Maxence Cyrin

Maxence Cyrin’s career is unusual for straddling electro and classical, piano and synthesised sound. After a conservatoire training he went on to explore the heavier ambience of the new wave before becoming one of the pioneers of the French electro scene. Around 1995 he returned to his roots and the last 20 years have seen the release of three albums of original compositions (The Fantasist, Nocturnes and Aurora), “neo-tonal” or “modern classical” in their approach. In this he belongs to a whole new generation of composers enjoying a dual musical career, with the added boost from streaming services. Alongside, he works as a composer and arranger in the fields of pop and film music and has also released three cover albums, Modern Rhapsodies and Novö Piano 1 and 2. His legendary cover of “Where Is My Mind?” by Pixies, with its hypnotic and melancholy vibe, has made him internationally known through its use on several US TV shows (including Mr. Robot and The Leftovers) and has been listened to more than 300 million times on various streaming platforms.

New album "Passenger"
After two decades as a pianist, Maxence Cyrin delivers a personal and poetic album.
An ingenious pianist with a harmonious sense of melody, French pianist and composer Maxence Cyrin has released a new album composed and performed entirely on the piano. "Passenger" is his 9th album.
With influences ranging from Ryuichi Sakamoto and Brian Eno to Philip Glass and composers such as Erik Satie and Frédéric Chopin, this album weaves together ambient, minimalist and neo-classical styles.

These eleven compositions often evoke escapism (Ocean, Slow Train, Road to Hydra), as the artist often needs to leave his Montmartre home to seek inspiration; but also introspection (Rêve, Mirrors, Under A Glass Bell). Nor does the pianist hesitate to express his melancholy or regrets (Daedalus, Hermione, The Last Wave), as well as life lived as an experience (Passenger).

This time around, the artist has sought to convey his emotions and ideas in a more intuitive and spontaneous way, even keeping improvisations such as "Under A Glass Bell" and "Dive" recorded during a residency in French Brittany.