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SYLVAIN MAZENS
Based in Avignon, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and conductor Sylvain Mazens shapes sonic universes where formal rigor meets the freedom of the moment. His inspiration is deeply organic: he draws from the screeching of trains behind his house, the wind rustling through trees, the city’s murmur, and the silence between the stars. From this attentive listening, he crafts scores dedicated to film, stage, and narrative. His recent work includes the soundtrack for the France 2 documentary series La Conspiration du Silence (AMDA Production), and he is currently developing the large-scale project Narcorama, Il était une fois Marseille (AMDA Production). A master of texture and emotion, he is also a certified instructor in Soundpainting, the universal live-composing sign language.
His aesthetic is fueled by the lyricism of Ennio Morricone, the raw energy of Wire, the elastic rhythms of Pierre Bastien, and the profound simplicity of Nick Cave and Warren Ellis. Driven by people's stories, he captures their energy to invent music that does more than just accompany—it transfigures images and words. This blend of high-level technical skill and the soul of a sound-seeker makes him an invaluable collaborator, capable of mastering the entire production chain from initial concept to final mastering. This technical autonomy allows him to serve dance, theater, and documentary film with a constant commitment to artistic precision.
This expertise is supported by a rare ability to unify: from stage successes like Village Pile-poil to professional workshops, he transforms gesture into sound with natural authority. As a seasoned multi-instrumentalist (trombone, guitar, bass, banjo, vocals, percussion), his career reflects a human and artistic richness built off the beaten path. A lifelong learner, Sylvain Mazens has evolved through the notes he plays, his instruments, and his encounters. From cult groups like the cabaret-punk band Pusse (Mon Slip label) to the Surnatural Orchestra and the punk-folk project Stanley Kubi, he has explored every genre from Klezmer to Latin music. It is this "school of life" and exchange that makes him a creator with a singular signature, deeply rooted in experience and sharing.
