Tag: Sony Music France

Single Review by William Ruben Helms

New Audio: Ian Asher’s Remix of JAIN’s Infectious, Smash Hit “Makeeba”

French-born with international pop sensation JAIN is a true international citizen: She has spent significant portions of her live in the United Arab Emirates and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Her full-length debut 2016’s Zanaka quickly put her on the global pop map: The album sold over one-million copies worldwide, with singles “Come” and “Makeba” climbing the charts. Adding to a growing profile, the accompanying video for “Makeba” led to the French-born pop earning artist her first Grammy Award nomination for Best Music Video.

JAIN’s sophomore album, 2018’s Souldier reached #1 on the French charts, with the album achieving double platinum status, while album single “Alright” was certified diamond. That same year, Rolling Stone named the French-born pop artist, “An Artist You Need To Know.”

The French pop star has played over 300 shows in 15 countries across the European Union, North America, South America and Asia, as well as the rounds of the global festival circuit with sets at Coachella and Lollapalooza. She has also performed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Later . . . with Jools Holland, the 2018 Ryder Cup and the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Her highly-anticipated third album The Fool was released earlier this year through Columbia/Sony Music France. The album serves as a new chapter for the French-born pop sensation. Thematically, the album chronicles the stages one goes through whenever they make a fresh start — fear, excitement, innocent, self-doubt/doubt, letting go, epiphany and more. And while her perviously released work saw her effortlessly meshing a myriad collection of genres, styles and instrumentation including Arabic percussion, African rhythms, electro pop, reggae, soul and hip-hop, The Fool is a decided change in sonic direction with the material drawing from Kate Bush and Stevie Nicks. 

Recently, the French pop sensation’s hit “Makeba” has gone viral globally. I’ve seen at least three different Instagram reels today that have mentioned the song. And understandably, artists and producers from across the globe have shared their own takes on the smash hit single, including American producer Ian Asher. Asher’s remix retains JAIN’s coquettish delivery and the song’s incredibly catchy hook but while stepping up the tempo quite a bit — creating a subtle yet breezy house meets footwork take.

The Ian Asher remix serves a reminder of why the song has become so wildly popular a few years after its release — it has a hook that you can’t get out of your brain, no matter what you do.

Video by William Ruben Helms

New Video: JAIN Shares Earnest and Cinematic “The Fool”

French-born international pop sensation JAIN exploded into the national and international scene with her full-length debut, Zanaka, which sold over one million copies globally. Her sophomore album 2018s Souldier, topped the charts in her native France, thanks to the success of hit single “Makeba” which led to her first Grammy nomination for Best Music Video — and to Rolling Stone naming her an “Artist You Need To Know,” writing that the “French singer mixes pop, Afrobeat and more influences in a winning combination.”


Building upon a growing profile, the French pop start has played over 300 shows in 15 countries across the European Union, North America, South America and Asia, as well as the rounds of the global festival circuit with sets at Coachella and Lollapalooza. She has also performed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Later . . . with Jools Holland, the 2018 Ryder Cup and the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Her highly-anticipated third album The Fool is slated for an April 21, 2023 release through Columbia/Sony Music France. The album is reportedly a new chapter for the French pop sensation both musically and personally. Thematically, the album chronicles the stages one goes through when making a fresh start — fear, excitement, innocence, self-doubt/doubt, letting go, epiphany and more. While her previously released work meshed a myriad of genres, styles and instrumentation including Arabic percussion. African rhythms. electro pop, reggae, soul and hip-hop, The Fool draws heavily on influences like Kate Bush and Stevie Nicks.

JAIN also relies heavily on Tarot de Marseilles, one of the oldest and most popular tarot decks created — and an art her mother passed on to her. According to the French pop artist, tarot gives her the strength to jump into the unknown through an instinctive perception of the world’s dangers and possibilities.

The Fool‘s first single, album title track “The Fool” is a decidedly 80s pop-inspired song centered around a lush and almost painterly production featuring finger plucked strummed guitar, glistening synth oscillations, thumping beats paired with soaring strings and rousingly anthemic hooks. JAIN’s self-assured and gorgeous, pop star vocal is at the forefront of the mix, singing lyrics that reference The Fool card in the tarot. And as result, the song takes on a brave and hopeful look at the future, seeing it as the sort of grand adventure the you want to go on with a loved one, while sounding a

Directed by Jules Jolly, the video follows the French pop star on an incredible adventure through the universe and into the future. Visually, the video manages to bring fond memories of The Little Prince.