MARTIN SOLVEIG (France)

As we enter 2011, Martin Solveig’s most exciting chapter is just beginning. Currently flying high with what is his biggest hit to date, ‘Hello’, has already topped charts across Europe and around the world and has achieved A-list status on the biggest radio stations. In addition to this, ‘Hello’ has clocked up close to 14 million views on Youtube.

In consideration of this current success let’s indulge in the story of Martin Solveig.

With no box and no pigeonhole for Martin Solveig, he lies in category of artist that is difficult to name, and this is exactly how he prefers it. Performer, DJ, producer, singer, songwriter...he’s all of these and more, and a man who commands headline audiences the world over.

Like so many, Martin’s love affair with music began at an early age, and influenced by luminaries such as Prince, Lenny Kravitz, Stevie Wonder and Serge Gainsbourg. His eccentric taste and non-conformist attitude have been the backbone to what he is today.

Aged 21, Solveig started his own label called Mixture Stereophonic & released ‘Heart of Africa’. The track went on to sell 10,000 copies that offered a clear signal to Martin that a career in music was well worth pursuing. Martin’s first album, ‘Sur La Terre’ released in 2002, achieved critical acclaim and enabled the Parisian to work with Salif Keita for whom he remixed ‘Madan’, one of 2003’s biggest club anthems. The afro-disco bomb as well as Martin’s new funk driven ‘Rocking Music’ both catapulted his international career to a whole new level.

Next up came the Hedonist album, packed with a ream of hit singles such as ‘Everybody’, ‘Jealousy’ and ‘Rejection’, indicating quite clearly that Martin Solveig had well and truly arrived.

Relentless touring ensued and with it a new art Martin mastered as he did with everything he threw his hands to – Live concerts! He was awarded the Chevalier Des Arts et Des Lettres for his contribution to the arts in his homeland and across the world, and appreciation for Solveig’s work became greater than ever, having also scooped the Artiste de Musiques Electroniques de l’Annee award at the French Victoires de la Musique in 2009.
‘C’est La Vie’ proved to be his most successful long player to date and sold in excess of 300,000 copies, with several big production videos accompanying it. ‘Boys & Girls’, which was included in later special editions of the album, was shot at Jean-Paul Gaultier’s ‘Maison De Couture’, and has gone on to amass millions of hits on Youtube.

Ladies and Gentlemen – this is Martin Solveig and he’s here to enjoy the party.