28-year-old Sofiane Pamart is, in many ways, the enfant terrible of French classical music. A musical virtuoso and Gold Medalist of the National Conservatory of Lille, he was noticed for his ardour and his strong, aggressive and particularly rebellious temperament. He is devoted to the composition of his work rather than to the interpretation of the classical repertoire. His neoclassical work is of a dark and poetic nature, embodying an emotional accuracy that allows him to reach and draw in large audiences.
Prior to launching his solo career in 2019, he was renowned as the collaborator of choice for the French hip-hop scene. Having worked with artists including: Koba LaD, Maes, Vald, Laylow, Dinos, Madd, Isha, Youv Dee, Rémy, 7Jaws, Hugo TSR, Lord Esperanza, L'Or du Commun, Lonepsi, Scylla, Médine and Aloise Sauvage, as well as DJ and producer The Magician and singer-songwriter Marina Kaye. Sofiane, who began his musical life in a rap group, set out from a young age to demystify the piano amongst his friends. "I really wanted to become the pianist of French rap,” He explains. Adding, “to become the reference in this environment, and to bring back these phrasings, this capacity with richer and more varied harmonies than in rap.”
His debut UK single ‘Ha Long Bay’ – named after the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Quảng Ninh Province, Vietnam – is a moving and meditative composition, showcasing Sofiane’s extraordinary talent and introducing the listener to his remarkable playing and sound. The accompanying video made by Arsedi, mixes stunning, breathtaking footage of the natural beauty of Ha Long Bay with an intense, transfixing performance of Sofiane at the piano.
‘Ha Long Bay’ - https://youtu.be/ngBF8qpN0AA