French culture has had a global impact on music since the beginning of the recording industry. The rise of French house in the 1990s was particularly transcendent, still permeating popular music and filling dance floors across the world.
The “French touch,” as we’ve come to know it, is a subgenre of house music that grew out of an affinity for classic Chicago house and disco, with tastemaking producers like Philippe Zdar from Cassius, Daft Punk, Laurent Garnier, Dmitri from Paris, St Germain and Motorbass (the duo of Zdar and Étienne de Crécy), to name a few, rebelling against the Euro disco of their parents’ generation and incorporating funk, soul, house, techno, hip-hop and ‘90s breakbeat influences to pioneer a fresh take.
Inspired by the punk attitude of creating music with equipment that was easily accessible at the time, these French music pioneers created their own distinctive sound with the use of repetitive loops and filtered samples from the aforementioned genres, which came to be referred to as “filter house.” In an era before laptops could power this type of production, the use of drum machines like the Roland TR-909 and TR-808, as well as synths, sequencers, samplers (notably the E-mu SP-1200) and effects processors like the Alesis 3630 gave it qualities that stood out from other contemporary dance music styles.
Tracks such as Daft Punk’s “Around the World” and Modjo’s “Lady (Hear Me Tonight)” became worldwide sensations, but French touch’s quintessential offering is widely cited as “Music Sounds Better With You” from Stardust, a collaboration between Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter and producer Alan Braxe featuring the vocals of Benjamin Diamond. Despite the single's commercial success and widespread cultural impact, this was the only track ever released by the project.
As the ‘90s gave way to the aughts, a new crop of French touch disciples arose, led by Parisian production duo Justice, who expanded the movement with rock-laden dancefloor grooves. Cue the pair’s 2007 debut album, ‘Cross,’ which featured their landmark single “D.A.N.C.E.” and placed an international spotlight on the pivotal French house label, Ed Banger Records, and its roster of Parisian peers including SebastiAn, Busy P and the late DJ Medhi.
Though the French touch sound is still proudly rooted in the Parisian music scene, its influence has permeated widely across the globe and across generations alike. Artists including the late American producer/singer Romanthony (who notably provided vocals for Daft Punk’s “One More Time” and “Too Long”), Basement Jaxx, Simian Mobile Disco and Boys Noize – all of whom do not hail from France, but have carried the torch – while Justice has returned after an eight-year hiatus, reemerging as leaders of the scene.
In 2022, Alan Braxe and DJ Falcon dropped an infectious heater reminiscent of the Stardust era. In 2024, the pair, who are also cousins, returned with “All This Love,” a collaboration with Bibio that is equal parts funky and smooth, just in time for their tour supporting Justice. Elsewhere, Breakbot has continued to drop filter-laden, feel-good dance grooves over the past decade, while six-piece Paris nu-disco group L’Impératrice recently released their third studio album, ‘Pulsar,’ with the track “Sweet & Sublime” featuring Erick the Architect, sonically bridging the gap between hip-hop and French house.
As the 2024 Summer Olympics wound down in Paris, the heart of the French touch scene, French music icons including Phoenix, AIR and Kavinsky performed more than two decades worth of tracks spanning their collective catalogs at the 2024 Olympics Closing Ceremony. While Phoenix have made their mark in the indie rock scene, their presence also looms large in the world of French touch as well. In the early 90s, Laurent Brancowitz, the band’s guitarist and keyboardist, released music as part of the band Darlin’, which also featured Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo. The tight-knit scene is often intertwined, as exemplified by Daft Punk later making a surprise guest appearance at Phoenix’s 2010 Madison Square show.
The collective of French touch adjacent artists took to the global stage with the most fitting soundtrack to memorialize the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games. In celebration of this enduring, beloved subgenre, we’ve compiled a collection of selected tracks performed, followed by modern tracks that are continuing to push boundaries in the spirits of the legends that laid the groundwork before them.
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Kavinsky, “Nightcall” (Breakbot Remix)
French house musician, producer and DJ dropped this synthwave staple back in 2010 with help from Daft Punk's Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Sebastian, fellow French touch luminaries. The cinematic tune soundtracked the title sequence to the acclaimed 2011 film drive and loomed large and got a dancefloor-ready remix fellow French touch luminary Breakbot.
Phoenix, “If I Ever Feel Better”
This fan favorite and staple of their live show goes back to 2000. The timeless track first appeared on ‘United,’ Phoenix’s debut album and got another boost from Kings of Convenience’s Erlend Øye on his beloved DJ-Kicks compilation album.
Air, “Playground Love”
French music duo Air consisting of Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel have represented the downtempo aspect of the electronic scene with timeless space pop tracks spanning nearly thirty years. "Playground Love," was featured as a single the from ‘Virgin Suicides’ film in 1999, via score that the duo composed. Decades later the acclaimed duo was joined by fellow scenesters Phoenix to perform the track in Paris to close out the 2024 Olympics
Phoenix, “Tonight” (feat. Ezra Koenig)
In 2022 Phoenix linked with Vampire Weekend lead vocalist and guitarist Erza Koening on “Tonight,” marking Phoenix’s first ever guest vocalist. Two years later they reconnected to perform the earworm of a track for the worlds at the 2024 Olympics Closing Ceremony in Paris.
Braxe + Falcon “All This Love” feat Bibio
French electronic duo composed of cousins Alan Braxe and DJ Falcon link with acclaimed British artist Bibio for vocals and guitar for a feel-good single, appropriately titled “All This Love.”
Boston Bun, “SAVE ME”
French house producer Boston Bun teams with Australian duo Bag Raiders for this big room floor filler building on classic elements of French filter house and layering in a festival ready approach.
JUSTICE, “Justice - Incognito”
Gaspard Auge and Xavier de Rosnay just dropped this epic track from their first new album in eight years
Braxe + Falcon, “Step By Step (Axel Boman’s In The Air Version) [feat. Alan Braxe & DJ Falcon]”
Four-to-the-floor goodness from these two first-time collaborators, who are actually cousins.
L'Impératrice ♕, “Heartquake (Picard Brothers Remix)"
2023 single from the six-piece Paris nu-disco group.
Breakbot, “Breakbot, Irfane - The Less I Know”
Thibaud Jean-Marie Michel Berland has been a fixture on Ed Banger Records since 2009.
Yuksek, “Yuksek - IRRESISTIBLE"
Exotic stuff from the French producer, whose adopted name means “high” (or loud) in Turkish.
Braxe + Falcon, “Creative Source”
This one takes its name from the ‘70s R&B group that the duo samples here
Picard Brothers, “Picard Brothers - Systematic”
The duo who brought us their remix of “Heartquake” have worked with Mark Ronson, Silk City, and Beyonce.
Boston Bun, “NEVER CHANGE // LET IT GO”
Named for a pastry popular down under, Boston Bun specializes in taking it over the top.
Dombresky, “Dombresky - Too Soon”
Infectious 2023 groove from the Ibiza and Dubai-rocking DJ-producer.
JUSTICE feat. Miguel, ““Saturnine””
Renowned R&B singer Miguel provides his trademark vocals to Justice’s funk-infused production.
Myd, “I Made It” (feat. Picard Brothers)"
Known as a member of the Paris-based collective Club Cheval, Myd released his debut solo album in 2021.
Polo & Pan, “Chamallow””
Leading French electronic duo met in 2012 at Le Baron, a club in Paris where they both were resident DJs.