Cercle (company)

Last updated
Cercle
IndustryMusic and entertainment
Founded2016;8 years ago (2016)
FounderDerek Barbolla
HeadquartersParis, France
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Derek Barbolla
Philippe Tuchmann
Pol Souchier
ServicesOnline music broadcasting
Event & festival production
Record label
Website www.cercle.io

Cercle is a music company headquartered in Paris, France. [1] It operates as a livestreaming platform for music, [2] [3] an event and festival producer and a record label. [4]

Contents

Founded in 2016 by Derek Barbolla, [5] Cercle originally specialized in organizing, filming and broadcasting electronic music concerts in unconventional venues of cultural, natural, aesthetic or artistic significance. [2] [6] [7] While the music programming originally focused on various subgenres of electronic music (deep house, house, techno, dance music, electronica), [8] it broadened its spectrum as of 2021 by featuring neoclassical and jazz artists such as Sofiane Pamart (2021) [9] and Hania Rani (2022) [10] or Ólafur Arnalds (2023) [11] .

History

Derek Barbolla founded Cercle in 2016. [1] His first livestreamed videos—which streamed every Monday—featured an interview with a DJ followed by a live set. [5] After receiving complaints from his neighbours, the live shows were exported to various underground locations in Paris: the "basement of a sandwich shop", a "club" or on a "moving barge on the Seine". [7] [12] Barbolla met Philippe Tuchmann at this time at the Faust club in Paris. Tuchmann later became the artistic director of the Cercle. [6]

Pol Souchier, film director and head of communication, said in an interview with Billboard that the idea of producing concerts in cultural heritage locations “wasn't there at the beginning.". [12] It germinated from their first live show at the Eiffel tower in October 2016 with French DJ Møme on the occasion of his Panorama album release. [5] [13] Barbolla had sent a request for a live music performance via the Eiffel Tower’s website’s contact page and received a positive response. [12] Since then, Cercle has invited an artist on Mondays for a live performance or one-hour DJ set [14] in cultural heritage sites across the world. [3] [6] [15] The guest was then interviewed by Cercle, with questions from online viewers. [16]

Cercle Shows

Cercle has produced and broadcast more than 240 programmes branded as "Cercle Shows" in 31 different countries, among the most notable:

Cercle Records

Cercle Records is a record label founded in September 2020 and owned by the parent company Cercle. [4] [43] Since its inception, Cercle Records has released around 40 singles and EPs from artists invited on the Cercle channel, such as Nopalitos by Kid Francescoli (2021), Cappadocia by Ben Böhmer and Romain Garcia (2021), [4] Canopée des Cîmes by Jan Blomqvist (2022), Abu Simbel by WhoMadeWho (2021) [44] or BOREALIS by Sofiane Pamart (2021). [9]

Cercle Festival

Cercle has produced three festivals (branded as "Cercle Festival") in 2019 [45] , 2022 [46] and 2024 [47] .

Cercle Festival 2019

The 2019 Cercle Festival took place on 11 May 2019 at the Château de Chambord on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the castle. [45]

Cercle Festival 2022

Originally scheduled for 10–11 October 2020, this edition of the Cercle Festival was postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic, [46] and finally took place on 14–15 May 2022 at the National Air & Space Museum near Le Bourget, France, with a total capacity of 24,000 people over the course of the event. [46] The festival featured a line-up of 28 international artists. This edition of the festival was named "Best Electro Music Festival in France 2022" at the Heavent Awards. [48]

Cercle Festival 2024

Cercle Festival 2024 took place on 25–26 May 2024 at the National Air & Space Museum near Le Bourget, France, with a total "sold-out" capacity of 24,000 people [49] . According to Notion Magazine, over "140,000 people" had pre-registered for access to the event's tickets [50] . The line-up featured international electronic music acts such as Dixon, The Blaze, The Blessed Madonna, Sven Väth [51] and a livestreamed back-to-back ("b2b") DJ performance by Disclosure and Mochakk [50] [52] .

Cercle Odyssey

On June 3, 2024, Cercle announced the launch of "Cercle Odyssey," a series of live music experiences. The company described the concept as "large-scale," nomadic concert installations with immersive 360-degree visual projections synchronized to live music. The visuals will be projected on “massive screens”, “measuring roughly 40-feet high and 180-feet long” designed to “envelope the audience” [53] [54] .

According to an article published on Billboard, the concept’s name “Cercle Odyssey” refers to Homer’s Odyssey and adresses the theme of returning home. The film displayed on the screens will be overseen by Paris-based director Neels Castillon of Ridley Scott Creative Group, co-founder of visual production agency Motion Palace [53] .

Cercle's announcement highlighted the environmental ambitions of the Odyssey stage design in reaction to contemporary standards in the live music industry [55] . According to Billboard, “sound, light and projection equipment used in each performance [will be] rented locally in each respective performance city. The company notes that by using 29 state-of-the-art projectors instead of traditional LED screens to illuminate the scenography, the show doesn’t necessitate the transport of a huge number of LED screens, thereby reducing the carbon emissions of transporting the show [53] .”

On June 6, 2024, Cercle announced that the first tour dates of Cercle Odyssey will take place in 2025 in Los Angeles, Paris and Mexico City [56] [57] .

Other formats

Cercle Stories

In January 2021, Cercle introduced Cercle Stories, a new audiovisual format that aims to showcase an artist’s performance of a track in a location of cultural, historical, natural or aesthetic interest. [58] [59] [60] Cercle Story: Chapter One released in November 2021. Cercle Story: Chapter Two was avant-premiered at Le Grand Rex in Paris, followed by a release party with the featured artists at the Rex Club [61]

Cercle Moment

Since 2022, Cercle has also developed a new travel experience format, Cercle Moment. For example, Cercle announced in December 2022 a "five-day journey along the Nile" experience in February 2023, which will culminate at Adriatique's live concert at the Temple of Hatshepsut near Luxor, Egypt. [62] [32] [63]

One Way

In April 2023, Cercle introduced One Way, a series of 20 underground concert experiences that aim to "bring back the essence of dance music" in an age of image and digital hyperconsumerism. [64] [65] [66] In order to focus the experience solely on music, One Way rejects all superficial distractions such as phones, cameras, online music broadcasting and most importantly the identity of the artist. [67] Artists perform within a cubic, modern and enclosed installation art and can see the audience, whereas they cannot see them. [66] Their identity is kept secret until it is revealed at the end of their set. The first one is scheduled for May 11, 2023 in Paris, France. [66] [67] [68]

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 3 Bain, Katie (2020-08-18). "Watch Disclosure Perform From a Remote National Park in Croatia". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  2. 1 2 Match, Paris (12 February 2018). "Cercle vous fait danser sur Facebook" . Retrieved 2019-01-14.
  3. 1 2 Marikar, Sheila Yasmin (20 December 2022). "How to Throw a Party at One of the Seven Wonders of the World". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "La chaîne Cercle annonce ENFIN lancer son propre label… à bord d'une montgolfière". Le Bonbon Nuit. 2020-09-10. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  5. 1 2 3 Middleton, Ryan. "Industry Insider: Cercle Founder Derek Barbolla On How They Book The Biggest DJs In The Most Unique Locations". Magnetic Magazine. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  6. 1 2 3 "De la tour Eiffel à un désert de sel, comment Cercle a révolutionné la Boiler Room". Numéro Magazine. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  7. 1 2 "De Petra au Chateau de Chambord, Derek Barbolla [Le Cercle] fait résonner la musique électronique depuis des lieux insolites". bigmedia.bpifrance.fr. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  8. ↑ "Cercle : électro de jour". TSUGI (in French). 2018-09-24. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  9. 1 2 3 "Découvrez le concert féérique du pianiste Sofiane Pamart en Laponie, sous les aurores boréales". Franceinfo. 2021-10-05. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  10. ↑ Teicholz, Tom. "Mesmerized By The Music Of Hania Rani". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  11. ↑ Barbolla, Derek; Souchier, Pol (2023-07-06), Ólafur Arnalds live from Hafursey, in Iceland for Cercle (Music), Ólafur Arnalds, Pétur Björnsson, Sólveig Vaka Eyþórsdóttir, Brace Productions, Covert Productions, retrieved 2024-10-02
  12. 1 2 3 Bein, Kat (2019-07-15). "How Party Streaming Platform Cercle Hosts Shows at the Eiffel Tower, a Remote Bolivian Salt Flat & More". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  13. ↑ "Cercle : "Ce serait incroyable de pouvoir organiser une soirée à l'Elysée"". Trax magazine. Archived from the original on 2019-09-15. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  14. ↑ "Cercle invite Nina Kraviz en DJ Set à la Tour Eiffel - Sortiraparis.com". www.sortiraparis.com (in French). Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  15. ↑ Plummer, Todd (2022-11-02). "The Best Music Festival You'll Never See Again". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  16. ↑ décembre 2017, Anouk Perry | 28 décembre 2017 | 2 Commentaires Mis à jour le 29 (2017-12-28). "Comment une chaîne YouTube m'a fait aimer l'électro comme jamais". madmoiZelle.com (in French). Retrieved 2019-01-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ↑ "Fontainebleau : le château va à nouveau vibrer au son de la musique électro". leparisien.fr. 2018-03-28. Retrieved 2019-01-14.
  18. ↑ "Cercle invite Boris Brejcha dans la Nef du Grand Palais !". www.grandpalais.fr. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
  19. ↑ "[VIDEO] Nîmes : la vidéo du concert de Boris Brejcha est disponible". midilibre.fr. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  20. ↑ Julien (2022-05-02). "Récap : Retour sur le show de Boris Brejcha pour Cercle aux arènes de Nîmes". Guettapen. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  21. ↑ "BORIS BREJCHA REGRESARÁ A CERCLE EL PRÓXIMO MES EN ARÈNES DE NÎMES EN FRANCIA". Mixmag South America. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  22. ↑ Evenson, Austin (2020-06-16). "Good Morning Mix: Black Coffee takes over Paris' oldest ballroom, Salle Wagram". Dancing Astronaut. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  23. ↑ "FKJ et Cercle racontent les galères derrière leur sublime live dans le désert de sel bolivien". Trax magazine. Archived from the original on 2019-09-10. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
  24. ↑ "Cercle to Host Live Concert Under Northern Lights Hotspot in Finland". This Song Is Sick. 2021-09-01. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  25. ↑ "Nina Kraviz mixera depuis le premier étage de la Tour Eiffel lundi prochain". Les Inrocks. Retrieved 2019-01-14.
  26. ↑ Fraisse, Corentin (2018-10-10). "Cercle invite Nina Kraviz à mixer sur la Tour Eiffel !". TSUGI. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  27. ↑ "Le roi Carl Cox va mixer au Château de Chambord". Trax Magazine. 2018-07-10. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  28. ↑ Evans, Steph (2018-07-23). "Good Morning Mix: Carl Cox performs at a French castle". Dancing Astronaut. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  29. ↑ Bain, Katie (2019-07-09). "Amelie Lens to Play Brussels' Iconic Atomium Monument for Next Installment of Cercle Event Series". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  30. ↑ Quénéhervé, Gilles (2018-09-10). "Bodzin au sommet des Alpes Suisses - Sets de légendes #4". Art Juice. Archived from the original on 2023-01-30. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  31. ↑ "The Next Cercle Set Will Be Held At The Great Pyramids Of Giza". This Song Is Sick. 2020-10-19. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  32. 1 2 Bakhtaoui, Mohammed (2022-12-07). "Cercle Brings Adriatique & Hosts New Experience on the Nile". EDMTunes. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  33. ↑ "Cercle announce Solomun to play in ancient Roman amphitheatre". Decoded Magazine. 2018-05-16. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  34. ↑ Spilsbury, About the Author / Jack (2021-02-18). "WhoMadeWho set to perform at the Abu Simbel temple in Egypt for Cercle". We Rave You. Retrieved 2023-01-30.{{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  35. ↑ Figueroa, Alec. "Watch: ZHU Throws Down Special 2 Hour Set in the Japanese Alps For Cercle". Magnetic Magazine. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  36. ↑ "Watch The Blaze Perform At 12,000 Feet On Top Of The French Alps For Cercle". This Song Is Sick. 2020-05-25. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  37. ↑ "À voir : Cercle fait jouer The Blaze sur le Mont Blanc dans un nouveau live à couper le souffle". Trax Magazine. 2020-05-26. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  38. ↑ "The Blaze en live à 4000 mètres d'altitude". Numéro Magazine. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  39. ↑ Middleton, Ryan. "Above & Beyond Release Cercle Set From Stunning Piedra del Peñol In Colombia". Magnetic Magazine. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  40. ↑ "Bedouin live at Petra, Jordan for Cercle". Decoded Magazine. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  41. ↑ "W Hotels and X Cercle to Host Live Performances at Some of the Most Breathtaking Places on Earth". Hospitality Net. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  42. 1 2 https://www.thewildcity.com/news/19446-cercle-returns-to-india-with-colyn-at-jatayu-earth-s-center
  43. ↑ Dongre, Divyansha (2022-03-09). "Cercle Records and W Hotels On Celebrating The Power of Progressive Dance Music". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  44. ↑ Bhanawat, Akshay (2022-12-02). "WhoMadeWho Enlist Patrice Bäumel To Remix UUUU Album Single 'Never Alone'". T.H.E - Music Essentials. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  45. 1 2 Pares, Axel (2019-02-13). "Cercle organise son premier festival pour fêter les 500 ans du Château de Chambord". TSUGI (in French). Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  46. 1 2 3 Stranzl, Joseph C. (2021-06-29). "Cercle Festival Has Been Postponed To 2022". EDM Maniac. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  47. ↑ Le musée de l'Air et de l'Espace du Bourget accueille un festival de musique électronique ce week-end (in French). Retrieved 2024-09-30– via www.bfmtv.com.
  48. ↑ "Heavent Festivals Awards". Heavent Paris. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  49. ↑ AGZ (2024-06-04). "Le Cercle Festival a ramené la fine fleur de la scène électro au Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace". Guettapen (in French). Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  50. 1 2 Staff, Notion (2024-05-30). "A Look Inside One of 2024's Most Unique Festivals Brought to You by Music Legends Cercle". Notion. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  51. ↑ AGZ (2024-06-04). "Le Cercle Festival a ramené la fine fleur de la scène électro au Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace". Guettapen (in French). Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  52. ↑ "RADIO FG Cercle dévoile la programmation de son festival". www.radiofg.com (in French). Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  53. 1 2 3 Bain, Katie (2024-06-03). "Cercle Announces Immersive Touring Show Set To Launch In 2025". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  54. ↑ Sunkel, Cameron (2024-06-03). "Cercle to Bring Series of 360° Traveling Concerts to Life With Immersive "Odyssey" Concept". EDM.com - The Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  55. ↑ "Cercle lance une expérience hors du commun en 2025 : la scénographie à 360° itinérante "Cercle Odyssey"". www.durevie.paris. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  56. ↑ "Cercle Odyssey vs. Sphere: Making Concerts More Immersive". CNET. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  57. ↑ Triou (2024-06-06). "Cercle dévoile les premières dates de son nouveau concept Cercle Odyssey". Guettapen (in French). Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  58. ↑ Belchit, Mathieu (2021-03-20). ""Nopalitos", l'incroyable collaboration entre Kid Francescoli & Cercle Stories". La Distillerie Musicale. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  59. ↑ Nacho (2021-07-08). "Cercle launches a new way to enjoy; Cercle Stories". Festival Season. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  60. ↑ Belchit, Mathieu (2020-10-09). "Cercle invite NTO pour lancer leur nouveau concept : "Cercles Stories"". La Distillerie Musicale. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  61. ↑ "RADIO FG L'équipe du Cercle présente son film ce soir !". radiofg.com. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  62. ↑ "Adriatique & Cercle Host Electronic Music Event at Hatshepsut Temple". www.scenenoise.com. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  63. ↑ "Cercle to kick off 2023 with show at 3,500-year-old temple in Egypt". Mixmag MENA. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  64. ↑ Arrpita (2023-04-28). "Cercle Introduces New Show Concept 'ONE WAY'". EDMTunes. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  65. ↑ "Cercle lance une nouvelle expérience inédite et insolite à Paris". www.sortiraparis.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  66. 1 2 3 "RADIO FG " One Way ", le très excitant nouveau show de Cercle". www.radiofg.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  67. 1 2 "Cercle lance un nouveau concept de soirée où l'identité du DJ reste secrète jusqu'à la fin". Dure Vie (in French). 2023-04-27. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  68. ↑ Nascimento, Leonardo (2023-04-27). "Cercle apresenta novo conceito de eventos musicais: ONE WAY". Eletro Vibez (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-04-28.

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