In 2010, Stromae emphatically launched himself to the world together with his electropop observe “Alors on danse.” The music reached primary in 12 international locations throughout Europe. The Belgian artist, who has a knack for mixing hip-hop and dance music, adopted with 2013’s “Papaoutai,” a success in France, Germany, and Switzerland, amongst others. But after releasing two profitable albums, receiving a number of awards, and acting on levels worldwide, the singer stepped away from the highlight.
In 2022, Stromae returned in a giant means with the discharge of Multitude, one other chart-topper in Europe. He collaborated with Spotify to create a video for the third single off the album, “Fils de Joie.” Four nominations—and two wins—adopted on the Victoires de la Musique, a premier music awards ceremony in France, together with a nomination for finest audiovisual creation for “Fils de Joie.”
On Spotify, greater than 425,000 playlists point out “Stromae,” and greater than 25 million playlists embody at the very least one observe by the Belgian. Listeners typically uncover his music on party- and dance-themed playlists. And whereas his songs are sung in French, after France, the highest international locations streaming Stromae embody Germany, the U.S. the Netherlands, and Mexico.
For the Record caught up with Stromae to be taught extra about his return to music, the video he created with Spotify, and the way it feels to be the most-nominated artist on the Victoires de la Musique.
Multitude was your first album launch in 9 years. How has your sound advanced for the reason that begin of your profession?
For this album, I needed to go additional in my musical inspirations and lengthen them to the entire world. I needed to make use of folkloric, conventional sounds from everywhere in the world, it doesn’t matter what continent. It’s additionally the primary time I collaborated with so many various musicians. I actually loved it, and it allowed me to counterpoint what I already had.
Can you inform us in regards to the “Fils de Joie” music video and its inventive course?
The concept for the video got here from Coralie Barbier, my stylist and inventive director. We needed to create a nationwide tribute to a lacking intercourse employee. The concept was to make her a nationwide hero in an imaginary nation. The lyrics of the music got here to me whereas watching Faustine Bollaert‘s show, Ca commence aujourd’hui, which talked in regards to the kids of intercourse employees.
I used to be very touched by their tales and shocked by the violence of among the feedback made about them. I began from that, and I needed to take everybody’s viewpoint (the son, the consumer, the pimp, and the policeman) besides his personal [the son’s] as a result of he’s by no means requested for his opinion. It’s a means of highlighting these girls who’ve a really troublesome job and who’re utterly invisible.
What was it like working with Spotify on the music video?
Spotify’s assist allowed us to make a video that lived as much as our ambitions. We are actually grateful for that. Thanks once more to them for his or her assist, and particularly to Spotify’s Global Head of Music, Jeremy Erlich!
Why do you assume music movies are such a robust addition to a music?
I’ve at all times been a giant fan of music movies. It’s a ardour I share with Coralie and Luc Van Haver, who’s my different inventive director and longtime government director. For us, it’s a means so as to add an additional dimension to a music and to immerse the viewers in a novel universe.
What was your response to your 4 nominations for the Victoires de la Musique?
I used to be very honored to be taught I used to be nominated in 4 classes. It’s the utmost you may get, so it’s very gratifying. I wish to thank all of the individuals who voted for me. It’s very heartwarming.
Mosaert, the inventive label you co-founded in 2009, fuses music, visible design, and vogue. Is it essential so that you can have a inventive outlet that expands past your music?
Mosaert has allowed me to maintain loads of creative freedom since I began. My label produces all the pieces I do—all of the content material we create, the movies, the reside reveals, the outfits, and so forth. We like to think about distinctive and full universes that transcend the music; it permits us to amplify it and add an additional dimension to every creation.
Check out the most recent music from Stromae on Spotify:
Photo credit score: Lydie Bonhomme