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| Sébastien Tellier | |
|---|---|
| Name | Sébastien Tellier |
| Caption | Sébastien Tellier performing |
| Birth name | Sébastien Tellier |
| Birth date | 1975 |
| Birth place | Île-de-France, France |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, composer, producer |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Labels | Record Makers, Elektra, Barclay |
| Associated acts | Air, Daft Punk, Phoenix, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo |
Sébastien Tellier is a French singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and composer known for blending electronic, pop, and orchestral elements into cinematic chanson. He emerged in the early 2000s and gained international attention through solo albums, high-profile collaborations, festival performances and a controversial appearance at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Born in Île-de-France in 1975, Tellier grew up amid the cultural milieu of Paris and nearby suburbs, absorbing influences from local scenes and international movements. He studied music and composition while engaging with Parisian venues and collectives linked to labels such as Record Makers and movements tied to artists like Air and Daft Punk. Early exposure to composers and institutions in France and contacts within networks connected to Barclay Records and Elektra Records shaped his formative training.
Tellier's career began with releases on boutique independent labels that sat within the ecosystem of French electronic and pop acts including Daft Punk, Phoenix, Air and solo artists such as Étienne Daho and Serge Gainsbourg. He became known for self-produced recordings, studio experimentation, and live collaborations at festivals like Glastonbury Festival, Coachella, Primavera Sound, and Les Eurockéennes. His touring roster has placed him alongside international performers associated with labels like Rough Trade Records, XL Recordings, and Warp Records.
Tellier's discography includes studio albums released through French and international labels, featuring tracks that achieved critical and popular recognition. Early albums aligned him with peers such as M83, Stereolab, Beck, and Stéphane Grappelli-influenced orchestration. Notable songs from his catalogue received airplay on stations connected to networks like BBC Radio 1, France Inter, and playlists curated by outlets such as Pitchfork and NME. Among tracks that elevated his profile are singles that circulated internationally, earning placements in compilations alongside artists like The Chemical Brothers, Massive Attack, and Portishead.
Tellier's style fuses elements from French chanson traditions represented by figures such as Édith Piaf and Serge Gainsbourg with electronic production linked to Jean-Michel Jarre and Laurent Garnier. Orchestral and cinematic tendencies draw on composers tied to Ennio Morricone, Nino Rota, and Michel Legrand, while pop sensibilities echo influences from The Beatles, David Bowie, and Scott Walker. His use of synthesizers and production approaches relate to instruments and designs from manufacturers like Moog Music and studios frequented by artists affiliated with SACEM-registered professionals.
Throughout his career, Tellier collaborated with prominent musicians and producers including members of Daft Punk and producers associated with Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, vocalists such as Charlotte Gainsbourg and arrangers linked to The London Symphony Orchestra and session musicians who have worked with Air and Phoenix. He contributed to projects alongside artists tied to labels like XL Recordings, Domino Recording Company, and worked with filmmakers and composers who also collaborated with names such as Luc Besson, Alexandre Desplat, and Michel Gondry.
Tellier composed music and provided songs for film and television productions, aligning with directors and composers from the French and international film community. His soundtrack work placed him in contexts alongside scores by Alexandre Desplat, Carter Burwell, and Clint Mansell, and led to placements in series broadcast on networks such as Canal+, Arte, and streaming platforms connected to international distributors. Songs and cues have been licensed for advertising and film trailers alongside music used by brands and filmmakers who previously employed tracks by M83 and Air.
Tellier received attention from national and international institutions, with nominations and awards referenced by organizations and media outlets including Les Victoires de la Musique, BBC Radio 1, and critical year-end lists in publications such as Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and The Guardian. His participation in events like the Eurovision Song Contest generated debate across European media and prompted commentary from cultural institutions in France and across the European Union music sector. He has been cited in scholarship and press alongside peers like Serge Gainsbourg, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Étienne Daho, and contemporaries from the French electronic scene.
Category:French singer-songwriters Category:1975 births Category:Living people