Chloé rhythms Parisian nights with her off-beat style between trash and minimalist style. 

  Find out more about the French musical scene: Rock

Check events in London to see CDs launches and concerts 

 

COMMENTAIRES:

04/05/2012 - biuro a dit :

ive seen Busy P live, and i even kinda met him (we said HEE! its pedro! and he said Hey.) That was really finaasttc! Where does WDPK stand for? DP for daft punk i guess? Is 87.3 fm really radiochannel, i couldnt find anything on the web about it!

11/10/2011 - kmeshna a dit :

House music did not originate in the UK (although it WAS where it became mainstream and was the start of "rave" cultre), but rather in underground clubs in Chicago. Check out this documentary, I think you'll find it really interesting and informative.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6000267013777292744

-Kyle

17/07/2010 - roselma27 a dit :

Olha estes ai

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