Anoraak is the musical project of French musician Frédéric Rivière, multi instrumentalist, singer, producer and DJ. Now based in Marseille and originally from Nantes, he was a member of the band Pony Pony Run Run as well as the Valerie Collective founded by College. Coming from the indie rock scene at first, he later came to electronic music in 2008, starting the Anoraak project.
Formerly identified with the early retro-synth driven scenes that later inspired the classic movie Drive’s soundtrack, his sound is described as “dreamy synth-filled tracks that fall somewhere on the spectrum between disco and new wave” , “contemporary but retro-tinged”.
With 3 eponymous albums under his belt, numerous eps and collaborations with artists such as the Scottish enchantress Siobhan Wilson, Danish sensation Lydmor, American singer Slow Shiver, to name only a few & remixes for Satin Jackets, Neon Indian, Mika, Anoraak has set himself in the last years as a leading force in the “sunset inspired disco and synthpop” with well over 27 Million streams across all platforms & placements on staple Netflix series You & Atypical.
Anoraak has performed at major global music festivals and events, including SXSW, Noise Music Festival, Festival les Inrocks, Electric Daisy Carnival in addition to headlining his own tours around the world.
April 2020 saw the release of Anoraak’s first EP in over two years through Yuksek’s Partyfine label imprint, introducing French for the first time in his catalogue. It features the vocal talents of the sultry Sarah Maison, invoking mid tempo 4 to the floor 70’s infused jams. For this EP, Anoraak follows his heart and instinct to get back to his first and long lasting love for disco, letting aside his usual synth tool kit to give place to a rather organic sounding material. This one is the first of many more to come next.