There are first times you never forget. The first time we heard the captivating voice of Syd Matters was one of them.

From End & Start Again, his debut single released in 2003, Jonathan Morali’s warm, soulful vocals and his singular melodies — as though drawn from another era — immediately revealed a unique artist. Success came swiftly, both in France and abroad, and has never faded since.

Four albums followed between 2004 and 2011, along with a string of unforgettable songs: Black & White Eyes, Obstacles, To All Of You, and I Might Float, tracks that left a lasting mark on an entire generation, accumulating nearly 200 million streams and 100,000 physical sales. Drawing equally from the songwriting traditions of the 1960s, the expansiveness and freedom of the 1970s, and contemporary synthetic textures, Syd Matters gradually crafted a singular musical universe, building a loyal and ever-growing audience over the years.

On stage, backed by his band, audiences remember intense performances in which the singer and his musicians delivered interpretations that were both epic and intimate. Lush and spectacular live, his music never lost its emotional core — if anything, it gained even greater depth. For nearly a decade, Syd Matters toured throughout France and Europe (England, Germany, Scandinavia…), as well as the United States and Latin America. In 2011, the tour for the album Brother Ocean culminated in a landmark performance at L'Olympia in Paris.

Jonathan Morali later became more discreet, though no less prolific, composing for cinema, theatre, radio, and television, while collaborating over time with Éric Rochant, Rémi Chayé, Thomas Lilti, Patrick Mille, and Mélanie Laurent among others. Through his work in film scoring, the musician gave free rein to his instincts and desires, exploring the very texture of sound and its hidden emotions, liberated from the constraints imposed by the format of a song.

Between 2015 and 2019, he composed the soundtrack for the acclaimed video games Life Is Strange and Life Is Strange 2, both of which became worldwide hits. Several Syd Matters tracks were featured in the games, and the success was such that it reignited the band’s career, introducing its music to an entirely new audience.

After being away for far too long, Syd Matters will make a long-awaited return with a fifth studio album, due for release in September 2026 on the Créature label (home to Fishbach, Chassol…). This will be followed by a tour across France and Europe, culminating in a return to the legendary stage of L'Olympia on November 17, 2026, where he will perform new songs — along with others we know by heart and have never forgotten.

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