Bertrand Burgalat

by Mario Mesquita Borges
A producer, songwriter, and singer, Bertrand Burgalat emerged in the late '90s as one of the top individuals involved in the &nouvelle vague& (new wave) of French music. Born on the French island of Corsica in the '60s, Burgalat inherited his love for music from his parents, who were mostly dedicated to the sounds of classical composers. However, and at the same time, he also started growing his own particular preferences and selections, by then focusing on the creations of bands like Roxy Music and Kraftwerk, or artists like Serge Gainsbourg. In the late '70s, he decided moving to Paris and later to London, where he found out about the sounds of Nick Cave and offered his arrangements to Mick Harvey's album Intoxicated Man. Influenced by a multitude of genres and inspiring musical styles, Burgalat decided to return to Paris in the end of the '90s, motivated by the country's active music scene. During the time that followed, Burgalat presented his production credits to the works of several French artists and also founded the Tricatel label, a catalog offering the works of artists like Ladytron or April March. 
 
Burgalat's major breakthrough came about when he was invited to remix Air's single &Sexy Boy& in late 1998. Before long, his production and remixing duties became recognized all over the world. After an extensive tour with the French duo, on which he appeared as a bass player, bands like Pizzicato Five, Jamiroquai, Soul II Soul, and Depeche Mode (for whom he remixed two tracks of the album Exciter) sought out his skills. In 2001, Bertrand Burgalat finally emerged with his first solo album. The SSSound of MMMusic hit record stores in 2001, confirming his dazzling creative abilities, situated in between the sounds of '60s pop and the innovative visions of fresh-sounding electronica style.