Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Magelles
Magelles is a joyful, uninhibited, and multicultural pop project, born in the halls of our school, Magellan High School (formerly Musical Arte) – hence our name. Magelles is a unique fusion where the timeless melancholy of a Françoise Hardy, the reggae-infused social conscience of an Alpha Blondy, the visionary boldness of Björk, the accessible reggae-pop of UB40, and the stage power of BlackPink all collide. Our signature? A hybrid of roots reggae and tropical house – sun-drenched music, yes, but music that dares to tackle the burning issues of our generation: bullying, identity, mental health, delivered with the energy of a live show and the sincerity of a whispered secret.
‘Magelles’ is a direct reference to the school, Magellan High School (ex-Musical Arte). It’s the root, the starting point, the birthplace of the band. The ‘-elles’ is a French, feminine plural ending that gives the name Magelles a soft, collective, and feminine sound (even though the band is mixed – 4 brilliant women / 2 brilliant guys). Magelles is a collective, forged in time.
Magelles possesses a strong and unique identity: it exists nowhere else, it is us, 100%. The narrative root tells our story immediately (‘We come from Magellan High School’). And then there’s that memorable, pleasant sound: ‘Magelles’ is easy on the ear, easy to remember and pronounce internationally. The ‘-elles’ suggests a crew, a tight-knit group, which fits our dynamic and our openness perfectly. Though it has a French sound, it isn’t tied to any specific language, which is ideal for a multicultural, multilingual project.
Magelles, far more than an acronym, is an identity that carries our DNA.
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
This was the era (around 2010). The musical landscape was defined by the explosion of electronic pop and dance (The Black Eyed Peas, David Guetta, Basshunter, Lady Gaga). The reign of powerhouse pop divas (Rihanna, Beyoncé, Leona Lewis, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Kesha). The potent fusion of Hip-Hop and Pop (Timbaland, Jay-Z, Flo Rida, T-Pain). It was also the dawn of the ‘pop star as concept’ era (Lady Gaga, Katy Perry)—a sound that was highly produced, glossy, optimistic, and built for the clubs (‘I Gotta Feeling’, ‘TiK ToK’, ‘Poker Face’).
But for us, Magelles, with our touchstones (Françoise Hardy, Alpha Blondy, Roots Reggae, Björk, UB40), the project is a reaction to—or perhaps a digestion of—that ultra-polished, commercial pop of our childhood. It’s a conscious turn back towards more organic, politically engaged, and artistically daring roots. Magelles draws from an earlier era (the 80s and 90s) to create something fundamentally different from the pop that soundtracked our earliest years.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
It all started in the music room at Magellan High. We were listening to something like Björk – that incredible melodicism – and at the same time, we were fascinated by the hyper-modern productions of BlackPink. We wondered: what if we blended the warmth and message of reggae with the precise electronic production and dynamics of K-pop?
Yeah, and our teacher, Ernestus, caught us tinkering with that mix. He said, “What you’re doing… it’s as if Alpha Blondy and BlackPink did a feature produced by Björk. Keep going.” That was the lightbulb moment.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
The story is rooted in our reality as high school students. Magelles is music that combines the lyrical and social depth of Alpha Blondy’s songs, but speaks specifically to the inner battles of today’s teens. We took the melodic accessibility of UB40 and the unstoppable production of BlackPink as our vehicle.
Our miniseries, High School Musical Arte, tells that exact story: how we try to reconcile these seemingly opposing influences to create a sound that feels like us.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
Imagine the groovy bassline and warm brass of an Alpha Blondy reggae-pop track, layered with a clean, danceable tropical house beat like you’d hear in a modern K-pop production. Add a voice with the delicate, poetic phrasing of a Françoise Hardy, sometimes pierced by the raw, cathartic energy of a Björk. And finally, give the whole thing the choral power and stage impact of a group like BlackPink. That’s our palette.
In short: it’s reggae reimagined for the digital age, with Alpha Blondy’s conscience and BlackPink’s efficiency.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
One essential thing, taking a cue from Alpha Blondy and BlackPink: “Commitment and spectacle don’t oppose each other; they reinforce each other.” We used to think a serious message needed serious, grave music. Wrong. Alpha Blondy speaks of peace over rhythms that make you dance. BlackPink delivers an image of pure power. We’ve learned not to dilute our messages, but to mix them, to dress them with irresistible production and strong stage energy so they become unavoidable. The listening pleasure is THE gateway.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
Studio One is our main playground. That’s where we assemble the reggae bass, house synth pads, and vocal layers, searching for that UB40/BlackPink blend: both organic and ultra-sharp.
For the vocals, we use Melodyne sparingly, to polish without losing the emotion – what matters is the sincerity of the message, like in Françoise Hardy or the urgency in Björk’s voice. And for the lyrics, our bible is still the thesaurus. Finding the right word that balances pure poetry and militant clarity, that’s a whole art form in itself.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
We adore artists who blur the lines like Björk, but also groups who push the boundaries of pop like (G)I-DLE. Their creative boldness and their control over their image and sound inspire us tremendously.
To stay connected to our reggae roots, we always revisit the engaged classics of Alpha Blondy, like “Jerusalem,” or the timeless hits of UB40. That’s our melodic backbone.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
Emotions are the heart of every song. I could write about social injustice in the style of Alpha Blondy, but by transposing it to the schoolyard. Bullying is a political issue on our scale.
For my part (Coco), the energy and sisterhood of BlackPink showed me the importance of confidence and stage presence, especially as a woman in this scene. We harness these strengths to talk about difficult subjects without victimhood, but with a cold determination, almost à la Björk.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
Empowerment, first and foremost. Feeling strong, united, capable of anything. A soft but firm awakening. A spark for the mind and a catchy melody that makes you want to get up and move… or at least think about it while dancing. (laughs)
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Our references span from 60s French chanson to Ivorian reggae, from Icelandic experimentation to globalised Korean pop. And AI shows us that there’s no such thing as ‘pure’ music. There never has been. Ask Mozart! Everything mixes, echoes, and it’s from these collisions that the most exciting novelty is born. Magelles is the unapologetic product of hybridity. Magelles is quantum!
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
As a project, we want to play on stages that celebrate this hybridity.
We’ve already had incredible moments at the National High School Competition in Japan and at the Annecy Festitionnel in 2025. We need three screens and a good sound system, nothing more! All festivals are within our reach, and why not one day a stage like Coachella or Summer Sonic! 100% visual.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Without hesitation: Björk! Her total approach to art. She would push the limits of our reggae-house fusion into completely uncharted sonic territories. A feature on one of our tracks would be coming full circle.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
notre album “FOLLOW” : https://open.spotify.com/album/30nLmNpVr6Lv9zC9D1YVqa
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
To make intelligent, engaged, and ultra-effective pop. To develop our series, to create a live show that blends the warmth of a reggae concert with the precision-engineered performance of a K-pop show.
To foster a real dialogue, a space where teenagers feel heard and represented, not infantilised. To be idols, popular artists with something to say.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
To show that we are a tight-knit group with diversity. That behind the project, there are six strong individualities who found a common language in music. The love for discreet poetry and the love for experimentation. We are the ‘and’ generation, not the ‘or’ generation. By listening to us, we hope our audiences accept all parts of themselves, even the ones that seem contradictory.
FOLLOW : https://open.spotify.com/album/30nLmNpVr6Lv9zC9D1YVqa
