Abstraxion: 10 Tracks That Define the Marseille Spirit
Harold Boué
Growing up in Marseille in the '90s meant being immersed in a unique clash of cultures, sounds, and raw energy. The booming local rap scene, with figures like IAM and Fonky Family, shaped my view of music as something deeply connected to the street, to identity, to survival and celebration at the same time.
Even though I later moved towards electronic music, that Mediterranean, streetwise spirit has always been in my DNA — mixing genres naturally, embracing the rough with the beautiful.
This list is completely subjective. It’s the result of the encounters I've had in Marseille, the artists I've met, produced, and supported through my label Biologic Records, and the Encore Encore festival compilation we launched to showcase a new wave of emerging talents.
Each track here holds a personal meaning for me — a moment, a collaboration, a shared vision — and together they reflect both Marseille’s rich musical heritage and the exciting diversity shaping its future.
Growing up, "Art de Rue" was an anthem for us all. "De Mars on part en croisade" — the Fonky Family voiced the struggles and dreams of a generation. Their energy and authenticity remain a deep influence on every Marseille artist today.
Méga Lune was a beautiful encounter through the Encore Encore project. Faustine and Timothée fuse analog synth-driven techno with French songwriting. "Radio" is pure levitation: cosmic, emotional, and full of hope — like Marseille’s sunsets.
Kid Francescoli captures the lighter, cinematic side of Marseille. "Moon" perfectly blends nostalgia, pop sensibility, and Mediterranean warmth — something always present in the city's deeper layers.
Taken from my latest EP Void Sequence, "Bass Injection" reflects my personal experience of Marseille’s underground nightlife: hypnotic, intense, and always vibrant after dark.
Bwi-Bwi is a vital voice in Marseille’s new generation of producers. "Retool" blends classic house grooves with a raw, futuristic edge — a sound deeply rooted in the city's independent spirit.
Part of the Encore Encore compilation, Pristine Pit crafts tracks that are unpredictable, luminous, and emotional. "Acid Dish" is a perfect soundtrack for Marseille’s restless creative energy.
Remixed by Marseille's own Goldie B, this track injects a playful, funky chaos into Mézigue’s raw template — exactly the kind of sweaty warehouse energy you find in the city’s best underground nights.
Featured on the MRS x BXL compilation, "Alarm" bridges Marseille’s rugged daytime energy with the mystical atmosphere of its nights. Oras Elone perfectly captures that tension between intensity and dreaminess.
Racing Nokia represents the bold, rebellious spirit of Marseille’s underground. "Hunk" is raw, fast, and playful — exactly the type of energy that keeps the city’s scene thriving and unpredictable.
Born from a collaboration between myself, Schön Paul, and Perlla, "Chupa E Sai" reflects the chaotic, sensual energy of Marseille’s summer nights, when the city becomes a giant open-air dance floor.
