GRAND BLANC » PARA ONE

BIOGRAPHY

French producer and filmmaker Para One can’t seem to stay still. A true pioneer, he was one of the first to inject glitches and digital artifacts into rap production. Having invented a new kind of rap with French hip hop phenomenon TTC, he then dreamed up Epiphanie, an insanely complex debut solo effort which originated the French electro sound that stormed the world in the last couple of years.

Next came the quietly beautiful surprise of Naissance Des Pieuvres, soundtrack to the critically acclaimed, Cannes-selected movie Water Lilies (directed by Céline Sciamma). He was then invited by renowned choral conductor Laurence Equilbey to reinterpret his choice of classical classics (Bach, Mozart, Beethoven), along with Marc Collin, Murcof and Emilie Simon.

And, from time to time, he agrees to remix his contemporaries: Daft Punk, Boys Noize, Datarock, Ayumi Hamasaki…

He’s just completed his new album, a brilliant set of leftfield pop songs you can dance to, owing as much to Chas Jankel, as to Drexciya and 52nd Street. It was recorded with American singer San Serac, under the moniker Slice & Soda.

Under his government name, Jean-Baptiste de Laubier is a filmmaker, alumni of La FEMIS, the most prestigious film school in France. His first short, Charlotte quelque part (2003), was supported by Chris Marker himself. He followed up with Les premières communions (2004) and Cache ta joie (2006). Two years ago, he released One More Song, the first installment of his video diary. Using footage culled from the aforementioned diary, he’s just directed It Was on Earth That I Knew Joy, a short fiction commissioned by French fashion brand Sixpack. He’s currently writing his first feature film.

MUSIC