5 French Electronic Music Artists You Need to Know
In a genre oversaturated with American and British artists, it’s easy to forget that some of the best electronic music comes from France. Here are 5 French electronic music artists you need to know.
Introduction
France has been a key player in the development of electronic music, with a number of hugely influential artists emerging from the country over the years. Here are five of the best French electronic music artists you need to know about.
1. Daft Punk
Daft Punk are perhaps the most well-known French electronic music act in the world. The duo, made up of Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, first rose to prominence in the early 1990s with their unique blend of house and techno. They topped charts around the world with their single “Around the World” and their album “Homework”, and they continue to be one of the most popular electronic music acts today.
2. Justice
Justice are a French electronic duo who first came to prominence in the mid-2000s with their debut album “†”. The album was a critical and commercial success, earning them a Grammy nomination for Best Electronic/Dance Album. Justice have gone on to release two more albums, “Cross” and “Woman”, both of which have been widely acclaimed by critics.
3. Laurent Garnier
Laurent Garnier is a DJ and producer who is often credited as being one of the founders of the French house scene. He first rose to prominence in the early 1990s with his seminal album “30 Years of Laurent Garnier”, which is widely regarded as a classic of French electronic music. Garnier has released a number of other highly acclaimed albums over the years, including “Unreasonable Behaviour” and “Tales Of A Kleptomaniac”.
4. Air
Air are a French electronic music duo who formed in 1995. Their debut album “Moon Safari” was an instant classic, containing the hit singles “Sexy Boy” and “Kelly Watch The Stars”. Air have released five more albums over the years, all of which have received critical acclaim from fans and critics alike.
5. M83
M83 are a French electronic band who formed in 2001. The band’s debut album “Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts” was an instant classic, containing th
Daft Punk
Daft Punk is a French electronic music duo that was formed in 1993. The duo consists of Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo. They are considered to be one of the most successful and acclaimed electronic music acts of all time. Daft Punk’s music is known for its strong melodies, complex arrangements, and use of vocoder and synthesizer effects. The duo’s first album, Homework, was released in 1997 to critical acclaim. It spawned the singles “Da Funk” and “Around the World”, which were both commercial successes. Daft Punk’s second album, Discovery, was released in 2001 and was even more successful than their debut, spawning the hit singles “One More Time”, “Digital Love”, and “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger”. The album helped to bring the French touch sound to a worldwide audience. Daft Punk’s third album, Human After All, was released in 2005 to mixed reviews but still managed to spawn the club hit “Robot Rock”. The duo’s fourth and most recent album, Random Access Memories, was released in 2013 to critical acclaim and won five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. Daft Punk has also worked on numerous film soundtracks over the years, including Tron: Legacy (2010) and Interstellar (2014).
Justice
Justice is one of the most successful French electronic music groups of all time. Comprised of Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay, the duo has released three studio albums, † (2007), ‡ (2011), and Woman (2016). Justice is known for their unique blend of disco, house, and electro, as well as their visually stunning live shows. They have toured with the likes of Daft Punk and received critical acclaim from Pitchfork, NME, and The Guardian. If you’re looking for a French electronic group that truly breaks the mold, Justice is a perfect choice.
M83
M83, also known as Anthony Gonzalez, is a French musician who first gained popularity with his album “Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts.” His music has been described as “dream pop,” and he has since released six more albums, the most recent being “Junk.” Gonzalez has also scored several films, including “Oblivion” and “You and the Night.”
Phoenix
Phoenix is a French alternative rock band from Versailles, France, consisting of Thomas Mars (lead vocals), Deck d’Arcy (bass/keyboards), Christian Mazzalai (guitars) and Laurent Brancowitz (drums/guitars). They are best known for their singles “1901” and “Lisztomania”.
The band was formed in 1999 by Mars, Brancowitz and Mazzalai, all of whom were friends in college. Two years later, they were joined by d’Arcy. Their first album, United, was released in 2000 and was followed by the release of Alphabetical in 2004. The band rose to international fame with the release of their third album, It’s Never Been Like That in 2006.
Phoenix has released six studio albums to date: United (2000), Alphabetical (2004), It’s Never Been Like That (2006), Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009), Bankrupt! (2013) and Ti Amo (2017).
