Popular French bands. Recommended groups.

Sirens callCats on Trees

Cats On Trees – Sirens Call (Official Video)

Cats on Trees is a duo formed in 2007 consisting of piano-vocals and rhythm.

The vocalist, Nina, is particularly striking in appearance, and their music is pop and beautiful, making it perfect for women listeners and as background music in calm, stylish venues.

I Think I Like U 2Jamaica

JAMAICA – I Think I Like U 2 (official video)

French rock can feel a bit rustic, but even on first listen, this band has a coolness that doesn’t seem French at all.

The album “No Problem,” which features this track, even has cover art that looks like it could be from a British rock band.

The way the sound unfolds is meticulously crafted, making it a fascinating listen.

AirEinleit

Einleit – Air (Official Video)

We’re an electropop band influenced by groups like Radiohead, James Blake, Alt-J, MGMT, and Metronomy.

Our sound mixes dark electro with an energetic, punchy rhythm.

By the way, our vocalist Jun Suzuki is half Japanese, and we’re planning to shoot the music video in Japan.

Grand DérèglementFrànçois & the Atlas Mountains

Frànçois & The Atlas Mountains – Grand Dérèglement (Official Video)

It’s indie pop with a unique worldview born from an unusual combination.

The hybrid, airy pop melodies carried by African rhythms are soothing to the soul.

The singer, François, is someone you just can’t take your eyes off.

New WavePleymo

Pleymo – New Wave (Clip officiel)

Genres like nu metal and rap metal, which boomed from the late 1990s into the 2000s, were centered around American bands, but France actually has some fantastic groups as well.

Formed in 1997, Pleymo fuse heavy riffs with hip-hop grooves, wielding sharp French-language rapping and irresistibly sing-along choruses as their weapons.

The band’s frontman, vocalist Marc Maggiori, is also a professional animator with deep knowledge of Japanese anime; he’s a big Japanophile who admires directors Hayao Miyazaki and Mamoru Oshii.

They performed at major festivals like Summer Sonic and were hugely popular at the time.

Some of you might remember the MC he did at Summer Sonic where he said he was a fan of the classic anime AKIRA and that visiting Japan had been his dream.

Unfortunately, they disbanded in 2007, but made a surprise reunion in 2017 and are still active today.

In the 2020s, with so many metalcore and deathcore bands incorporating nu metal elements, if you’ve become interested in Pleymo, be sure to check out their acclaimed second album from 2002, Episode 2: Medecine Cake!

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Midnight CityM83

M83 ‘Midnight City’ Official video

Since the 2000s, especially in Europe, a wave of artists in the electronica sphere has birthed many reinterpretations and reconstructions of shoegaze—the 1990s genre defined by roaring, wall-of-sound guitars.

Dubbed with neologisms like “electro-shoegaze” and “nu-gaze,” the style has cultivated a devoted following here in Japan as well.

Among the electro-shoegaze acts that debuted in the 2000s and achieved global success, France’s M83 stands out.

Initially a duo and later the solo project of Anthony Gonzalez—who performs with a band live—M83’s music carried a strong shoegaze imprint within its electronica sound up through their classic third album, 2005’s Before the Dawn Heals Us.

Starting with 2008’s acclaimed Saturdays = Youth, they incorporated dream pop and synth-pop methodologies, earning raves from many music outlets.

A few years later, they pushed that direction even further and broke through worldwide with the ambitious double album Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, released in 2011.

Personally, if you’re new to M83, I recommend starting with Saturdays = Youth and Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, then circling back to their early releases where their electro-shoegaze sound is in full bloom.

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J’t’emmène au ventLouise Attaque

Louise Attaque – J’t’emmène au vent (Clip Officiel remasterisé)

Louise Attaque is a French folk rock band active since 1994.

Their songs evoke wide open plains, and their distinctly French melodies and vocals are irresistibly catchy.

True to the folk rock label, their music often features gentle tones and country-tinged arrangements, making them a great recommendation even for those who aren’t fond of heavier band sounds.