Musique
Music streaming: innovation, cultural monitoring, and human-driven solutions
Digital Communities and the Birth of Streaming At the end of the 1990s and the dawn of the 2000s, music became one of the first fields to experiment with digital culture. Whether on forums, sharing sites, or peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms, self-organized and self-regulated communities emerged: uploaders, curators, collectors, and enthusiasts. Even today, these communities persist, Read more
The Nantes-Angers Opera in the face of budget cuts: what future for the performing arts?
An unprecedented fiscal shock The 2025 school year was marked by the announcement of the 2025 budget, which shook more than one! A rather austere budget in the face of an ever-growing deficit, it seems that culture has not escaped it. Once it has been put on a diet, it would be interesting to observe Read more
French rap and techno music – Cultural interactions leading to a new sub-genre ?
40 years ago, French rap was an emerging and very underground genre. Today, it has been dominating the French music scene since the last decade. Indeed, in 2024, the rapper Werenoi – who passed away last May – was the biggest seller of the year, with 276,900 albums sold. Appeared in the 1980s by mimicking Read more
Can raves be sustainable ? Green innovation and contradictions in the electronic music scene
Picture Credit: Horst Arts & Music Festival Electronic music has become one of the most influential cultural movements of our time. From massive festivals like Tomorrowland to small underground free parties, it brings together people from every background to share sound, energy, and freedom. But behind the lights, the bass, and the celebration, one question Read more
Super Bowl 2026: Bad Bunny at the Halftime Show, Between Culture and Politics
The Super Bowl: From Sports Game to Cultural Phenomenon The Evolution of the Halftime Show Originally, the Super Bowl was only the final game of the American football championship, organized by the National Football League (NFL), the main professional football league in the United States. After merging in 1970 with the American Football League (AFL), Read more
The Hard Techno music business: how this trend, transforming an undergroundgenre into a commercial phenomenon, has become the reflection of an ultraconnectedgeneration in search of extreme experiences
Credit : Unsplash / @Raw Visual Studio Yesterday, some friends invited me to join them next weekend for a “Hard Techno” party taking place in Paris, called « Welcome Back Devil XXL ». As a big fan of electronic music, I immediately checked out the lineup, but none of the names really rang a bell. Read more
Venna’s Malik: Redefining Jazz Fusion with Soul and Conviction
On September 5th, 2025, British saxophonist Venna released Malik, his long-anticipated debut album. For years, Venna has been celebrated as one of the brightest musicians in London’s dynamic jazz scene, but until now, his solo projects had come in shorter formats: two well-received EPs, Vennology (2021) and Equinox (2023). Malik changes that. More than just an album, it is a bold artistic statement that redefines what modern jazz fusion can be, blending tradition, experimentation, and personal introspection. From South London to the Global Stage To understand the significance of Malik, it is worth looking back at Venna’s journey. Born and raised in South London, Venna grew up surrounded by a rich mix of musical cultures. In that part of the city, jazz rubs shoulders with grime, Afrobeat, reggae, hip hop, and R&B. This eclecticism shaped his musical DNA from an early age. His instrument of choice, the saxophone, became his voice. Unlike many young players who struggle to find relevance for jazz in a contemporary context, Venna never saw genre boundaries as a limitation. His saxophone could flow as easily over a soul groove as over a drill beat. Very quickly, word spread about this versatile, charismatic musician who could bring warmth and depth to any track. That reputation led to collaborations with some of the biggest names in contemporary music. Venna has worked with Burna Boy, WizKid, and RAYE, expanding his palette by stepping into Afro-fusion, R&B, and pop territories. His skill and adaptability eventually earned him one of the industry’s most prestigious honors: a Grammy Award. And yet, despite this success, Venna was not content to remain in the background as a “session player” or side musician. He had a vision of his own, and he was determined to make it heard. Early Solo Steps: Vennology and Equinox Venna’s first solo project, Vennology (2021), was a statement of intent. With its jazzy textures, soulful atmospheres, and rap influences, the EP introduced audiences to a world where saxophone melodies intertwined with contemporary urban rhythms. It wasn’t simply jazz revivalism — it was jazz reimagined for a new generation. Critics praised the EP as “a glimpse of a brilliant future,” and it created buzz among both jazz aficionados and wider audiences. Two years later, Venna returned with Equinox (2023). If Vennology was a promise, Equinox was confirmation. The project included one of his most memorable tracks to date: Sicily in the Box, featuring acclaimed drummer Yussef Dayes. The track stood out for its hypnotic rhythm and cinematic atmosphere, earning Venna even greater recognition. Both EPs showcased his ambition: to remain rooted in jazz while refusing to be boxed into a single category. But they also hinted that Venna was preparing for something bigger — a work that could synthesize his influences into a coherent, mature artistic vision. Malik is exactly that. Malik: The Album as Breakthrough Read more
The Importance of Authenticity in Rap
I. BEN plg: An Introspective Journey Toward Authenticity BEN plg, born Thomas Léger, is a rapper from Tourcoing, a city in northern France. His musical path began under the name Ben l’Oncle Rap, but he later adopted the stage name BEN plg, which stands for « Pour La Gloire » (« For Glory »). This name change represents his Read more
Kanye West and the Eternal Debate: Separating the Man from the Artist
With his antisemitic, misogynistic, and racist remarks, the iconic 47-year-old American artist Kanye West once again raises the eternal question: Should we separate the man from the artist? A question that may seem obvious to some, absurd to others, but nonetheless legitimate given the omnipresence of artists in our daily lives. Our museums, schoolbooks, television, Read more
« Debí Tirar Más Fotos »: Bad Bunny’s Love Letter to Puerto Rico
Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny returns to the spotlight with a new album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos. An introspective and profound project, where the artist moves away from the festive themes that brought him success to explore his roots and addresses topics that are both personal and political. A Musical and Cultural Homecoming After a Read more