French composer and electronic producer Arnault Hardy speaks with Atwood Magazine about his solo debut “One After Another,” balancing multiple musical identities, and building a creative utopia through his artist-led label.

Stream: “One After Another” – Arnault Hardy

For French artist Arnault Hardy, music has never been just a sound – it’s a mirror, a map, a manifesto.

Over the years, he’s explored nearly every corner of the musical world: from playing in post-punk bands in his youth to DJing underground clubs across Europe and India, to working as an A&R and marketing manager for major labels like Virgin and Sony Music. But it’s only now, in 2025, that Hardy is stepping fully into his own name and voice as a solo artist. And with “One After Another,” his debut release, he arrives not with fanfare or formula – but with clarity, playfulness, and the kind of quiet power that lingers long after the song ends.

Released on October 23^rd, “One After Another” feels like a personal manifesto dressed up in movement. Built on hypnotic grooves, textural flourishes, and a melodic pulse that flirts with both house and pop, the track is Hardy’s attempt to create something “light, fresh, and organic” – not just for dancefloors, but for real life. It’s music that embraces vulnerability without slowing down, designed to feel like emotion in motion. “I wanted to release something that corresponds to my tastes as much as possible,” Hardy tells us. “Something made for dancing, but also made to experience.”

Though this may be his first official release under his own name, Hardy’s fingerprints are all over the indie and electronic scenes.

His sonic roots stretch from Kate Bush and The Cure to Aphex Twin and Donato Dozzy, resulting in a genre-fluid palette that blends ambient, techno, electro-pop, and experimental soundscapes. He’s performed DJ sets in cities like Paris, Stockholm, Barcelona, and Mumbai – often in unconventional spaces – and has spent the last few years fully immersed in music-making, setting up his own studio and launching the artist-run label La Société Anonyme de Musique et de Sons. The label is more than just a platform for releases; it’s a creative collective grounded in freedom, generosity, and the belief that music doesn’t need to chase trends to matter.

That philosophy runs deep in “One After Another.” There’s an unmistakable sincerity to it – a looseness that feels refreshing in an era of algorithm-driven pop. Hardy isn’t interested in perfection. He’s chasing feeling, flow, and connection. The track pulses with warmth and curiosity, holding space for movement and melancholy at once. It’s the kind of debut that doesn’t shout for attention, but instead draws you in – an invitation to listen closer, to feel deeper, to let the rhythm carry you somewhere unexpected.

In this candid conversation with Atwood Magazine, Arnault Hardy reflects on making the leap into solo artistry, the emotional honesty behind “One After Another,” and why building an artist-led community is just as important to him as building a beat. From his creative influences to the beauty of slow, intentional music-making, he invites us into his world – one that is thoughtful, open, and in constant motion.

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A CONVERSATION WITH ARNAULT HARDY

Arnault Hardy: It’s been a long journey with music since my first experiences as a kid. I’ve mostly played and DJed, but rarely released anything, even though I’ve written many songs and tracks over the years. In the past few years, I’ve dedicated more time to music production, and it felt like the right moment to start sharing. I’m delighted with how this track turned out, so I decided to release it under my real name – the one I’ll use for my personal work.

Arnault Hardy: When I was 21, I was working as an A&R rookie and artist brand assistant. I was lucky to have many friends who were sound engineers in some of the great studios in Paris, and I had the chance to work on album productions at a very early age. I spent a lot of time travelling, meeting artists, producers, and engineers, and discovering the magical world of recording studios. At the same time, we began experimenting with computers and small home studios. All these experiences deeply shaped me – not only technically, but also artistically. I became drawn to artists who spoke their truth, often clashing with their labels, yet always following their own vision. That meant a lot to me and left a lasting impression.

Arnault Hardy: It’s actually very important, because I’ve played many different styles of electronic music over the years. I started with drum & bass and abstract hip-hop, then did some sets with electronica, and eventually moved toward dance music – electro house, electro, and more techno-oriented sounds. Through all these genres, I discovered that you can build a track however you want. There’s no need to follow a standard pop structure – you can use it if it fits, but you can also just follow the natural flow the music suggests. I found a similar sense of freedom in some post-rock artists I was listening to – very instrumental, and open in the way they built their music. So I think DJing across many genres has deeply influenced my approach to composition – it made me feel free in terms of sound, structure, and how a track evolves.

Arnault Hardy: Yes, absolutely. I wouldn’t really separate the two, especially when it comes to DJing. Building energy is essential, and for me it’s always felt quite natural – but I’ve also always tried to bring emotion into my sets, often through pop-tinged melodies from labels like Kompakt, Force Inc., or even some DFA releases. I’m drawn to tracks with simple melodies and subtle references to pop or the ’80s. I’ve always approached DJing more like a selector than a pure three-deck techno DJ. I found my sound thanks to great mentors such as Jennifer Cardini, Ivan Smagghe, and Chloé – who, to me, were masters at doing both: energizing the dancefloor while creating emotional moments of real beauty through music.

Arnault Hardy: For me, the most interesting thing is that having several projects naturally leads to different creative approaches and processes. Working on pop songs within a band is a completely different experience from producing ambient tracks on my own. I adapt to each project, which makes every day unique. In the studio, I spend several hours each day working on one project or another, and I never have exactly the same role in each – so again, I adjust my way of working. Part of my studio time is dedicated to experimenting and searching for new ideas and sounds. I collect these experiments in a catalogue I’ve created, which I often revisit when starting new songs for one of my projects. There are no strict rules – these ideas can be textures, beats, or anything else that sparks inspiration. It’s a very open process.

Arnault Hardy: Da Ron is a collective of artists focused on dance music – it’s a great collaboration with friends who produce house, techno, and other dancefloor-oriented sounds. Our indie-pop band, Dot_Dot_Dash., is completely different: vocals, melodies, and more traditional instruments like guitar and bass play a central role. My solo project leans more toward electro-pop, but with some ambient elements woven in. Across all these projects, I use a shared and quite broad setup of instruments – drum machines, synths, cassette and tape recorders, and samplers. The tools are often the same, but the results are completely different depending on the context. In terms of vision, I’ve learned to let myself be guided by the energy of the people I work with. Each project has its own identity, and I try to adapt and follow that flow rather than impose one fixed approach.

Arnault Hardy: I had the idea for La Société Anonyme de Musique et de Sons a long time ago – as a project dedicated both to music and to people, the two essential ingredients of an inspiring and meaningful platform for artists. We’ve spent a lot of time shaping our vision and statement, so I’ll share it with you literally, as I believe it expresses our intentions better than I could describe them:

“La Société Anonyme de Musique et de Sons
An Independent Non-Profit Label for Sound, Expression, and the Essential Unknown

Born in France from a shared vision among family and friends, La Société Anonyme de Musique et de Sons is a non-profit label devoted to artistic freedom and the quiet revolution of independent creation. We are here to support music and sound projects that exist beyond commercial constraints–those that follow an inner necessity.

It’s a cultural space.
A place where art happens because it must.
Where creative journeys unfold freely–regardless of age, recognition, or return.
Where making something you love is enough.

We believe in the importance of personal voice, the integrity of experimentation, and the slow, sincere practice of being oneself through art. Inspired by the idea that liberty offers only the chance to be better, we see this label as that chance for artists who feel the call.

It’s about culture and expression.
It’s about people and meaningful connections.
It’s about friendship, family, and doing things our own way.
It’s about creating an environment where we are free to express what we might otherwise be afraid to share.

At La Société Anonyme de Musique et de Sons, we want to make room for those stories.”

Arnault Hardy: The label isn’t restrictive in terms of music genres, formats, or types of projects. What unites everything we do is the shared necessity to create and share. The musical output of the label is really the sum of all these individual expressions. The community aspect naturally sparks new ideas and collaborations – people inspire each other, start projects together, and it just snowballs from there. That’s something we’re already seeing, and you’ll discover it more and more through our future releases, across all kinds of styles and forms.

Arnault Hardy: This really marks a new chapter in my life. It’s about finally answering my calling as it deserves, and reconnecting with people I love who share this passion for music. That sense of connection is at the heart of this larger project. That’s why I felt this first track was the right one to begin with – it carries a touch of nostalgia, evoking my musical past, but also a strong energy looking toward the future, walking fast into our next musical adventures.

Arnault Hardy: Yes, I think the main influences here come from lo-fi production techniques and some Warp releases, including works by Lorenzo Senni and Aphex Twin, especially for their playful, almost childlike melodies. The track also has a very sunny feel, something I’ve always admired in DJ Koze’s productions. Living in the Mediterranean is another strong influence – the light here has a real presence in the music.

Arnault Hardy: I’ve learned to keep a balanced view of the industry, which is often criticised – especially now with the debates around streaming payments and AI. Historically, the industry has also played a very positive role in supporting music production, artist development, and careers. Just think of how many incredible artists and albums were released over the past century! But, of course, there have also been many darker stories and questionable business practices along the way. The landscape has completely changed – the way we consume and listen to music is totally different now. This can be discouraging for some artists, but it also opens new opportunities. The sheer number of tracks released every day on streaming platforms is astonishing, and to me, it shows the vitality and determination of artists who continue to share their work, often knowing that financial returns will be limited. That’s a real strength. The industry is evolving quickly, and I believe it’s essential to keep promoting artistic freedom, authenticity, and genuine relationships between artists and the public – because that’s where music truly finds its meaning. That’s the spirit I want to nurture through our label.

Arnault Hardy: For me, success means being able to express ourselves – through releases and live performances – in our own way, with the people who truly matter. It’s about continuing to create, being satisfied with the music we make, and to keep building projects that feel honest and alive.

Arnault Hardy: This is a very hard question. For people who’ve known me for a long time, I hope they can see in this first track the beginning of a new chapter – one where I’m finally answering my calling and fully embracing my path as an artist. I hope they can feel happy for me through the music. For those who don’t know me yet, I simply hope they feel something – that the music brings them emotion and maybe accompanies them, even for a brief moment, in their own lives.

Arnault Hardy: We’re working on several upcoming releases, including a remix EP of “One After Another” – out in January on digital and vinyl – featuring Da Ron, Manu Dannenberg, and Noaria. We’re also preparing the vinyl release of Saint Maur, a great artist from Montreal, as well as an EP from Dot_Dot_Dash., which is currently being mixed and scheduled for 2026. There will also be a few singles and EPs from both me and Da Ron coming next year. That’s already quite a lot, but new projects keep coming in – so 2026 is shaping up to be a very busy and exciting year for us!

Arnault Hardy may be just beginning his solo journey, but his path has been shaped by decades of exploration – across genres, roles, and continents. With “One After Another,” he introduces himself not as a newcomer, but as an artist reclaiming his creative voice with clarity and joy. Through his label La Société Anonyme de Musique et de Sons, and his genre-defying sound, Hardy is building something rare: a space where music moves slowly, freely, and with purpose. As 2026 approaches with new projects on the horizon, one thing is clear – Arnault Hardy is no longer watching from the wings. He’s dancing toward something real, one track at a time.

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:: stream/purchase One After Another here ::

:: connect with Arnault Hardy here ::

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Stream: “One After Another” – Arnault Hardy

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