Bringing ‘Born Funky’ to Bristol for a house headline: In conversation with Bellaire

By Aaron Franks, First Year, Spanish and Portuguese

Having not played in Bristol since he shared a bill with Dan Shake at Motion in 2021 (who also returns later this month), Bellaire, first name Jean, will take main stage at Electric Bristol.

It will mark a month since the release of his debut full-length album, Born Funky. He will be supported by selector Jeremy Underground who brings a breadth of multi-genre music knowledge.

Bellaire explained that while ‘I never plan my sets’, those attending will hear a host of club-ready tracks from his new album, along with previous releases and his favourite records of the last 50 years.

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Born Funky is a medley of new and old influences made to dominate dancefloors, while still finding a space for sofa listening. It combines lively house drums, disco voices of past and present, and funk basslines, tied together by tight, polished production.

For Bellaire, the album is a ‘full circle moment’, with a number of the genre’s pioneers helping to bring the album to life. Jean mentioned Dimitri from Paris being ‘one of the first to introduce me to disco’, and ‘idols’ Barbara Tucker and Cerrone feeling ‘so far away from me’ – but all remarkably feature in Born Funky.

Bellaire is confident that, eight years on from his breakthrough moment at only 17 with ‘Paris City Jazz’, collaborating with these big names feels like the right moment.

While undoubtedly inspired by music now half a century old, Bellaire can be especially proud of Born Funky, given that almost every track is entirely original.

It’s a notable achievement because much of disco house’s appeal lies in reimagining classics, such as LF System’s ‘Afraid To Feel’ or The Shapeshifters’ ‘Lola Theme’, but Bellaire’s only visit to the past is a rework of Cerrone’s ‘Got to Have Loving’, released as the mid-album climax ‘Lot More Love’. Jean described receiving the original files by disco legend Marc Cerrone as a ‘pretty stressful moment’, yet the result does ample justice to an inspiration of his.

With this track and ‘Hip Hop Interlude’, Jean pays tribute to his background of hip hop sampling which kickstarted his love of making music. Bellaire was only 14 when he felt inspired by the likes of Dr. Dre and J Dilla to download music software FL Studio on his school computer.

When quizzed on disco’s current popularity, Bellaire said confidently that ‘we will never lose the scene’, remarking on its unique ability to ‘talk to everybody’ and its immunity to popular trends. He might have a point – last month vinyl specialist Kirollus sold out the 3000 capacity Cause in London with a 100% disco lineup.

If Saturday’s event is anything like Kirollus’, then it might be one not to miss. And if you still need convincing, listen to Bellaire’s aptly named ‘Sunshine Is Coming’.