Meet the Printemps performers
As the French music festival season fast approaches, we profile two talented songwriters performing live this summer
Spring may only just have sprung but summer is officially here. In just a week the seemingly endless, summer music festival season, kicks off in France with the Printemps de Bourges (18 to 22 April).
If you haven’t yet given serious thought to your route de vacances why not add a music festival to your itinerary on your road to the sea this summer? Artists appearing in France include Iggy Pop, Placebo, The Foals, Arcade Fire, Seasick Steve and many more, but instead of all the British and American headliners why not take in some new French musical talent?
Appearing first at the Printemps de Bourges, and then at numerous festivals across France throughout the summer, here are a couple of new French artists currently riding high in the charts: Jain and Vianney – both major winners at the French music industry awards Les Victoires de la Musique, back in February this year.
If you like Christine and the Queens, you’ll like Jain, idiosyncratic and quirky electro pop fused with African and Arabian rhythms, reflecting parts of her childhood spent growing up in the Congo and Abu Dhabi (UAE).
Winner in the Best Female Artist Category at the 2017 Victoires de la musique, Jain is one of these recent French artists who choose to sing in English, an astute decision, making her accessible to an international audience. Prior to appearances in France over the next few months, Jain has been touring Canada and the United States with dates in Toronto, New York and Washington DC.
Born in Toulouse of Franco-Madagascan parents, 25 year-old Jain (real name Jeanne) has a diverse musical background with her influences ranging from Youssou N’Dour and Miriam Makeba to Janis Joplin and Otis Redding with a French twist from Alan Bashung.
Her first album Zanaka (meaning 'mother' in Malgasch) was released in 2015, and attained gold disc status. It was re-released with extra racks in September 2016 and went platinum. Jain is very representative of the current French electro pop trend. Well worth a listen.
Of course it’s not all electro pop - France might have given he world Daft Punk, but never forget La Chanson Française.
Latest in this Franco-French niche is a young artist called Vianney. His latest eponymous album is a set of thoughtful, soulful, well-crafted electro acoustic songs. It has achieved double platinum status.
Winner at the 2017 Victoires de la Musique in the categories of Best original song and Singer/songwriter of the year. 26-year-old Vianney has had a full and varied life. He spent the latter part of his secondary education at the St Cyr Military lycée and later went on study management and fashion design. Noted for his travels, in 2012 Vianney did his own Tour de France on an electric scooter, and in a break during the recording of his second album, he cycled from Paris to Stockholm via London and Berlin.
The latest in a long line of electro acoustic French singer-songwriters, Vianney kicks off his summer festival season at the Printemps de Bourges, sharing the bill with Jain on Thursday 20th April.
For a full round up of summer music festivals in France, follow the link:
www.touslesfestivals.com
