"I have the chance to flourish on the piano. But I never forget that the destiny of my family in France began underground (...) thanks to my Berber grandfather who came from Morocco to work in the mines du Nord", confided Sofiane Pamart during an interview with AFP, on the sidelines of a recital in Toulouse, before Luxembourg, Lyon, Madrid, Berlin...

Wrapped up in a plush white sweatshirt, from which a thick silver chain sparkles, he hides his eyes under a black vinyl bucket hat and large glasses with yellow lenses.

His outfit is a reflection of his fierce desire not to "fit into any box": elegant Chelsea boots add an offbeat note, like the long silk kimonos brought back from Japan and which he wears on stage.

"When I'm at my piano, they cover my back, I feel protected", explains this 31-year-old musician who attributes his other passion, travel, to his nomadic ancestry and a childhood in contact with the cultures of the world.

Twelve keys

"My mother teaches French in college, and to foreigners, with my father who runs a specialized center (...) As a child, I (them) accompanied them to their work and lots of cultures came to me", he says, referring to these "Koreans, Zimbabweans, Afghans, etc."

who broadened his horizons.

His parents are not musicians, but realize that he has a good ear.

"On a toy with twelve keys, I reproduced melodies that I heard on TV."

At the age of six, he entered the conservatory of Lille.

Until the age of 23 and a gold medal, he will make his "piano weapons" there.

With Chopin, Beethoven, Mozart, "I discovered a world that ended up fascinating me and completely transformed me".

He grew up between his "friends, the street, the conservatory" and an uncle "with all the attitude of street culture, incredible clothes", who introduced him to hip hop.

"All these greats, I wanted to look like them (...) That's how my love affair with rap developed."

French pianist Sofiane Pamart on March 3, 2022 in concert in Toulouse Lionel BONAVENTURE AFP / Archives

Leaving the conservatory, "I unlearned to feel free".

"The career of a classical virtuoso did not interest me because I dreamed of the life of a rapper (...) extreme, with moments of grace, of vertigo."

He composes and plays with SCH, Maes, Vald, Scylla, JoeyStarr, but also Arno, Kimberose, Bon Entendeur... Then he launches his own albums: "Planet" in 2019 and last February "Love", love letter to his audience.

From Pleyel to Bercy

This year, he goes on dates, solo too.

Wanting "shows that embrace several genres", he speaks of "shows" rather than concerts and wants "to make people travel intensely".

In a futuristic atmosphere, an airport voice invites you to "leave for an emotional adventure".

Blue, purple and orange neon tubes surround the piano.

In the background, his cropped portrait.

The laser eyes sweep an audience who ovation him between each piece.

French pianist Sofiane Pamart on March 3, 2022 in concert in Toulouse Lionel BONAVENTURE AFP / Archives

"It's as if he were telling us a story (...) He manages to make the piano accessible to everyone", enthuses Emile Metrat, 20, student, among the 1,200 spectators of all ages at the recital. Toulouse.

To critics accusing him of a consensual style, the pianist replies that he "likes simple melodies" and those "which have fire in them" such as tango and flamenco.

"I don't want my music to be scholarly (...) Above all, I want to touch hearts."

If he is not afraid of a big head, the one who calls himself "Piano King" in self-mockery on social networks, admits to being ambitious: "That's how we achieve the greatest feats".

Sofiane Pamart does not hide her happiness either to fill "very intimate" places but also the prestigious Pleyel room "which made him dream".

High point of his tour: Bercy and its 15,000 seats in Paris, where The Who, Daft Punk, Lady Gaga have passed... In November, he will be the first pianist to play there alone.

© 2022 AFP