Popular French bands. Recommended groups.

Jack Et La Mécanique Du CoeurDionysos

Dionysos – Jack Et La Mécanique Du Coeur ft. Jean Rochefort, Olivia Ruiz, Arthur H

It’s a happy song that delivers classic French pop built on an acoustic sound, featuring violin and cello.

Since it’s rooted in American folk, it’s easy on the ears.

A novel of the same name written by the vocalist, Mathias, has also been adapted into a film.

FunambuleUneven Structure

UNEVEN STRUCTURE “Funambule” Live @ La Tenda | Modena 2015

Uneven Structure is a progressive metal band from Metz, France.

Formed in 2008, they are known for their polyrhythmic passages and bass-heavy sound.

They released their debut album, Februus, in 2011 to critical acclaim.

Their music is heavily influenced by the Swedish band Meshuggah, and they have garnered attention as pioneers of the genre known as djent.

They released La Partition in 2017 and Paragon in 2019, steadily building their career.

Combining technical complexity with emotional depth, their music comes highly recommended for fans of progressive metal.

Just Need Your LoveHyphen Hyphen

Hyphen Hyphen – Just Need Your Love (Official Video)

Formed in 2010, this French band has music videos with film-like, high-quality, beautiful visuals, and I especially recommend them to those who enjoy stylish music.

Many of their songs evoke the great outdoors of Europe, so whenever I want to listen to something beautiful, I turn to this band.

Get Around TownRevolver

Revolver – Get Around Town (clip officiel)

This song doesn’t sound like French rock at all—you could almost mistake it for a British band.

Since it shares the same producer as the hugely popular Phoenix, it often gets compared to them, but it’s a track with a real sense of originality.

oimiakonA Red Season Shade

A Red Season Shade “oimiakon”

When you hear “a band with flowing melodies and enveloping, roaring guitars,” you might think of groups from the UK or Scandinavia, but bands like that actually exist in France as well.

Formed in Nice, France, A Red Season Shade is a band that weaves elements of shoegaze, post-rock, and dream pop into songs that unfold slowly and dramatically, elevating them not as instrumentals but firmly as vocal-driven music.

They only left behind two albums—the 2006 release The Outcome Fosters Detachment and their masterpiece second album Interiors from 2009, which marked their debut in Japan—but both deliver a sound that will undoubtedly pierce the hearts of anyone who loves lyrical post-rock or shoegaze.

Highly recommended for fans of fellow French act M83, too.

StilAcid Arab

Acid Arab – Stil

Acid Arab is a musical collective that brought a fresh breeze to France’s electronic music scene.

Formed in Paris in 2012, they have drawn attention with a unique style that fuses Western electronic music with Eastern sounds.

Their music blends acid house and techno with the intricate rhythmic structures of Arabic music, creating a sound that truly bridges East and West.

They perform at clubs and festivals around the world and have gained widespread support.

The appeal of Acid Arab lies not only in mixing genres, but in their intention to spark new dialogue between different cultures.

They are an artist you should definitely check out if you’re interested in electronica or world music.

The ShiningAnorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa – The Shining

Anorexia Nervosa is a French symphonic black metal band.

Formed in Limoges in 1991, they took the underground scene by storm with their distinctive sound.

Their 1997 debut album, Exile, drew attention as an experimental work that went beyond the boundaries of black metal.

In 2000 they released Drudenhaus and embarked on a tour across Europe, rapidly rising in popularity.

Their lyrics, which tackle diverse themes such as violence, depression, and religion, are also a key part of their appeal.

Although they went on hiatus in 2005, their innovative sound continues to captivate many fans.

Highly recommended for those drawn to heavy sonics and a spirit of experimentation.