France
How ’70s France fell in love with electronic music
Shock of the future — Nouvelle Vague frontman Marc Collin makes his directorial debut with The Shock Of Future: a filmic homage to the power of electronic music.
Written by: Daniel Dylan Wray
‘There are a lot of magic coloured serpents in my music’
This is Sônge — Enter the fantastical world of Sônge: an insomniac synesthete who writes songs about devils, death and deities.
Written by: Jeremy Allen
Anne Pigalle: life lessons from the ultimate punk polymath
‘I was a bit weird’ — The cult French artist, who is gearing up to release her first full-length album in over three decades, takes us on a tour through London’s Soho.
Written by: Jeremy Allen
‘The French are never happy with who they’ve elected’
An interview with Lou Doillon — We catch up with the singer ahead of the release of her third album Soliloquy to talk politics, French resistance, and the power of the Insta DM.
Written by: Jeremy Allen
How politicians killed Paris’s art-squat movement
‘Punir les pauvres’ — Over the past few years, Paris City Council has legalised several legendary artists’ squats to capitalise on their ‘cool’ factor. But as writer Eloïse Stark discovered, the move has effectively destroyed the founding principles of this underground scene.
Written by: Eloïse Stark
The Channel crossings: your guide to the so-called ‘crisis’
All you need to know — Since Christmas Day, 100 people have crossed the English Channel seeking refuge and asylum in what is being called a ‘major’ national crisis. Writer Ben Smoke talks us through the mess.
Written by: Ben Smoke
A day on the streets with France’s Gilets Jaunes
Paris is burning — Now in their fourth week, the Yellow Vests protests are becoming increasingly tense. We head to Paris to meet some of the demonstrators defiantly demanding change in their country.
Written by: Alexander Durie
In France, thousands protest violence against women
Paris goes purple — Around 30,000 people took to the streets of Paris on Saturday for a rally spurred by #NousToutes (#UsAll) – the feminist movement calling for an end to all forms of violence against women.
Written by: Alexander Durie
The strange story of France’s abandoned skate utopia
Inside Rooler Gab — 25 years ago, an eccentric retired winemaker built a 3000-square-metre skate park, complete with fully functioning ski lift. It closed within months – making it the skate world’s first ever ‘ghost town.’
Written by: Maxime Brousse
The Parisian street gangs who fought fascists in style
Rockabilly rebels — At the age of 23, photographer Philippe Chancel embedded himself with two rockabilly gangs who lived life on the edge – resulting in the adventure of a lifetime. Now, over 35 years later, the images have finally come to light.
Written by: Cian Traynor