Sofiane Pamart (French pianist)

Sofiane Pamart (born 25 April 1990) is a French pianist. He is known for contributing to the French rap scene and collaborating with Formula One driver Charles Leclerc. He has collaborated with several French and Belgian rappers, including Koba LaD, Vald, Maes, Sneazzy, Médine, and Dinos. He is a graduate and receiver of a gold medal from the Conservatoire de Lille. In 2019, he was credited as a songwriter for two singles certified Gold: "Matin" by Koba LaD ft. Maes and "Journal Perso II" by Vald. The albums that both singles appeared on also achieved Gold status. Sofiane Pamart was born on 25 April 1990 in Hellemmes where he grew up with his brother and sister, of whom he was the eldest. His father, from a family originally from Nord-Pas-de-Calais, then directed a French language center for foreigners, while his mother was a professor of literature. The mining tradition has been present in his family since his great-grandfathers who were underground miners. His maternal grandfather is of Moroccan origin, from a Berber family from Taroudant, who came to France to also be an underground miner, and died as a result of a mine blast. His mother enrolled him at the age of seven at Conservatoire de Lille, where he studied piano and classical music for sixteen years. He obtained the Conservatory Gold Medal at the age of 23 by performing Maurice Ravel's "Alborada del gracioso" and Frédéric Chopin's "Ballade No. 4". At the same time, he graduated with a university degree in musicology and another degree in piano performance. He later completed his master's degree in law, economics, and management in University of Lyon, and in business administration at École de Management des Industries Créatives in Levallois-Perret. Pamart recognizes Frédéric Chopin, Maurice Ravel, and Claude Debussy as his models in classical piano music, and declares that Chopin is his favorite. Pamart said, "I love his talent for telling stories in his Waltzes, for accompanying moments of life in his Nocturnes. He has the gift of bringing out what is purest at the heart of his music." He also grew up listening to Georges Brassens because of his family. His piano compositions feature sounds with influences to the music of said composers. French classical pianist Henri Barda is also one of the figures who inspire him. He met Barda during his studies in Conservatoire de Lille. Pamart further said, "He taught me accuracy in emotion. Without him, I would not have become what I am." He also believes that his nomadic Berber origins through his mother give him a feeling of freedom and connection which can be found in his music as an influence. His pianistic style as well as his compositions have their critics. The French jazz pianist Étienne Guéreau [fr] described Pamart as "Chopin Wish version, easy version" or even "Richard Clayderman in bad boy mode". The musicologist Alain Duault [fr] is reported to have said "I don't consider him a classical pianist at all. His goal isn’t to bring something new to the classical repertoire, but to forge a link with popular music,", even going so far as to compare him to André Rieux or Richard Clayderman, soloists acclaimed by the general public. “I’m still amazed by their ability to fill stadiums." 2018: Ambassador for Salon du Luxe Paris 2019: Gold Single for the composition of "Matin" - Koba LaD ft. Maes 2019: Gold Single for the arrangement of "Journal Perso II" - Vald Léger, Jérémie (31 May 2018). "Rencontre : Sofiane Pamart, le pianiste rebelle du rap français". Konbini.com. Retrieved 11 February 2024. Siméone, Christine (27 October 2019). "Qui est Sofiane Pamart, le pianiste qui veut être "numéro 1 mondial du piano" ?" [Who is Sofiane Pamart, the pianist who wants to be “world number 1 in piano”?] (in French). Radio France. Retrieved 5 June 2024. Cheveraux, Magalie (25 November 2019). "TOKI WOKI 4 avec ETIENNE DE CRÉCY". France 3 Paris Ile-de-France. Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Susbielle, Lorène de (22 November 2019). "Sofiane Pamart, le pianiste préféré de rappeurs". BFMTV. Retrieved 11 February 2024. Lunsmann, Carmen (21 March 2020). "Sofiane Pamart : un premier album "Planet", entre rap et classique (Rediffusion)". rfi. Retrieved 2 July 2020. Hoebrechts, Laurent (2 April 2020). "Portrait : Sofiane Pamart, pianiste incontournable du rap francophone". le vif. Retrieved 11 February 2024. Vermelin, Jérôme; Bons, Léa (5 March 2020). "VIDÉO - "Au Conservatoire, j'étais toujours à deux doigts de me faire virer !" : Sofiane Pamart, le pianiste adoré des rappeurs, raconte sa "drôle de vie"". TF1 INFO. Retrieved 11 February 2024. "Koba LaD – Matin Lyrics". Genius Lyrics. 19 April 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2024. "Vald – Journal perso II Lyrics". Genius Lyrics. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2024. "Sofiane Pamart : " Être créatif, un atout pour entreprendre "" [Sofiane Pamart: "Being creative, an asset for entrepreneurship"]. Les Echos (in French). 6 January 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2024. Thibault, Alexis (13 November 2019). "Sofiane Pamart, le virtuose qui sidère les rappeurs". Numéro. Retrieved 11 February 2024. Decotte, Laurent (9 February 2022). "Sofiane Pamart, prodige atypique du piano: "Je suis un petit fils du Nord"". La Voix du Nord (in French). Retrieved 5 June 2024. Narlian, Laure (16 September 2021). "Qui est Sofiane Pamart, le pianiste virtuose et "sans limite" que les rappeurs s'arrachent ?" [Who is Sofiane Pamart, the virtuoso and “limitless” pianist that rappers are vying for?] (in French). France Info. Retrieved 5 June 2024. Pellerin, Olivier (9 March 2022). "Sofiane Pamart, A Young Classical Piano Prodigy". Mixte Magazine. Retrieved 5 June 2024. "Sofiane Pamart, rencontre avec un pianiste pas si classique" [Sofiane Pamart, meeting with a not-so-classical pianist]. Les Echos (in French). 22 April 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2024. Piano Jazz Concept (3 February 2025). Les Néo-classiques (Sofiane Pamart, Ludovico Einaudi et les autres). Retrieved 4 February 2025 – via YouTube. "Pourquoi tout le monde se pâme pour le pianiste Sofiane Pamart". Le Figaro (in French). 9 March 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2025. "Discographie - Sofiane Pamart". lescharts.com (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2024. Peak classical chart positions in France: Planet: "Tops de la Semaine | Top Albums Classique: Semaine du 21 juillet 2023" (in French). Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique. Retrieved 5 June 2024. Letter: "Tops de la Semaine | Top Albums Classique: Semaine du 22 décembre 2022" (in French). Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique. Retrieved 5 June 2024. Noche: "Tops de la Semaine | Top Albums Classique: Semaine du 27 octobre 2023" (in French). Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique. Retrieved 5 June 2024. Movie: "Tops de la Semaine | Top Albums Classique: Semaine du 24 avril 2026" (in French). Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique. Retrieved 27 April 2026. "Discographie Sofiane Pamart" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 26 April 2026. "Discographie Sofiane Pamart" (in Swiss High German). Swiss Hitparade. Retrieved 26 April 2026. Peak chart positions in Billboard Classical Albums chart: Dreamers: "Billboard Classical Albums: Week of June 8, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved 4 June 2024. Movie: "Billboard Classical Albums: Week of May 2, 2026". Billboard. Retrieved 28 April 2026. "Pleine Lune - Album by Scylla, Sofiane Pamart". Spotify. Retrieved 5 June 2024. "French album certifications – Sofiane Pamart" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 14 April 2026. "Pleine Lune 2 - Album by Scylla, Sofiane Pamart". Spotify. Retrieved 5 June 2024. "PLANET - Album by Sofiane Pamart". Spotify. Retrieved 5 June 2024. "PLANET GOLD - Album by Sofiane Pamart". Spotify. Retrieved 5 June 2024. "Loving Life - Album by Dabeull, Sofiane Pamart". Spotify. Retrieved 5 June 2024. "LETTER - Album by Sofiane Pamart". Spotify. Retrieved 5 June 2024. "DIAMOND TEARS - Album by YG Pablo, Sofiane Pamart". Spotify. Retrieved 5 June 2024. "NOCHE -