French 79, born as Simon Henner in 1979, is a prominent French artist residing in Marseille for more than two decades. While Marseille has a deep-rooted hip-hop tradition, Henner has charted his own course in the world of electronic music. In addition to his thriving solo career, he has contributed his guitar skills to two Marseille-based bands, Nasser and Husbands. The inspiration for his solo journey was ignited by the encouragement of fellow artists Kid Francescoli and Oh! Tiger Mountain, both hailing from Marseille, who saw the potential in him to explore his electronic music obsessions.
French 79’s debut album, “Olympic,” released in 2016, and the subsequent extensive tour confirmed the validity of their belief; he quickly emerged as a notable figure in the resurgence of the French touch movement. If some of his melodies sound familiar, it’s likely because they’ve been featured in various TV commercials in recent years.
His second album, “Joshua,” unveiled in 2019, encapsulates his deep reverence for electronic music pioneers such as Kraftwerk and Giorgio Moroder, vintage sci-fi film soundtracks from the 1980s (think “WarGames” and “Blade Runner”), the awe-inspiring beauty of natural landscapes, and the allure of analog synthesizers.
French 79’s strong aesthetic sensibilities are evident not only in his music but also in his artwork and videos. His live performances are a testament to this, with meticulous design and captivating light displays. His 2023 North America tour promises to reaffirm his commitment to the visual aspect of his music with his new album TEENAGERS.
He has worked with notable artists like Vincent Delerm and Laurent Garnier, and has carved a respected niche for himself as a solo artist, solidifying his status in the music industry.
Date: October 30th, 2023
Address: Great American Music Hall, 859 O’Farrell – San Francisco
Buy tickets, click here
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