Maxence Cyrin (FR)
Maxence Cyrin is a French pianist and composer based in Paris. After graduating from a Conservatoire de Musique he got enthralled by electronic music. His first compositions and recordings date back to the 90’s. His album Modern Rhapsodies was released in 2005, with his reinterpretations of famous electronic tunes by Depeche Mode, Massive Attack, or Aphex Twin. In Novö piano, an album released in 2009, Maxence Cyrin continued to outline his universe, adapting famous songs by Nirvana, Daft Punk, or the Pixies for the piano. Producing a luminous and visionary sound, his cover of Where is my mind, which has had over 40 million streams on Spotify, features in the soundtrack of successful American series (Mr Robot, The Leftovers…). Following The Fantasist, an album consisting of pieces for piano, strings and synthesizers, his Nocturnes album, released in 2015, pays an homage to the piano, magnetic pole of Maxence Cyrin’s universe, in ten elegant subtle compositions. Well acquainted with the works of Satie, Chopin, and Glass, Maxence Cyrin makes most sophisticated mixtures without ever losing his limpid style. This very refined simplicity led him to collaborate with most prestigious fashion houses such as Chanel, Lanvin, Hermès. A new album at Warner Classics music is set to be released in March 2020.
Maxence Cyrin will mentor Marta Cascales Alimbau (ES).
Dorothée Hannequin — The Rodeo (FR)
The Rodeo is the anagram of Dorothée, a sassy Parisian musician and singer. She discovered music at the age of 15, when she found an acoustic guitar in her uncle’s attic. After making a name for herself with her first two albums (Music Maelström and La Musica del diavolo), recorded all over the world, she has recently released her third album Thérianthropie Paradis. Influenced by the highly orchestrated European pop of the 60s and 70s, this new creation features songs written entirely in French. The Rodeo has played in over 600 venues worldwide (Europe, USA, Canada, Brazil, China, Korea, UK…), shared the stage with artists such as Moriarty, My Brightest Diamond, Stereophonics, Villagers, Nada Surf, The Do, Salif Keita and more, and participated in many musical projets (Mina Tindle, Panteros 666, Converge, Bon Iver, Cocoon…). Her music has been synchronized many times (Ad Vitam, Mafiosa, Panasonic, Norwegian National Lottery…)
Dorothée Hannequin will mentor Alice Hubble (UK).
Romain Lallement — Lenparrot (FR)
There are sounds that overwhelm. The voice of Lenparrot is one of them, it leaves a strange feeling, like an auditory persistence, and distils itself in the hollow of the soul, from drop by drop of melancholy and sweetness. Romain Lallement is Lenparrot. This dandy young man is one of the pillars of the pop scene in Nantes, which we met with Rhum Pour Pauline, his previous band, or on the first album of Pegase. Since 2013, he has moved forward with a solo project that allowed him to build a nice collection of songs whose intimate tones let the pointillism pop of Durutti Column, Lilac Time or Young Marble Giants appear. His first album And Then He was released in 2017, mixed by Yuksek, with the appearance of Christophe Chassol or Julien Gasc. He will soon be releasing his second album.
Romain Lallement will mentor Simone Tang (DK).
Mariama (FR)
Mariama was born in Sierra Leone but raised in Germany and later moved to Paris. Her album Love, Sweat And Tears is inspired by her European and African roots. Part of an ongoing search for artistic freedom and independence, the record’s fourteen songs create one of the most beautiful sonic excursions intothe Soul of global Folk and the electronic energy of modern R&B. Mariama is currently based in Paris and met most of the musicians who play on the album in the city, including drummer Georges Diémé (also a master of percussion instruments such as cajon, congas and udu), Abdoulaye Kouyaté (kora and guitar), Jean-Baptiste Soulard (keyboards and synthesizer), Wendy Milton (piano) and the late, great bass player Hilaire Penda (who has played on albums by Susheela Raman, Tony Allen, Salif Keita, Youssou N’dour and more). Additional contributing musicians include guitarist Sékou Bembeya, Ballaké Sissoko (kora), Vincent Ségal (cello), and German singer Soufian Tsunami.
Mariama will mentor J‑Silk (FR).
Grégoire Vaillant (FR)
Grégoire Vaillant is a french composer, producer and artistic director. He started music at age 5, studying jazz & classical in French conservatories. He created his first band at 11. Craving for other territories than institutional learning, he switched to electronic and indie at 20, rapidly developing his own voice. Grégoire had the chance to be involved in outstanding collaborations (Moongaï, Warner Music, Manchester Camerata Orchestra Dj Snake, 20syl…). He is the founder of The Øpera Collective, a multi-disciplinary European union of creatives people from digital arts to theater, film or chamber music. They produce large scale original & experimental shows about our time. He notably co-wrote composed and directed Le Jeune Homme & la Nuit a 2h Transmedia Opera. Abraham Fogg is an electronica project inspired by classic horror films with a modern Live A/V.
Grégoire Vaillant will mentor Martin Baltser (DK).
