Belgian Music Today

Prevots, Aaron. Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX. July 2008.

A selective artist A-Z, with links to audio and video.

The following list is inspired by the Conseil de la musique pages and emphasizes artists from 2000-present. Those with a * star * by their name can be heard here on French through Songs. Brief bios are available at the Conseil de la musique website. Francophone artists are featured but some favoring English also appear. For further information, see Wallonie Bruxelles Musiques, Le Franconet, The Belgian Pop & Rock Archives, Wikipedia and mediadis.com.

Also recommended (includes sound samples and bios): Pour Quoi Faire Productions, “projet commun à plusieurs artistes belges et français (Erno, Dimitri, Oxymore, Ivan Tirtiaux, Mili, Léonie Lob… et d’autres à venir) se regroupant sous une même enseigne.”

* Adrénaline, “Bornéo,” “La peau des fesses,” “Quand est-ce qu’on y va,” “3 voix de femmes en close harmonie … beaucoup de piquant et un enthousiasme propagateur,” A Cappella
* Alek Boff, “Ki Ki Ki,” video, “Tropical / Pop”
Alexonor, more, facebook, “Premier prix des révélations aux Francofolies de Spa 2003,” “French Pop / Folk Rock”
Arno, another bio, Wikipedia, video, one of Belgium’s best-known artists, Pop / Rock / Chanson
Arolde, see “Je n’irai jamais travailler,” Pop / Electro
* AstA, “Elle aime pas, elle préfère,” “La Machine,” “Moins c…,” more audio, “AstA est le projet en français de François Petit, musicien déjà actif dans Adrian Bouldt et The Rocket Ship [et Moladji]. Pop musique décalée ou l’humour cotoie le quotidien mais aussi le rêve et la poésie.”
* Atomic Leaf, “Ecostone,” video, n4records, “Alternative / Ska / Punk,” “Ska-Punk-Guinguette-Reggae”
Attica, interview, “…Rock / alternative moins cadrée…”
Au-Tone, “Folk / Trance / Garage… Comparé à Diabologum, Arab Strap, Tortoise et Sonic Youth…”
Aurelia, audio, “Modern folk”
Austin Lace, hip and upbeat “Pop / Latin / Electro”

Baloji, intense polished multicultural soul and rap grooves, CD Hotel Impala
BD Banx, audio, Rap / Hip Hop
Ben au Banjo, “Musique légère electro-acoustique”
Bendee Oz, bio, video, “Une voix tout en nuances… Une fraîcheur qui vous traverse,” Pop / Chanson
Beretta, Hip Hop / Rap
Bern Li, “Hip Hop / Punk / Electro”
* Bienvenu ‘n Sonar (BnS) video, “Bons baisers de Belgique” audio, Sonar solo, Rap / Hip Hop
Box Story, “Indie / Rock / Minimalist”
Brice, L’Album de Brice, video “Nous deux,” Brice à domicile, Pop / Nouvelle chanson
Bunker, Rap / Hip Hop

* Camping Sauvach, more, single “Au petit bonheur,” “Plantant leurs notes et leur tente là où la fête les emmène…,” “Ska / Folk Rock / Comedy”
Carl, Indie / Alternative
Carton, “Electro alternatif”
Casimir Liberski, more, Jazz
Cédric Gervy, “Comedy / Acoustic / Pop”
Christian Merveille, Chansons pour enfants
Claire Goldfarb, “Modern folk”
* Clandestine, “La boîte à souvenirs,” “…un harmonieux mélange entre le rock et la chanson française,” “Rock / Pop / French Pop”
Claude Semal, writer-musician-actor, audio, textes, more, CD Belgik, Chanson / Chanson engagée / Variétés
Clément & les ogres borgnes, Nouvelle chanson
Cloé du Trèfle, see “Plus qu’une aurore,” Folk / Indie
Cré Tonnerre, “…des rythmes reggae, rock et traditionnels… univers loufoque et surprenant…”

D.Majiria, “Rock… énergique”
Dada-Pâte, “Melodramatic Popular Song”
Daniel Hélin, Nouvelle chanson / Indie / Alternative
* Daphné D, voir “Tes testaments” (de Joachim Jannin), “Rock / Other / Electro”
Déménageurs, Les, “Musique pour jeune public”
Deux accords diront, “Modern folk”
Dimitri, Trad / Chanson
Djinn Saout, “Rock / Folk Rock / Progressive”

Edgar (animo), Folk / Pop / Indie
Elvis Black Stars, video, “Powerpop / Rock”
* Été 67, “Tout ce que je veux,” official site also has great bonus songs page and video for the hit “Dis-moi encore,” more audio, live video for “Tout ce que je veux,” Wikipedia, Pop / Rock / Indie / Chanson

Françoiz Breut, a singer whose voice has been compared to Jeanne Moreau’s, fourth album À l’aveuglette October 2008, “Si tu disais” video, bilingual version of same with Calexico, “Surf / Italian Pop / Happy Hardcore”

* Gaëtan Vassart, more, “Annabelle,” winner of various awards, “…un vent frais du nord dans la nouvelle scène française,” “Pop / Rock / French Pop”
Gauff’ (Les), videos, note Spinal Tap outfits, quintet, Pop / Rock / Comedy
Geneviève Laloy, “French Pop / Folk / Jazz”
Gery Lippman, Melodic Pop
* Guillaume Ledent, “Mac Gyver,” more, more, “French Pop / Folk / Fusion”

Half Asleep, moody and introspective, much to listen to in Download section of site, more audio, “Folk / Indie / Alternative”

Isola, “Pop / Rock”
* Ivan & les singes savants, more, “Le bonheur n’arrive pas qu’aux autres,” interview, “French Pop / Latin / Soul”

James Deano, site features creative texts and visuals, see also his hit “Les blancs ne savent pas danser,” Hip Hop / Rap
Jean-Louis Daulne, numerous albums available, audio, Pop / World Music
Jeff Bodart, an admired artist who passed away in 2008, video, Pop / Nouvelle chanson
Jeff Kavanda, one of Belgium’s better known musicians of African origin (originally from the Congo), a singer and multi-instrumentalist, World Music
Jelly, “Belgian Rock / Pop”
Jennifer Scavuzzo, Pop
Jeronimo, video for hit single “Moi je voudrais,” Pop / Rock
* Joachim Jannin, “Tes testaments,” a young singer-songwriter-guitarist steeped in talent, influences include João Gilberto, Benjamin Biolay, Coralie Clément, Jazz / Bossa Nova / Pop

Karin Clercq, audio, many multimedia samples on her site, “Chanson française pop rock folk”
Kris Dane, “Alternative / Hawaiian / Folk Rock”

Lau, CD Bas les masques, Pop / Rock
Leitmotiv-05, “Rock / Pop / Other… 5 conquérants de l’espace…”
Lisa Margo, click on pictures for great album excerpts, more audio, “Ambiance pop et jazzy… musique qui se veut fraîche, rythmée, positive…”

M. Charivari, mellow catchy “French pop in Belgium”
* Mahel’M, “La rue deci-delà,” French Pop / Folk
Major Deluxe, Soul / Pop / Neo-Folk
Malibu Stacy, “Zouk / Spanish Pop / Crunk”
Mamémo, Children’s Music / Cartoons
Manou Gallo, videos, audio/video, multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter-bassist, originally from the Côte d’Ivoire, World Music
Marc Moulin, Modern Jazz
* Marie-Noire, more, “Théma éthylique,” “…des histoires, des points de vue, des bouts de quotidien et des témoignages, sur un ton drôle ou lucide, toujours ludique !,” “French Pop / Acoustic”
* Marie Warnant, “Bruxelles,” video for “Bruxelles,” “voix douce et mélodieuse,” “Rock / Pop / Electronica”
Marka, singer-songwriter and self-styled “Aktion Man,” a “Chevalier de l’Ordre de Léopold II” since 2005 (a high cultural honor), video, Pop / Chanson
Marlène Dorcena, a singer originally from Haïti, hear her songs “Colibri” and “Métissé”
Matthieu Bioul, Pop
Maurane, international star, another bio, video, Pop / Chanson
Maxime Blésin, guitarist, Trad / Jazz
Me and My Machines, “Pop / Rock / Electro”
Mehdi Kane, “R&B / Soul / Pop”
* Melon Galia, “L’occasion de me taire,” “On s’est réveillé tôt,” French Pop
MessBass, “Hip Hop / Rap / Lyrical”
Miam Monster Miam, “The madcap from Belgium”
Mièle, see also here for an older bio and blog from their 2006 album release, Rock / Alternative
Minerale, audio, “The indie pop rock music band”
Ming, Post-Kraftwerk Euro Pop
Moladji, “French Pop”
Monsoon, Pop / Indie
Moon Invaders, The, “Ska / Reggae / Soul”
Mud Flow, new album out and accompanying video, Pop / Indie
Multifruits, many tracks online, Indie / Folk / Alternative
My Little Cheap Dictaphone, new album Small Town Boy, Pop / Indie / Alternative

N Faly Kouyaté, “Le groupe Dunyakan (qui signifie ‘la voix du monde’) a été créé en mars 1996 par le chanteur, compositeur et arrangeur, N’Faly Kouyaté de Guinée-Conakry… Leur musique, qui allie les instruments africains et occidentaux, est largement inspirée de la culture traditionnelle mandingue de Guinée-Conakry.”
* Nell, 2008 album Dans mon appartement, more, “Ma Tour Eiffel,” “Rock / Pop”

Opak, recent album Dénominateur commun, Rap / Hip Hop
Orchestre du Mouvement perpétuel, Pop / Orchestral / Ambient / Experimental
Orféo, media is here, “Ska / Rock / French Pop”

Perrine et Jeanmi, more audio, “Perrine et Jeanmi offrent une chanson épurée à caractère unique… une configuration minimaliste et acoustique…”
Philine, Pop
Philippe Lafontaine, video, author-composer since the 1970s, Pop / Chanson
Piano Club, Indie / Pop / Alternative
Pierre Rapsat, author-composer-interpreter and cultural icon, recently passed away, the Quai Pierre Rapsat, in Verviers, Liège bears his name, video, Pop
Pitcho, “le skinfologue,” video, single “C’est encore moi,” Rap / Hip Hop
Plastic Bertrand, musician and TV personality known especially for his 1977 international hit “Ça plane pour moi,” video with lyrics to same, Pop
Plasticine, a few songs in French, “Rock / Punk / Electro”

Raymondo, including Aurélie Muller of Melon Galia and Soy un caballo, “Indie / Pop / Down-tempo”

Saint-André, video, popular recent band, Pop / Nouvelle chanson
Salvatore Adamo, more, video, iconic balladeer, Pop / Variétés
Samir Barris, ex-Melon Galia, seasoned singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with a first solo album out, “Acoustic / Folk / Pop”
Sandrine Collard, Eurobeat / Techno / Pop
Saule, bio, Acoustic / Folk / Pop
Sébastien Duthoit, “Acoustic / Folk / French Pop”
Seize Neuf, Rap / Hip Hop (but with a banjo in the background music!)
Sentence, La, Rap / Hip Hop
Sharko, Alternative / Indie / Pop
Showstar, info at anorak supersport, Rock / Pop / Indie
Silvano, smooth hits, “Pop / Electroacoustic / Rock”
Skarbone 14, “Sa seule envie : être sur scène et faire bouger le public ! … transformer leur énergie en pur condensé de fiesta…,” Ska / Pop / Eclectic
Skinfama, Rap / Hip Hop / Soul
* Soy un caballo, “Robin,” more audio, more audio, live video, amazon US link, highly acclaimed duo from Brussels, “Pop / Indie”
Starflam, a well-known group that has existed in various formations since the 1990s, Hip Hop / Rap
Stéphanie Blanchoud, “des textes bouleversants et une voix prenante,” audio, Pop / Chanson
Stromae, Rap / Hip-Hop
Sttellla, formed in 1975, “le plus grand groupe belge calembouriste,” bio with commentary from founder Jean-Luc Fonck, irreverent songs and videos (samples on official site), Variété / Chanson / Comedy
Superlux, popular on the festival circuit, Electro
Sweek, Ambient / Experimental

Tam Echo Tam, A Cappella
Thot, Indie / Rock / Avant-Noise / Experimental
Thurmann, Rock
Tom Goldschmidt, Blues
Tom Sweetlove, “Indie / Pop / Experimental”
Tommy, Rock / Pop / Indie
Toots Thielemans, famous harmonica player, Jazz
Tout est joli / All is pretty, often brash, sometimes with an intriguing Tom Waits kind of twist, some songs in French, Pop / Rock / Experimental
Tricycle, Trad Trio
Turdus Philomelos, “Folk / Swing / Reggae”
Two Star Hotel, Alternative / Indie / Pop

Urban Trad, Urban Trad

V.O., “Indie / Folk Rock / Pop”
Veence Hanao, Rap / Hip Hop
Venus, Pop / Rock / Indie
Versus Club, strong hooks, “Pop / Rock / Acoustic”
Vincent Delbushaye, Chanson / Trad / Pop
Vincent Venet, more, catchy singles, “Pop / Electronica / French Pop”

Wash Out Test, audio, “Punk-rock band with ska influences”
Wendy Nazaré, video, see the single “Mon pays,” “Pop / Acoustic / Folk”

Xaman Ek, Ska / Folk / Trad

Yaaz, Trad
Yel, a highly regarded rock group, video, “Groupe rock scène belge”
* Yéti, Le, “Projet solo de l’ancien leader de Melon Galia,” “En ville,” “Là d’où je viens,” “French Pop / Indie / Folk”

Zap Mama, a group that has traveled and recorded extensively and appeared on movie soundtracks, Wikipedia, video, World Music
Zoé, “Une révélation, à la voix sûre, puissante et aérienne… enthousiasmant… Zoé crève la scène…,” Pop / Chanson