Grand Soleil

Grand Soleil is a music duo formed by two brothers, Adrien and Benjamin Sahuc, both self-taught musicians. Adrien discovered electronic music at a festival when he was 15. He was initially intrigued by DJing - driven by a desire to understand how it works - and how he could produce is own sound instead of mixing another artist’s work. He thus spent hours learning on the internet before joining the Conservatoire de Paris where he discovered synths and other sounds he wanted to share with his brother, Benjamin, who in parallel was studying music. Benjamin started learning guitar from age 12, bass from 13, and the drums at 14. Adrien decided to study cinema and meet Julian Starke (filmmaker of the documentary « French Waves » on the French Touch in 2017) who introduced him to his friends’ Pain Surprises label, who then introduced them to GUM. This is how the two brothers decided to form Grand Soleil, an electro duo inspired by Trip Hop and Techno whose music is the manifesto of a free and imperfect expression.

A talk with Grand Soleil

Can you explain the Music Pairings you have composed for each Krug Champagne?

Crystalline, precise, Krug Clos du Mesnil 2004 is a will-o’-the-wisp. It is with this intention that we naturally chose the violins to best transcribe the virtuosity of this Champagne with something magical. It also highlights the performance of the soloist putting himself forward, just like this Champagne.
For Krug 2004, we decided on a resolutely electronic composition, but with a bass guitar as the main element, to evoke the roundness, the suave character of this Champagne.

For Krug 2006, funk came to mind to express its "whimsical roundness". The warmth of the basses, the frivolity of the guitars and the quiet strength of the electro/disco beat are the elements we wanted to transcribe in this song. A rich and fluid structure: a theme, a percussion break that marks time, and finally the guitar solo to sublimate the virtuosity of this vintage.

For Krug Grande Cuvée, we went for something grand and majestic. To do this, we mixed elements of electronic music like synthesizers, with elements of a more classical style like violins, and orchestral percussion. It is a fireworks display, a harmonious explosion.
For us, Krug Rosé is sweet madness that sets in to irremediably encourage dancing. Fully electronic, our composition is tailored for the party.

What do you have to say about Krug x Music?

It is a very good idea and interesting to realise how much the two disciplines (music and oenology) converge from a lexical perspective. When we were told about each Champagne, the words echoed those that we use ourselves to describe our own creations: high or low notes, warmth, clarity, liveliness… It is simple to hear music when you listen to Julie Cavil or Éric Lebel describing Krug Champagnes.

If you could experience a Krug x Music performance from a chosen artist, who would it be?

Adrien: Aphex Twin, who can as easily compose the softest and most moving music I have heard, as well as the most violent.
Benjamin: Philip Glass.

Is there another artist you would recommend to improvise a Krug Music pairing?

We believe there is space for Krug to collaborate with De La Romance, with whom we have already worked, they are very receptive and would be open to such a co-creative exercise.