By: Clare Thompson
I think I may have found my musical soulmate. His name is Mehdi Benjelloun. He’s the French DJ behind the stage name Petit Biscuit. We share the same birthday, which naturally connects us. His music is mysteriously sweet and intriguing and people have said that about me, too (I’m not bragging, those are real adjectives that have been used). So, I think we’re a match made in musical heaven.
As much as I may have a propensity for indie music and hipster never-been-heard before artists, I am partial towards DJ’s. “Electronic” is atop the categories tracked week over week on my last.fm. I do have some self worth though, and stray towards anything on the other side of the spectrum as the Chainsmokers. Petit Biscuit falls right there, with the likes of m83 (the best concert I have ever attended) and Thomas Jack. He’s also only seventeen years old, which leaves me feeling fairly dejected and unaccomplished. But I digress.
I’m not too sure the first time I heard the liquidy rhythms and vocals in Petit Biscuit’s “Sunset Lover”. I imagine it was driving in the car with the windows down, but that’s just the picturesque situation for this track. If chill, tropical house is something you seek, I would give this one a try. It’s his most popular, with over 150 million listens on Spotify since its 2015 release.
It occurred to me one day recently to delve into some of his other works, and since then I haven’t quite been able to stop. I’m not big on favorites questions, and I’m certainly not equipped to call out favorites here, since there isn’t one track that I don’t listen to on repeat with frequency. However, I can run down some must-listens. “Alone” features twinkling soprano piano keys and a soft background melody. A common theme on many of his songs, indistinct vocals punctuate the backbeat. “Once Again” has a peppy upbeat and brightness to it that is influenced by a glimmering xylophone. “Iceland” has the same vibe, allowing the listener to explore a dreamscape imagined.
Each of Petit Biscuit’s tracks feature layer upon layer of sound that will leave you hearing something new each time you listen, with an ethereal dreamlike quality in which you can get lost. If you’re lucky enough to snag some tickets to see him on tour, please take me with you. I think us meeting just might be fate.
Clare Thompson is from the same burbs of Philly as contributor Bobby Van Leer. After spending her college days at Pitt, she has returned to her preferred Pennsylvania city. By day she works in sales in advertising specialties, designing and selling tricked out promotional products, and by night she enjoys discovering new music (duh). Her musical tastes come from fifteen years of dancing competitively in every different style, allowing her the ability to appreciate everything from classical to trap. But not country. Never country. After spending inordinate amounts of time creating playlists per the request of friends and coworkers, and sharing song after song with fellow music lovers, she hopes that by contributing, she can expose some talented new artists to a wider audience.