Kid Francescoli

After a first sold-out world tour (more than 200 concerts in Europe, USA, Asia...) and the success of his hits like Nopalitos, Blow Up or Moon (now certified diamond with more than 150 million streams), the Marseille producer, crooner and multi-instrumentalist Mathieu Hocine, is eager to share his most accomplished record to date, SUNSET BLUE (due out Sept 2023).

This collection of songs full of emotion forms a tribute to his Mediterranean roots, as well as a showcase for his science of melodies. Building on his recent successes and the experience of creating his very first soundtrack for the film AZURO, Kid Francescoli is now one of the best French songwriters of his generation, easily identifiable by his unique sound signature.

"I live in Marseille, I spent my entire childhood in Corsica, I have Algerian origins, my first vacations with friends were in Barcelona, ​​those with my first girlfriend in Rome,... And then, I had the chance to perform in Morocco, Greece, Turkey, and Egypt: each time I spent time in this region, I met people there who gave me the feeling of belonging to the same country. This shared multiculturalism is soothing and comforting, it has its own poetry and its own strength, it brings me empathy and singularity. It is something truly essential for me. I love my city, you feel like you are there good with the sun, the sea, family, friendship, love... it moves me, it makes me smile while shedding my little tear".

About this new musical gem, Mathieu Hocine presents 11 refined and elegant songs, the cream of his production: sunny French Touch (Run Run, 1986), romantic chillwave (Corsica), catchy synthpop (You Are Everywhere, Like Magic), electronic soul (Casino Soul), cinematic disco (Solaris), cosmic R&B (Sweet and Sour, Take Time), in short, it's all there.

And for the first time, Kid Francescoli pays homage to his mixed origins, thanks to his collaboration with the famous lutenist and mandolinist Hakim Hamadouche (Rachid Taha, Patti Smith, Brian Eno, Tricky...) who came to tinge two Algerian motifs with of his most autobiographical and introspective tracks (the epic ballad The Morning After and the delicate lullaby Drift In Blue). “My ambition is to evoke images in people’s heads thanks to melodies, to transport them instantly into a film.”

SUNSET BLUE is the quintessence of the album which became a classic upon its release: clear, strong, personal, and universal at the same time. It is the soundtrack of this very special moment of the golden hour, this moment when time is suspended, we feel ourselves growing wings and everything becomes possible. Love is in the air, you are in the right place at the right time: it's that magical moment you want to experience forever, surrounded by uplifting vibrations, like a musical epiphany. Listening to this new Kid Francescoli album is a pure pleasure, a timeless moment allowing you to escape reality.

"I see myself as a melodist. I would like my music to be like velvet: it is cinematic, elegant, while being soft and comforting. It is simple, popular and synonymous with Love and passion. His friend French 79 co-produced the album, while American rapper Bamby H2O brought his New York touch (Sweet & Sour). Stan Neff (Polo & Pan, Kungs, Christine and the Queens...) took care of of the mix and Alex Gopher (Daft Punk, The Blaze, Bon Entendeur...) added a final touch of magic with the mastering. Nicolas Despis (known for his work with Etienne Daho, Hoshi, Juliette Armanet... and many French rappers) then joined this dream-team to create tailor-made artworks and videos.

SUNSET BLUE is a personal quest and a human adventure for Mathieu Hocine. It's the work of a man, who knows he would be nothing without women: Julietta (on Run Run and Take Time), Sarah Gaugler of Turbo Goth (on You Are Everywhere and Like Magic), and iOni (on Drift in Blue). "Music has the magical power to expand our view of the world. It's fascinating, like dreams, it allows us to evoke irrational things that science cannot explain, the things that make life so exhilarating."

The planets aligned perfectly on this project and thanks to this five-star cast, Kid Francescoli touches grace, orchestrating what is, without doubt, the pop music album best embodying the 21st century. SUNSET BLUE represents a new turning point for hybrid music between organic and electronic, both a journey to the Mediterranean and a Californian dream, similar to a bridge between Ennio Morricone and modern electronic music.

Titled SUNSET BLUE, in honor of the sea, but also to the concept of Portuguese/Brazilian blues, called “saudade”, this album is rather a concentrate of optimism, whose musical color is closer to orange-yellow, a red passion, in a wink to the sun and its warmth.

SUNSET BLUE is a true experience, from dawn to dusk, from the first song to the last. It's a sensory journey through an eternal summer, which reaches its climax in the last seconds of the title Corsica, in the momentum of an orgasmic hallucination that leaves you wanting only one thing: press play to start immersing yourself again in this gem. A dreamlike journey that you would like to never leave: stay in bed in cocooning mode, travel far away, or dance until dawn to catch the first rays of light...