Zen Palette: A Journey through Paris
March 22, 2015
Ah, Paris; the city of lights, love, fine food, fine wine and fine music. If you follow me on social media, you might’ve figured out that I visited Paris over spring break.
Parisian house music has always been one of my main inspirations for wanting to become a DJ (and female rapper, but those days were brief and my one single from high school will never see the light of day). My first introduction to the French house scene all started when I was only 12-years-old with the Ed Banger Records crew in 2006. Founded by DJ and producer Busy P, their token female artist/rapper, Uffie, immediately became all I ever wanted to be in life. Her and her boyfriend of the time, DJ/producer Feadz, were the ultimate dynamic duo and their song “First Love” will always be one of my favorite French electronica anthems to date.
Now this is all a music history that is pre-Soundcloud era as Ed Banger became successful via Myspace; the members of this label changed the music scene by incorporating social media as a part of their musical lifestyle and inspired many people who are now popular Soundcloud producers. When I visited Paris, I met a lot of people and learned a thing or two about music that surpasses cultural boundaries. At the bars and clubs in Paris, it was the 90s throwback songs that are essentially transcendental; even if you’re not in the U.S., people will all sing along to Destiny’s Child. And I do find that many of these French artists and collectives make music that everyone at any point in time or place can enjoy.
Another way I discovered many French producers was through new volumes released by the Parisian fashion label KitsunÌ© Maison. I discovered the artist Fakear through KitsunÌ©’s Soundcloud. When mentioning Fakear to anyone here in the States, hardly anyone knows who I’m talking about. However, it was exactly the opposite in Paris. With beats similar to Bonobo, Fakear’s songs are undoubtedly always infused with acoustic tones. His delicate and worldly approach to crafting his tracks makes it easy to see why he is so popular in his home country.
French Kiwi Juice, or FKJ, has been one of my favorite French artists since his first EP. Drawing on elements of funk, jazz and soul, all of FKJ’s songs are individual masterpieces within themselves. I’m also very happy to announce that he will be coming to play at U Street Music Hall in May with fellow French house producer Darius.
Paradis is a group of artists, a radio station and a music organization based in Paris. Every song by Paradis is wondrous. Their fusion of world percussion, “chill” deep house beats and enchanting vocals “en fran̤ais” form delightfully distinctive melodies.
Home to artists like Dream Koala, this Paris-based music collective and record label — started by producer Andrea — holds a number of musicians who are emerging in the American music scene. Last fall, Andrea and Tommy Jacob (another Parisian producer affiliated with Moose Records) played a show at D.C.’s own Flash. Moose Records’ artists tend to have a very contemporary, minimal, and futuristic R&B sound.
The last group of artists I’m going to talk about are from a Parisian music collective called Discothrill. Both Kource and LeMarquis of Discothrill remix a number of American 90s songs in inventive ways. Nu disco meets deep house and throwback R&B in an interesting slice of what this new collective is bringing to the table from Paris.
