DELUXE
Genre: A blend of funk, rap and jazz.
Why you should listen to them: This is a French band like no other. They were playing on the streets of Aix-en-Provence in southern France in 2007 when Chinese Man Records heard them and signed them on. But the band really took off in 2010, when the lead singer, Liliboy, joined Deluxe. Her suave voice added the last touch to what quickly became a celebrated band in France. Deluxe released its first EP, Polishing Peanuts, in 2011. Their live shows made their tours an instant winner. Since then, they have built their image around a feeling — the groove — and a symbol — the moustache. And with a growing number of fans behind it, the band has taken its music abroad.
This summer, they toured Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary and Canada. Deluxe’s last French tour, #Stachetour, featured 129 shows. Their tracks appeared on movie soundtracks, including that of Fast & Furious 6. But more than anything else, Deluxe is a live band. Meaning, they are at their best when they perform for an audience.
Have a look at Deluxe — Superman (Live a L’Olympia) on YouTube and you will have a good idea of what their show is about. The band feeds off the audience’s energy and in turn, the audience feeds off Deluxe’s groove.
So if you are in the mood for a festive night, or if you want to spice up your daily commute, play a couple tracks from Deluxe. It will send you to outer space.
(Fun fact: Thomas Pesquet, a French astronaut on the International Space Station, really played the band’s tracks in outer space!)
Voice-over: “If you liked it, come back with it!” It’s the band’s official motto. They ask their fans to grow a moustache for the next time they come to a Deluxe gig.
Stack next to: General Elektriks, Peace, The Cat Empire or DNCE.
Stream now: Pony, Superman, Tum Ratak, My Game.
IBRAHIM MAALOUF
Genre: Some jazz, inspired by Oriental music, and a bit of electro.
Why you should listen to him: Have you ever heard a Franco-Lebanese trumpet maestro who brings together elements of jazz, electronic music and his Arabic culture in a unique musical style? Then you should listen to Ibrahim Maalouf. Born during the Lebanese civil war in 1980, the boy grew up dreaming to become an architect and help rebuild his country. Instead, it’s through his music that he expresses his love of freedom. His albums only reflect part of his musical work. His live performances are based on improvisation, taking his audience on a unique musical journey. He collaborated with acclaimed French artistes such as Matthieu Chedid and Amadou et Mariam as well as international stars such as Sting. This doesn’t mean he’s become unreachable. Every week, he helps young Parisian musicians explore the possibilities of improvisation. His music is sure to strike a sensitive chord in you. But you might struggle to find your personal favourite, as his music varies widely. So take your time on a rainy afternoon and stream through his albums!
Voice-over: “When I go to Lebanon, they say to me that my music is very inspired by Western music. And when I’m in a western country they say that my music is very inspired by Arabic music. When jazzmen talk to me, they tell me that they can feel that I love rock. When rock musicians talk to me, they say that they can feel that I love jazz...,” Ibrahim told Jazz Online in 2014.
Stack next to: Ibrahim Maalouf is one of a kind!
Stream now: Maeva in Wonderland, Doubts 2, True Sorry.
TIM DUP
Genre: Some kind of rock-infused piano-based musical world!
Why you should listen to him: This 22-year-old from Paris is considered France’s next musical star. His music belongs to a very specific category, called chanson a texte. This French genre regroups artistes whose lyrics are central to their work. And indeed, Tim Dup’s lyrics are incredibly powerful and touching. Carried by his crystal voice and light musical additions to the piano, his poetry is transfixing. That probably explains why this past year he’s been on every major media outlet in France. His first album, due October 2017, is billed to create a stir in the Francophile music scene. You have been warned.
Voice-over: “I was lucky enough to have parents that introduced me to music at an early age,” Tim has told Le Torrefacteur. We couldn’t tell if the boy was cracking a joke or being dead serious.
Stack next to: Miossec, Louise Attaque or the legends Leo Ferre and Jacques Brel.
Stream now: Vers les ours polaires, Moira Gynt, TER.
C2C
Genre: You could say electro-swing or alternative hip-hop. Point is the band’s got a good beat!
Why you should listen to them: This is another example of how the French music world keeps reinventing itself. The four boys met in Nantes, a town in the North-West of France, while in high school. Fascinated by DJ Qbert and DJ Shadow, the founding fathers of ‘turntablism’, they decided to form a band of their own and take the turntable music to the next level. They won the Disco Mix Club (DMC) world championships a record four times in a row! In 2012 and 2013, they released their first EP, Down The Road, and studio album, Tetra. Both topped the French charts for weeks. But their fame came mostly from the show’s reputation. Live, they simply blow the audience away. Their fingers do so many things at once it makes you dizzy. And they switch roles, even playing on each other’s turntables!
Voice-over: “We are not doing hip-hop music, or electronic music. We don’t want to be limited. So, we’re taking sounds from all over the world, and all ages. Take, for example, Down the Road. It’s a really unique mix between old-school stuff, like blues music, and more new school, like hip-hop or electro,” band member Pfel told Interview Magazine in 2013.
Stack next to: Hocus Pocus, Birdy Nam Nam or Caravane Palace.
Stream now: Down The Road, Happy, Who Are You, Because Of You.
JAIN
Genre: Spotify says it’s pop. We’d settle for Afro-inspired music for the 21st century.
Why you should listen to her: At only 25 years old, this French woman already toured with one of the greatest names of French music, Yodelice, realised an album gone gold, Zanaka, and just this year, won the prestigious French award for Best Feminine Artist at the 32nd Victoires de la Musique. But of course, all that won’t matter once you’ve listened to her music. Born in France, with roots in Madagascar, she travelled around Africa. Inspired by the music she listened to there, she then came back to France and launched her musical career. Her single Come catapulted her career to the international arena. Listening to her music will make you travel to an imaginary place only Jain can lead you too.
So fasten your seat belt tight, and enjoy the flight!
Voice-over: “There was a real feeling of freedom and joy when you played music. It was something to celebrate, something to share,” she told Indie Music, referring to her travel to the Congo.
Stack next to: Yodelice and Miriam Makeba.
Stream now: Come, Heads Up, Lil Mama.
Thomas Widrow
(A student of University of Glasgow, currently interning with t2)
