France’s dance music scene first hit its stride in the early 2000s when acts like David Guetta and Daft Punk cracked global pop barriers, but a new crop of DJs is casting a light on the country’s thriving underground. Dealing in huge kicks, dissonant synths and gut-punching bass, their music is sexy, gritty and deeply inspired by American hip-hop. Say bienvenue to three up-and-comers at the front of this new wave.
1. Brodinski
From: Lille
Age: 27
Play him at…: An Atlanta strip club
Backstory: This rap-happy DJ has worked with Kanye West and Theophilus London; his debut LP, Brava, released in March, marries techno with trap and verses from Southern MCs like ILoveMakonnen.
2. Gesaffelstein
From: Lyons
Age: 29
Play him at…: A Paris discotheque
Backstory: The dark industrial techno featured on Gesaffelstein’s 2013 debut, Aleph, landed him a string of big collabos (Lana Del Rey, ASAP Rocky) and festival slots — including this year’s Coachella, rumored to be his last live show.
3. Amine Edge & Dance
From: Marseilles
Age: Both 31
Play them at…: A Brooklyn house party
Backstory: Inspired by classic hip-hop like The Notorious B.I.G. and A Tribe Called Quest, this duo dubs its brand of dance “G-House,” or “gangsta house,” blending electro with rap vocal samples and funk basslines.