Mathieu Boogaerts

Mathieu Boogaerts was born on November 30, 1970 in Fontenay-sous-Bois, and grew up in the Paris suburb of Nogent-sur-Marne, where his parents, his mother a pharmacist and his father an antiques dealer, had settled. From an early age, he was introduced to music thanks to an organ given to him by his mother. As a teenager, he discovered the rhythms of reggae and took up music. At the age of twelve, he began taking drumming lessons, and went on to form his first band, Made in Cament, where he experimented with various instruments on a self-taught basis. At sixteen, he met Matthieu Chedid, with whom he formed the group Tam-Tam. After leaving school, he worked at a number of odd jobs, before setting off on his travels, notably to Africa, where he spent a long period in Kenya. Mathieu Boogaerts starts writing songs and creating demos. In collaboration with Émilie Chedid, he makes a video clip for his song "Ondulé". These early creations, characterized by a minimalist, poetic spirit, opened the doors to Remark Records, which released his first EP in 1995, Ondulé Spécial, followed by his album Super in 1996, recorded in part in his parents' cellar. This first album led to the formation of a live band featuring Tony Allen, Fela Kuti's former drummer. In 1998, Mathieu Boogaerts released his second album J'en Ai Marre d'Être Deux, recorded in Sweden and co-produced by Tore Johansson. After being fired by his record company, he had to wait until 2002 for the release of his third album, 2000, on the Tôt ou Tard label. He continued to perform, opening for Alain Souchon at the Casino de Paris. In 2005, after a stay in Barcelona and Berlin, Mathieu Boogaerts released Michel, his fourth studio album. He documents the creation of this album in a video diary, included in the special edition of the record. A tour followed, taking him across Germany and Africa, where he performed in French cultural centers. Three years later, he explored new sounds with the album I Love You, a mix of songs in French and English, inspired by drum rhythms. In 2012, he released a new eponymous album, recorded in near-live conditions. Mathieu Boogaerts also makes a name for himself as a songwriter for other artists, writing for Vanessa Paradis and Luce. In 2014, he composed the soundtrack for Arnaud Fait son Deuxième Film and produced Renan Luce's second album. 2016 saw the release of his album Promeneur, the fruit of a solitary recording session in the mountains. To celebrate his twenty-year career, he organizes concerts at the Cité de la Musique and La Cigale, surrounded by eight musicians. Moving to London at the end of 2016, Mathieu Boogaerts begins writing an album entirely in English, to be released in 2021 under the title (En anglais). In 2022, he begins production of his ninth studio album, which sees the light of day in September 2023.

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