#85 - Octave Noire - Un Nouveau Monde
French electronic pop artist created a cosmic anthem for the Neon album in 2017, channeling the lineage of Jean-Claude Vannier and François de Roubaix into contemporary digital landscapes.
Story Behind “Un nouveau monde”
The Cosmic Vision of Digital Pop
“Un nouveau monde” emerged as the centerpiece of Octave Noire’s Neon album, released January 20, 2017, on Yotanka Records. The track, whose title translates to “A New World,” represents both a literal and metaphorical journey into uncharted territories of French electronic pop. With opening lyrics contemplating vast temporal scales - “Cent millions d’années, une seconde / Une éternité pour faire un monde” (A hundred million years, one second / An eternity to make a world) - the song positioned Octave Noire as an artist capable of transforming cosmic philosophy into danceable electronic anthems.
From Digital Spaces to Physical Emotion
The creation of “Un nouveau monde” coincided with Octave Noire’s emergence as a champion of French electronic pop, establishing his position within what critics describe as the prestigious lineage of French arrangers, from Jean-Claude Vannier to François de Roubaix. The track’s development reflected the artist’s ability to channel this heritage while exploring distinctly contemporary themes. As the album’s most visually striking moment, it received a spectacular music video by director Gaëtan Chataigner, featuring multicolored and incandescent lights that perfectly captured the song’s cosmic scope and electronic euphoria.
“Un nouveau monde” Recording and Production Details
Yotanka Records and Neon’s Electronic Palette
Recorded and released through Yotanka Records, an independent French label specializing in forward-thinking electronic music, “Un nouveau monde” showcased Octave Noire’s mastery of pop électronique en français. The production emphasizes both fulgurances and intensity alongside moments of lightness, creating what the label describes as dancing and luminous music. The track’s arrangement demonstrates the artist’s skill at combining electronic textures with melodic accessibility, establishing a template he would refine across subsequent releases including his 2023 album Les airs digitaux.
The Multicolored Sonic Architecture
The production of “Un nouveau monde” features a carefully constructed sonic landscape that mirrors the cosmic themes of its lyrics. Octave Noire builds the track through layers of synthesized textures and electronic beats, creating what one could describe as a digital cathedral of sound. The mix balances the intimate scale of French chanson tradition with the expansive possibilities of electronic music, resulting in a track that feels both personally resonant and universally accessible. This approach would become characteristic of Octave Noire’s work, as he continues to dig deeper into the intersection of traditional French pop sensibilities and contemporary electronic production.
Notes About “Un nouveau monde” by Octave Noire
Release Date: January 20, 2017
Duration: Approximately 4:00
Genre: French Electronic Pop / Synthpop / Electro-Chanson
Album: Neon (2017)
Producer: Octave Noire
Label: Yotanka Records
Director: Gaëtan Chataigner (music video)
Language: French
Octave Noire “Un nouveau monde” Era Band Details
Album Details
Album: Neon
Release Date: January 20, 2017
Label: Yotanka Records (French independent label)
Album Concept: Cosmic themes meets electronic pop accessibility
Visual Identity: Multicolored, neon-inspired aesthetic
Critical Reception: Established Octave Noire as major voice in French electronic music
Band Members/Personnel
Octave Noire - Vocals, Producer, Electronic Programming, Composition
Gaëtan Chataigner - Music Video Director
Yotanka Records - Label Support and Distribution
Various Session Musicians - Contributing to album’s orchestrated sound
Production Notes
Second major release following earlier 2016 version of the track
Part of broader French electronic music renaissance
Featured extensive promotion through independent music channels
Marked transition toward more danceable, accessible electronic pop
Album press kit featured 36-page comprehensive media coverage
Track later featured on various Yotanka Records compilations
Established template for Octave Noire’s subsequent releases including Les airs digitaux (2023)
Interesting Facts About “Un nouveau monde”
The Visual Spectacular That Defined French Electronic Aesthetics
Director Gaëtan Chataigner’s music video for “Un nouveau monde” became a landmark in French electronic music visual culture, featuring what KuB magazine described as multicolored and incandescent lights that perfectly captured the song’s cosmic scope. The video’s spectacular visuals helped establish the aesthetic framework that would influence French electronic pop throughout the late 2010s. Its success demonstrated how independent French artists could compete with major label productions through creative vision and technical excellence, while the video’s cosmic imagery perfectly complemented the song’s themes of temporal vastness and universal renewal.
The Yotanka Records Success Story
“Un nouveau monde” became a cornerstone release for Yotanka Records, helping establish the independent French label as a crucial platform for innovative electronic music. The track’s success led to comprehensive media coverage, including a 36-page press kit that documented the song’s impact across French music journalism. This success helped pave the way for Octave Noire’s continued development, leading to his acclaimed 2023 album Les airs digitaux, which further established his reputation as a champion of French electronic pop. The track’s enduring popularity on streaming platforms like SoundCloud and Spotify proved that French-language electronic music could find global audiences without compromising its linguistic and cultural identity, inspiring a new generation of Francophone electronic artists to embrace their native language.