Justice (band)

Justice (band)
Name	Justice
Caption	Justice performing in 2007
Background	group_or_band
Origin	Paris, France
Years active	2003–present
Labels	Ed Banger Records, Because Music, Elektra Records, Columbia Records
Associated acts	Daft Punk, SebastiAn, DJ Mehdi, Busy P, Uffie, Feadz

Justice (band) are a French electronic music duo formed in Paris. The group rose to prominence in the mid-2000s as part of a revitalized French house and electro house scene and achieved international success with a fusion of dance music subgenres, rock instrumentation, and striking visual aesthetics. Their work has intersected with festivals, record labels, and contemporaries across Europe and North America.

History

Formed by producers who met in Paris nightlife circles connected to Ed Banger Records and the Parisian clubs that hosted artists like Daft Punk, Mr. Oizo, Cassius, Air (band), and Étienne de Crécy, the duo emerged from a milieu that included collaborators and peers such as SebastiAn, Uffie, DJ Mehdi, Busy P, and Feadz. Early singles and remixes circulated on compilations and pirate radio alongside tracks by Modjo, Stardust, Alex Gopher, David Guetta, and Martin Solveig, helping them secure attention from labels including Because Music and Elektra Records. Their breakthrough coincided with high-profile festival appearances at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Glastonbury Festival, Sónar, and Pitchfork Music Festival, where their live sets referenced staging innovations used by acts such as Daft Punk and The Chemical Brothers.

Their debut studio album was recorded with engineers and session musicians who had worked with acts like Phoenix (band), Air (band), M83, and producers connected to Columbia Records and Mute Records. Following acclaim for their early work, they toured arenas and collaborated with visual artists and directors known for projects with Björk, Radiohead, Kanye West, and Justice's contemporaries in electronic music (including stagecraft reminiscent of productions by Daft Punk and The Prodigy). Subsequent albums developed through studio sessions that referenced mixing approaches from Steve Albini-influenced recording and mastering practices used by Abbey Road Studios engineers who also worked with The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin.

Musical style and influences

Their sound blends elements of French house, electro house, disco, rock music and glam rock with production techniques reminiscent of sampling practices from hip hop producers who collaborated with Wu-Tang Clan, J Dilla, and sample-centric acts like The Avalanches. They have cited inspirations and affinities with artists and movements including Daft Punk, Prince, David Bowie, Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, New Order, Joy Division, Kraftwerk, Can, Brian Eno, Giorgio Moroder, Arthur Russell, Stéphane Grappelli-era jazz references, and contemporary peers such as M83, Justice's contemporaries in French electronic music, and The Chemical Brothers. Production-wise, their approach nods to techniques associated with analog synthesizers historically used by Moog Music and Roland Corporation artists, while live shows incorporate guitar and bass conventions from rock bands like U2, Muse, and Franz Ferdinand.

Members

- Xavier de Rosnay — production, keyboards, guitar, programming. His career intersects with the Paris scene alongside figures like SebastiAn and Busy P and has involved collaborations with artists affiliated with Ed Banger Records and international labels such as Because Music and Elektra Records. - Gaspard Augé — production, keyboards, synths, visual conceptualization. Augé’s work connects to European electronic collectives and festivals including Sónar, Nuit Sonores, Pitchfork Music Festival, and label partners such as Ed Banger Records and Because Music.

Touring and studio contributors have included session musicians and engineers who previously worked with Phoenix (band), Air (band), M83, The Strokes, Interpol, and producers with credits on releases for Columbia Records and Mute Records.

Discography

Studio albums: - Cross (2007) — released on Ed Banger Records/Because Music; gathered attention from critics who compare it to releases by Daft Punk, The Chemical Brothers, Moby, Air (band), and Phoenix (band). - Audio, Video, Disco (2011) — featured rock-oriented arrangements recalling David Bowie, Brian Eno, and Giorgio Moroder collaborators. - Woman (2016) — incorporated influences aligned with Prince, Michael Jackson, Chic, and contemporary electronic acts like M83. - Pop Culture (soundtrack) / subsequent projects — included experiments in scoring and audiovisual projects akin to work by Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Hans Zimmer, and soundtrack artists for Film Festivals and multimedia exhibitions.

Notable singles, remixes, and EPs: - "†" (single) and follow-up singles that were staples at festivals such as Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Glastonbury Festival. - Remixes for artists including Daft Punk, U2, MGMT, The Killers, Rejjie Snow, and tracks associated with Elektra Records and Columbia Records releases. Their catalogue spans releases on Ed Banger Records, licensing deals with Because Music, and international distribution through Elektra Records and Columbia Records.

Reception and legacy

Critics and publications such as NME, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, The Guardian, and Le Monde placed their debut and subsequent albums within conversations about the evolution of French house and global electronic music culture, comparing their live spectacle to productions by Daft Punk, The Chemical Brothers, Producers known for arena-sized shows, and referencing stagecraft techniques used by Radiohead and Muse. Awards bodies and ceremonies that recognize electronic and dance music, including nominations in contexts similar to Grammy Awards, MTV Europe Music Awards, and European festival accolades, acknowledged their influence on a generation of producers such as M83, SebastiAn, Gesaffelstein, Madeon, Breakbot, and Justice's French electronic peers. Their cross-genre fusion informed soundtrack work and placements in films, TV series, and video games alongside composers and artists like Hans Zimmer, Trent Reznor, Daft Punk's film scoring work, and producers from Hollywood and European cinema circuits. Their legacy includes inspiring visual-electronic collaborations with graphic artists and directors who have also worked with Björk, Kanye West, Radiohead, and Lady Gaga.

Category:French electronic music groups Category:Musical duos Category:Ed Banger Records artists