Until Saturday December 7, Brittany beats to the rhythm of musical discoveries with the 46th edition of the Trans Musicales de Rennes, a pioneering festival without a headliner, but which conceals future gems, as explained by its historic programmer, Jean- Louis Brossard.
With a program of nearly 80 artists or groups, the Trans are full of eclecticism for four days. The event is intended “a space-time where everything is possible” pour “represent the richness of contemporary musical creation”. Artists from more than 40 diverse geographic and cultural origins will perform there.
“It’s not always easy to bring out a common thread, since the common thread is discovery and groups that come from everywhere.”
Jean-Louis Brossard, co-founder of Trans Musicales de Rennesà l’AFP
In terms of styles, there is room for mixtures with original sound cocktails: Afrofuturist electro dance, disco punk, Tibetan electro-folk, psychedelic garage rock or even spiritual jazz will resonate in the expo park and other festival locations.
Among the trends of this 46th edition stands out “a return of French rap”, says Jean-Louis Brossard. A logical effect, because in this musical genre very popular with young people, new releases abound. To be continued Thursday, December 5: two collectives of rappers with the common denominator of having numbers in their name.
The Ile-de-France residents of 135 – pronounced 1,3,5 – seek to bring together the worlds of rap and clubbing. Its members are rappers, DJs, beatmakers (composers), graphic designers or graffiti artists and sound engineers.
The next day, it’s time for the trio 22Carbone from Marseille, another fertile land of French-speaking rap. The group takes up its codes, with bridges towards electro like a duo (“In Your Phase”) with Laurent Garnier. At the same time, rock and its variations will be on the menu, as well as electro in all flavors, including techno.
“Rap is not something you do alone, you also have to do it with musicians, with beatmakers (…) so when you really have a group where it merges, it’s great. “
Jean-Louis Brossard, co-founder of Trans Musicales de Rennesà l’AFP
Enji who sings in Mongolian, Quinquis in Breton, Daniela Pes in Sardinian, Verde Prato in Basque and Mayssa Jallad in Arabic… The female artists take festival-goers on a journey. “It’s something that I wanted to show, because it’s a sharing of innovative music and traditional music,” underlines the programmer. In electronic music too, “there’s a different sound, a different way of mixing than the boys, that’s how I feel,” he believes.
These composers are plowing their furrow like DeLaurentis, who combines color and music, and creates new sounds thanks to her voice put through the mill of artificial intelligence. On the techno side, the Canadian Raven, the Rennes duo Valise and the Franco-Ethiopian DJ Hewan Aman are putting their stamp on the decks.
In the midst of this plethoric programming, one niche is particularly scrutinized: the residence. It’s simple, the last three occupants, Lujipeka, Zaho de Sagazan and Yamê, all exploded afterwards. Previously Jeanne Added, Stromae, Philippe Katerine…
How does the festival choose its winning foals? D‘first of all, it’s a project that you should like and it has to be a project that isn’t too advanced’, reveals Jean-Louis Brossard. And for the rest? “It’s very simple, it’s a favorite.”
This is the case with Candeur Cyclone, a Brussels duo that has just emerged in the age of social networks and which, after electro pop songs revealed behind the screens, is experimenting with its first stages. The festival also continues in a “off”, Bars en Trans, talent incubator.
The beauty of Trans Musicales also lies in its definition: a place of discoveries and first times. “When the festival is over, I return to a blank page”, confides Jean-Louis Brossard, tirelessly curious since 1979.
An artist is only scheduled there once, except in exceptional cases like Stromae or Daft Punk, who returned in “a token of friendship and thanks towards Trans people”.
