ISMATRICULE TURNS LE TRIANON IN PARIS INTO A CELEBRATION OF GROOVE
Written and Captured By | Rebecca Kozierow
The first chapter of the night belonged to VICTOR. As the evening slowly found its shape, his sound unfolded through alternative French pop, moving between R&B influences and indie-pop textures. That introspective edge runs through his latest EP, Standard, where relationships, ambition, and the pressures surrounding identity are explored through writing that feels raw without ever becoming heavy-handed. Live, that vulnerability found real strength. His vocals were remarkably controlled, while his confident presence gave the songs an immediacy that quickly drew the room in.
Following the break, the atmosphere shifted again. Before Ismatricule even appeared, a narrator stepped onto the stage, turning his entrance into something closer to the opening scene of a story. For a moment, anticipation replaced movement, and the room waited for the man at the centre of it all to arrive.
Then came the groove.
Ismatricule launched the show with “Groove Corporation,” immediately throwing the room into the funk-driven universe at the heart of his music. Saxophone in hand from the start, he cut through the electronic pulse with raw, exhilarating energy, bringing a different dimension to the track on stage. Within minutes, the tone was set: infectious rhythms, sharp musicianship, and an audience already fully engaged.
“Cachaça” soon brought Mae on stage as the first of many collaborators to appear throughout the night. Ismatricule moved naturally between keyboards, guitar, and saxophone, his multi-instrumental presence reinforcing the live core of the show.
The arrival of Saiia marked one of the evening’s most beautiful shifts in atmosphere. Seated side by side on two stools at the front of the stage—Ismatricule on guitar, Saiia behind the microphone—the pair created a more intimate setting for “Ça ira,” before “Set Me Free” brought a brighter, more rhythmic pulse back into the room. The transition felt effortless, adding warmth without ever breaking the momentum.
Smhylie’s entrance for “Don’t Need Nobody” pushed that energy even further. Fiery and commanding from the moment she stepped on stage, she turned the track into one of the night’s most explosive guest appearances.
Then came “J’crois en moi.” One of Ismatricule’s standout tracks became a defining moment of the night, putting him firmly back at the centre of the stage and sending another wave of energy through Le Trianon. By then, the audience was no longer simply watching the show—it was moving with it.
That connection reached its peak when Ismatricule asked the entire room to crouch down. For a few seconds, the crowd held back before the groove dropped in again and the venue erupted at once: bodies rising, people jumping, dancing, and shouting as the energy burst through the room.
Odetto slipped seamlessly into the set for “Scène de cinéma,” bringing another distinct colour to the performance. Smooth, playful, and rhythmic, the track felt particularly at home on stage.
Later, Ajar joined Ismatricule for “INKOMPATIBLE,” his latest single, triggering an immediate reaction from the crowd. The room jumped with them, turning the track into one of the evening’s most euphoric moments.
By the final stretch, Saiia returned for “Oui Oui Mon Amour” and “Take Me Back Again,” closing the night alongside Ismatricule.
Le Trianon was fully swept up in Ismatricule’s rhythm.
Driven by sharp musicianship and effortless chemistry with his guests, the night revealed the full force of his live presence.