In the landscape of modern electronic music, where genre lines blur daily, the collaborative success of artists is often measured by their ability to maintain individual voice while creating a cohesive sound. Enter Orsay and the duo Amour Propre (Clément & Sami), who have managed just that with their new single, “Falling.” A track that blends melodic drive with organic, indie-inspired textures.
Their single finds its home on the French label Kitsuné. This move marks a key moment in what the artists themselves call a “French Touch 2.0” renaissance. EDMNOMAD spoke to them about their collaboration and the need for DJs to build a complete artistic universe.
Joining the Cultural Architects
For any French artist, releasing on Kitsuné; a label instrumental in launching global careers for artists like Digitalism, Boys Noize, and Parcels is a profound validation. “It’s such a privilege to add a piece of the puzzle to the Kitsuné story,” says Orsay. “Growing up in Paris, it’s a label that always influenced my music and shaped my listening.”
For Amour Propre, the moment felt like a dream realized. “It’s a bit like growing up listening to your heroes, and one day they call you saying: ‘Hey guys, we want you on the team,'” they explain. The connection was instantly clear: “Their artistic direction is very close to ours: elegant, hybrid, and always a little ahead of its time.”
This alignment with Kitsuné is no accident. The label has always championed the blending of music, fashion, and lifestyle, a concept the artists view as crucial for modern DJs. As Orsay notes, today’s artist has a “high requirement… to share a lifestyle that allows our audience to connect more.” Amour Propre adds that in the era of social media, “image is just as important as sound. You can have a killer track, but if you don’t build a visual identity around it, it won’t hit the same”
“The goal is that when you listen to us, you’re stepping into a world that reflects our sound. And teaming up with Kitsuné is the best match.” said the duo, Amour Propre.
Deconstructing the Collaboration
The creative synergy for “Falling” started organically, despite the artists’ distinct signatures, Orsay’s melodic drive and Amour Propre’s organic textures.
The track began simply with the artists “sitting around a piano and synths to create a melody.” They initially pursued a rawer, almost techno feel with a looping arp but the turning point was the addition of Ren Ocean’s vocals. “When we got the vocals back, everything just clicked,” Amour Propre recalls. “It felt like the track had been waiting for his voice from the beginning.”
The blending of their styles, they agree, was seamless. “Orsay brought in the melodic, airy side, and we added our indie-inspired drums and bass, plus our sound design,” explains Amour Propre. Ultimately, the fusion creates something new: “It’s a track where you can clearly hear Amour Propre, you can clearly hear Orsay—but together it almost sounds like a third project.”
The “French Touch 2.0”
The collaboration explores the artists’ mission to reinvent the powerful legacy of French electronic music. While they love the “French Touch” era, calling it “in our DNA”. Amour Propre insists the scene “needed to reinvent itself” after the Daft Punk/Ed Banger chapter. They emphasize their desire to inject their own touch, aiming for something “more emotional, more melodic.”
Orsay believes Kitsuné plays a pivotal role in this shift, “introducing new upcoming artists from the scene and opening it up to different music genre.” This new wave, which Amour Propre refers to as “French Touch 2.0,” is characterized by influences. Influences from acts like RÜFÜS DU SOL, Moderat, and Bicep. It results in a sound that is “more hybrid, more emotional, more introspective.” The goal: “that you can shake your head and shed a little tear in the same set.”
Finding the Sweet Spot: From Studio to Sunset
When it comes to performing the track live, the artists agree on its euphoric potential, particularly at transitional moments. While it can certainly work in a warehouse, Amour Propre imagines “Falling” in a more cinematic environment. “Definitely sunrise or sunset… It has that nostalgic vibe that makes you smile and ache a little at the same time.” he says.
The most electric moment in the track is a shared favorite: the second build and drop. Orsay singles out the final build-up, where the song calms down before creating a tension that is palpable to the crowd. Amour Propre calls the second build, where the vocals start creeping in, the point where “you feel the tension rising… And then, BOOM, the drop, and the crowd goes off.”
Having already earned support from global heavyweights like Solomun, RÜFÜS DU SOL, and Adriatique, the partnership with Kitsuné adds a crucial “Made in Paris” stamp to their international trajectory.
So, is “Falling” a one-off? The answer is a definitive no. “At first, ‘Falling’ was almost a joke between friends,” says Amour Propre. “But when we saw the result, we thought it would be a shame to stop there.” Orsay confirms their continued closeness, stating that sitting in the studio “feels like a friendship more than work.”
With their blend of classic elegance and emotional depth, the collaboration between Orsay and Amour Propre, under the Kitsuné banner, proves that the most exciting electronic music is born from artists who aren’t afraid to look beyond the club. The ones who change the oil in the torch of their influences.
