French artists you should listen to
from industrial techno to rap and spoken word poetry, I've got the hottest recs to withstand a Brat drought
It’s been a while since I wrote a musical article so I feel like I need to reintroduce myself as a music fan here. I’ve been playing music for over 15 years, and my mom likes to say that I used to move to the sound of Nirvana in the womb (I was a cool baby).
So music is everything to me, as I’m writing this, I’ve got my Bose headphones in, and I always do. I cannot write without music. This is why I spend more than 12 hours a day listening to music since all I do is… write.
So as a French person who’s getting into niche French artists (I hate the mainstream French rap scene which is riddled with autotune and bad beats, not sorry to my music producer/executive exes at Sony), here are my recommendations.
Bagarre
(photo of me waiting for Bagarre)
Bagarre is one of my biggest inspirations when I write. Their music is sensitive and inclusive techno rap. Their beats are danceable and they talk about how we’re a generation who doesn’t fuck because we all watch porn. I saw them live recently and I gotta say it has to be my favorite concert experience. They brought a drag queen to dance to their song Boy, and ended the show by brandishing different queer flags, as everyone screamed ‘fuck the extreme right’. If you like Chappell Roan and Charli XCX, you’ll like Bagarre.
Gesaffelstein
Gesaffelstein is having a solid year having played Coachella for the second time in his career, but behind the Coachella sets hides one of the most talented DJs of his generation. Pulling inspiration from Daft Punk, Skrillex, and 90s Berlin industrial techno to build his insane narrative, Gesaffelstein will light up your dancefloor and have everybody asking you ‘Who’s that song by?’ He’s also known for having features with Pharell Williams and The Weekend, but I recommend his solo stuff.
French 79
French 79 is pure Marseille. I saw him live twice this year, once overlooking the vieux port as the sun was setting and it was absolutely stunning. French 79 is an electro artist making ambient music in the wake of Daft Punk, it’s perfect to listen to as you’re driving away in the sunset during your perfect coming-of-age movie montage.
Odezenne
Odezenne is huge in France. They’re a rap electro band with incredible texts about love, loss, etc. Their songwriting is as beautiful as Taylor Swift’s but in French and over danceable beats and while I haven’t seen them perform live, I’ve seen what they can do and I am amazed.
I Hate Models
I Hate Models is a pure product of the south of France too, creating insane industrial techno sets that build and build to a cathartic crescendo. I highly recommend listening to his sets live on YouTube since his music truly comes to life live, as he inserts beloved songs with frantic bass rhythms that make you dance and focus at the same time. I listen to his boiler room set at least twice a week when I’m struggling to focus on my work.
Here’s the full playlist if you wanna get into these artists and french music: