Joséphine Music Awards 2025: Top 10 Albums Revealed!

From the approximately 300 records (albums and EPs with more than 5 tracks) submitted to this year’s Joséphine Prize for artists, a panel of journalists initially selected 40 on May 27, leading to today’s announcement of the 10 albums finalized by the artist-led jury chaired by Laurent Garnier.

The notable absence of Kids Return, Adrien Soleiman, and particularly Malik Djoudi, who created the best French album of 2024, is striking. However, Oklou and Theodora are now seen as likely successors to previous winners such as November Ultra, Tuerie, and Bonnie Banane. The final decision will be unveiled at the Olympia on Tuesday, September 30, during a concert featuring the top 10 finalists. Meanwhile, here is a critical look back at the selected albums.

Oklou Choke Enough (Because)

Oklou, a leading figure in French hyperpop, has definitively won over skeptics with Choke Enough, her second album released this winter by her label, following the critically acclaimed Galore (2020). Continuously in search of the “perfect loop,” Marylou Maniel, known as Oklou, expanded her artistic collaboration with Canadian ally Casey MQ and engaged with artists like Bladee, Underscores, Cecile Believe, and prominent figures Danny L Harle and A.G. Cook to create one of the year’s standout records. This (hyper) pop album captivates from start to finish, making it a strong contender for the Joséphine Prize and possibly other honors. FV

Miki Graou (Structure/Believe)

A breakout star of 2024, Miki has solidified her reputation in 2025 following the release of her EP Graou, which introduced her to a broader audience through hit singles like Échec et mat, JTM encore, and Cartoon Sex. At 26, Mikaela Duplay, better known as Miki, is in high demand—from TV shows to music festivals across France. With her innate charisma and captivating smile, Miki has perfected a blend of hyperpop and autobiographical, catchy lyrics. With her debut album due and her first performance at the Olympia on October 10, Miki might just be the dark horse of the Joséphine Prize 2025. FV

Blasé Blablabla (Record Makers/Bigwax)

Romain Hainaut, under the stage name Blasé, cleverly diverts expectations with music that belies his moniker. Involved in numerous successful musical ventures in recent years yet often behind the scenes, the multi-talented musician has finally released his debut solo album, Blablabla, this year under Record Makers. The album could well have been subtitled “Fifty Shades of Groove,” as Blasé explores a range from soul to cumbia and hip-hop to cold wave without ever compromising his distinctive style and musical obsessions. Hainaut has not just avoided confusion; he has achieved a perfect symbiosis. FM

Arthur Fu Bandini Ça n’a jamais été mieux avant EP (Vol.1) (Pesto Rosso/Distrokid)

Those surprised to find Arthur Fu Bandini in the final phase of the Joséphine Prize 2025 clearly haven’t been paying close attention to his music. A unique presence in the French music scene, the Parisian artist brings the French language to life in a way not heard since Bashung. Combining an unbounded passion for composition, production, and dub arrangements, Bandini’s first EP offers a surreal mix of sharp societal critiques, ethereal poetry, and moments of raw emotion, marking him as a deeply affected artist seeking greatness. With such a distinctive offering last year, anticipation is high for his next release. FM

Theodora Bad Boy Lovestory (Maison Neptune x NBFD/Virgin Music France/Universal)

Propelled to stardom by the hit single Kongolese Sous BBL in late 2024, the rising French (and potentially global) star solidified her position this year with the release of her debut album, Bad Boy Lovestory. This grand, syncretic odyssey draws from UK Bass, English rock, Congolese vernacular music, baile funk, French pop, and Antillean bouyon. Theodora’s mixtape is a pyrotechnic display of influences mirroring the tumultuous journey of its creator, who grew up between Congo, Greece, Seine-Saint-Denis, and the Antilles. With texts ranging from bold to intimate, this debut album is a testament to her unyielding commitment and marks a bright future for French pop. TD

Laura Cahen De l’autre côté (PIAS)

Since her 2017 album Nord, which showcased her delicate yet vulnerable voice, Laura Cahen has continued to impress with her versatile pop-folk journey. Following the synth-queer explorations of Une fille (2021), Cahen ventured “to the other side,” that is, to England, to work with Tunng co-founder Mike Lindsay on this concept album, influenced by the likes of Laura Marling, Laurie Anderson, and Big Thief. The album narrates the escape of two lovers in a world ablaze, resonating with our times yet not overly anxious, thanks to its enveloping strings and analog synths. Cahen was supported by her partner, composer and multi-instrumentalist Joséphine Stephenson. SR

Marie Davidson City of Clowns (Deewee/Because)

When Miley Cyrus reached out to use the lyrics from her song Work It, Montreal-based musician Marie Davidson politely declined, citing the deeply personal nature of her lyrics. However, it’s her mastery of beats that first caught our attention with her debut album Perte d’identité in 2014. With City of Clowns, Davidson electrifies the dance floor with an electro sound crafted by Soulwax brothers Stephen and David Dewaele, and her sharp lyrics that question the dominance of high technology and AI as much as societal norms. Somewhere between techno and punk, Davidson refuses to pick sides, making us dance with pride and defiance. SR

Ino Casablanca Tamara (LCS Recordz/Warner Music France)

Active since 2022 with his EP Demna, the Moroccan-born, Spanish-raised artist who moved to France at age 12, Ino Casablanca has fully emerged with the singles from his debut album, Tamara. Deeply influenced by his life’s journey and his discovery of French rap as a teenager, Tamara is a product of this diaspora child. Featuring his laid-back flow, the album blends his North African and Hispanic musical influences. Filled with unexpected production twists by Ino Casablanca (and Osomexico), the sharp lyrics reflect the ambition of this newcomer in the French rap scene. TD

Gabi Hartmann La Femme aux yeux de sel (27/29/Sony Music France)

Known as Salinda, the young woman with salt-filled eyes whose tears melt away in her debut narrative album, Gabi Hartmann explores her world through her travels, both geographically and emotionally. Revealed by her promising self-titled album in 2023, Hartmann now showcases her diverse vocal talents beyond her jazz roots. Living between continents, Hartmann uses La Femme aux yeux de sel to traverse song territories in French, Spanish, and English, touching on pop, soul, and folk. With its sophisticated appearance, this dense album does not shy away from addressing rising extremities in Le Lever du soleil, featuring French saxophonist Laurent Bardainne and Syrian flutist Naïssam Jalal. SR

Wallace Cleaver Merci (Boro/Epic Records/Sony Music)

Well-known among fans of French rap and Grünt freestyles, Wallace Cleaver has once again made his mark at the end of 2024 with his new album, Merci. Widely acclaimed since his 2023 hit baiser, the 27-year-old rapper reconnects with his minimalist production and parched flow, which have earned him as many fans as critics. Predominantly featuring piano, the extensive productions of Merci ideally suit Cleaver’s stream-of-consciousness rap, oscillating between deep-seated sadness auto-tuned, vivid memories, and contained rage, ultimately expressing a consistent theme: hope at the end of the tunnel. TD