K-pop Meets French Touch in Creative Collaboration
The ‘Atelier K-pop’ project, a unique fusion of K-pop and French music, wrapped up successfully after a six-day run from April 24 to 29. Co-hosted by the Cultural Department of the French Embassy in Korea and the French National Music Center (CNM), with support from JYP Publishing, Amplified, and Leeway Music & Media, the event brought together artists from both countries for a musical exchange unlike any other.
29 Artists Unite to Create 15 Cross-Cultural Tracks
This international songwriting camp saw 29 composers and producers working together to develop 15 new tracks spanning genres like pop, rock, ballad, EDM, and dance. What stood out was the creative use of French lyrics in the choruses—a nod to France’s musical flair, or what insiders call the ‘French touch’.
Participating French singer-songwriters such as Papi Fuze, Jean Noël, Robin Peret, and Hugo expressed admiration for Korea’s highly systemized music production process. “It was exciting to experience how K-pop songs are built from scratch,” one participant shared.
Potential Tracks for Future K-pop Hits
The collaboration may not end with the camp. Some of these 15 works could be selected by K-pop idols for official release. If so, global attention toward French composers and producers is expected to rise. CNM, the French national music body, has already hosted song camps in Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa—and is ready to support Korean talents seeking global expansion.
A Platform for Musical and Cultural Exchange
The event kicked off with the ‘Atelier K-pop Conference’, an opening forum where participants discussed the contrasting songwriting environments and industry models of Korea and France. It was a chance for musicians on both sides to better understand each other’s creative processes and to explore future collaborations.
‘Atelier K-pop’ has proven to be more than just a musical project. It’s a cultural platform that builds bridges between different worlds, deepening mutual understanding through shared creativity. As these melodies cross borders, so do the dreams of global collaboration in music.
