French singer Malik Djoudi releases a fourth album entitled “Vivant”, released on September 13. At 45, he could represent the bright future of French song, between English-speaking pop and hip-hop influences, French Touch and variety.
With a magnificent fourth album called “Vivant” and after rave reviews of his previous ones, duets with Etienne Daho, Philippe Katerine, Isabelle Adjani, a revelation album at the Victoires de la Musique in 2020, Malik Djoudi nevertheless still remains strangely far from the spotlight . But the title of his new recording could be symbolic of a change.
The singer’s meticulous pop, shaped like haute horology, manages to circumvent current codes. There is a fragile elegance, surprising while recalling classics of song like the Patrick Juvet tunes broadcast by “Mes ami(e)s”.
It is above all the voice of Malik Djoudi which makes the difference and offers something new. The singer plays a lot on the registers of his voice: counter-alto, head voice, falsetto, chest voice to tenor, and on timbres that are sometimes whispery, full of breath or grainy.
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Well-digested and diverted influences
There are also sometimes in his repertoire tunes by Childish Gambino, a gifted American rapper, producer and actor, or the Australians of Tame Impala, the British of Metronomy and Prince. Influences that Malik Djoudi reappropriates magnificently.
The main influence claimed by the singer is Michael Jackson, but there is also the hip-hop of the 1980s, recently that of Frank Ocean or Kendrick Lamar, and the American rock influences of Blonde Redhead or electronic influences of LCD Soundsystem.
Love in all its forms as a backdrop
Even though he grew up with French song, Malik Djoudi doesn’t really listen to it. However, he is getting closer, today building a bridge between song and variety. With a little French Touch side at times, perhaps because he met Thomas Bangalter from Daft Punk who gave him feedback in the studio on his songs not yet mixed.
Basically, Malik Djoudi’s songs mainly talk about love. After a painful breakup, he goes from the shadows to the light, in love again. It also evokes love in all its forms, physical, carnal or maternal. A sincere and poignant exposure.
Radio subject: Yves Zahno
Adaptation web: olhor
Malik Djoudi, “Vivant” (Cinq 7/Wagram Music). Published on September 13, 2024.
