french posts

Soha

Thursday, December 20th, 2007 by Julija

français-africain // pop nouveau

Originating from Western Sahara in Algeria, growing up in a multi-cultural environment, Soha blends a variety of styles in her work. Mixing musical traditions from around the world, the prominent Cuban, Latin, jazz and soul influences, Soha gives an appealing vivacity to her sound. The soulful beats and warm equatorial flavours of “Tourbillon (Serre-Moi Fort Si Tu M’aimes)” contain a seductive quality, while “C’est Bien Mieux Comme Ça” creates a festive yet relaxed pace.

Pulsing with passion and energy.
Soha – Tourbillon (Serre-Moi Fort Si Tu M’aimes)
Soha – C’est Bien Mieux Comme Ça
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Daphné

Friday, October 26th, 2007 by Julija

french pop // intimate songwriting

Featured on Aurgasm three years ago, The Lovers transfered a catchy rumba riff into their delightful lounge track “Crick Crack”. In 2007, exploring her entrancing style, French chanteuse Daphné adopts the same riff to her delicate arrangements of “Musicamor”. Beautifully comprised of Daphné’s airy voice and Gonzales’ piano playing, “Un Homme Sous Influence” reveals such a personal sense of poetry. Daphné manages to take her listeners on a voyage of subtle emotions and sentiments, and was compared to a fairy by the French press.

Enchanting voice weaves into well-crafted compositions.
Daphné – Musicamor
Daphné – Un Homme Sous Influence
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Vincent Delerm

Thursday, October 18th, 2007 by Julija

chanson française // singer-songwriter

Vincent Delerm revives French chanson tradition by incorporating certain retro elements with his eccentric tendencies and the feeling of melancholy. Catchy, jaunty piano driven “Il Fait Si Beau” is vibrant with enthusiasm, while “Natation Synchronisée” charms with its whimsical string arrangements, Vincent’s calm, relaxed voice. Pianist, composer and singer, Vincent possesses a good sense of humour, and his elegant songwriting style keeps the chanson compelling and modern.

Surprising blend of youthfulness and nostalgia.
Vincent Delerm – Il Fait Si Beau
Vincent Delerm – Natation Synchronisée
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Emily Loizeau

Saturday, September 22nd, 2007 by Julija

chanson française // singer-songwriter

Influenced by such French chanson classics as Serge Gainsbourg, the melancholic vein of American music idols, such as Tom Waits and Bob Dylan, and inventive Andrew Bird’s compositions, Emily Loizeau carefully crafts her tuneful melodies. Charming with her sincere joyfulness and wit, piano-playing singer and composer, Emily brings so much warmth and quirky freshness to nouvelle scène française. The playfulness of her debut album L’Autre Bout Du Monde (2006), its catchy choruses and certain cabaret pop moments, is infinitely enjoyable.

Whimsical piano fueled songwriting.
Emily Loizeau – Je Ne Sais Pas Choisir
Emily Loizeau – Boby Chéri
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Mareva Galanter

Wednesday, July 18th, 2007 by Julija

french electro-pop // yé-yé

A former model expanding her work into music or cinema is not surprising. However, it is rare and surprising when she does it so good, and does it in such a fun way. With her debut album Ukuyéyé (2006), Mareva Galanter, once Miss Tahiti and Miss France, delivers a collection of mostly catchy pop-rock songs from the 60’s. Her coquettish charm and ukulele manage to give it fresh sound and a lovely feeling to it.

Delightful interpretation of the classic.
Mareva Galanter – Les Filles, C’est Fait Pour Faire L’Amour
Mareva Galanter – Miss Hinano
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Note From Paul: I’m looking to bring on some additional writers to Aurgasm. If you like the kinds of music featured here and can find similar stuff, we should talk. This is a paid gig. Current bloggers are welcome, too. Email me at paul -atsymbol- aurgasm.us.

Helena

Thursday, August 17th, 2006 by Julija

french pop // chanson

Helena Noguerra is a Belgian born successful model, acctress, singer-songwriter, singing and writing her own lyrics in French, Portuguese and English. She has worked as a radio DJ, published two novels, covered Kylie’s “I just can’t get you out of my head” in a very sensual version. While still modelling, she was meeting up with musicians, doing collaborations and also met Philippe Katerine who did most of the composing and producing of their two rather different projects. Azul (2003) is mostly bossa nova influenced with subtle electronic touches while Née dans la nature (2004) follows French chanteuse tradition.

Gentle as spring rain and as intimate as a careful whisper.
Helena – Can’t Get You Out Of My Head (track 11 on the Aurgasm Summer Soundtrack)
Helena – Je Nageais Nue
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Camille

Tuesday, March 28th, 2006 by Paul Irish

french vocal // avant-pop

A month before my Italian tipster, my gal in Lithuania led me to the talented and innovative French vocalist Camille. You probably know her from her vocals on the Nouvelle Vague album, but her solo talent is impressive. She recently released Le Fil (trans: the wire, the yarn, the string) an album done mostly a capella. This effort learned from Björk’s botched attempt and delivers songs that let you enjoy the levels of voices only if you desire to. Taking on the wire metaphor, throughout the album is a sustained vocal note, like line noise, but on top are created catchy rhythms with adorable melodies.
Filling the spectrum with sounds and voices.

Camille – 1,2,3 from Les Sac Des Filles (2004)
Camille – Ta douleur from Le Fil (2005)
Camille – Au Port (music video) from Le Fil (2005)
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Carla Bruni

Monday, January 10th, 2005 by Paul Irish

french acoustic // chanson Française

Miss Carla Bruni is one of the world’s most photographed models. She’s widely regarded as the top Italian model in the world, as well as one of the most financially successful. Being beyond the definition of beauty was apparently not enough for Carla, so she decided to try her (gorgeous) hand at music. She took after her idols Serge Gainsbourg and Joni Mitchell and crafted a quiet record of delicate songs, although not her in native tongue — rather, in French. The result is a intimate album with a lonely and wistful tone.
Listen to a supermodel sing on her own terms.

Carla Bruni – Raphaël
Carla Bruni – Tout Le Monde

Mathieu Boogaerts

Saturday, October 2nd, 2004 by Paul Irish

french minimalist pop

Cute playful bounce. For all the people I’ve shared Mathieu with, “cute” is the most used descriptor upon first listen. It was definitely his fragrant and clean sound that first attracted me to him. His American fans affectionately call him “Booger” and he’s collaborated with Yann Tiersen (composer of Amelie). That’s reason enough.
Boogaerts wields a unique pallete of sounds to create these simple and likable tunes. Listen in.

Mathieu Boogaerts – Sens
Mathieu Boogaerts – Ou

The Lovers

Saturday, September 11th, 2004 by Paul Irish

retro-pop // french // lounge

Cheery. Poppy. Light ‘n fluffy. This track bounces off of the Paris Lounge 4 compliation. There bassline is full and deep, but yet it makes you want to act like a playboy.
Perfect for your next cocktail party when your girl starts swiveling her hips with drinks in her dainty hands.

The Lovers – Crick Crack