Madeon Kicks off U.S. Tour at L.A.’s Club Nokia

Jordan Bailey

French electronic music producer Madeon first garnered massive notoriety in a not so usual way – by uploading a video on YouTube. Upon the release of “Popular Culture,” Hugo Pierre Leclercq, also known as Madeon, had himself a smashing success by every standard. Within two days, the video had reached over six million views and currently sits with over 32 million and counting. This type of accomplishment doesn’t come easy. In the video, Leclercq mixes 39 samples via a midi-controller, live and off the cuff into one beautiful mashup electro track. Naturally, Madeon came out the other side as the champion of live production and a rising star in the world of electronic music.

Since the upload that shot the 21-year-old into international stardom, Leclercq has released his first full-length album entitled “Adventure.” As an extensive look into the mind of a young producer, “Adventure” shows Leclercq’s ambition as an artist not only with the length (18 tracks in total), but with his collaborations as well (the album features collaborations with Passion Pit on “Pay No Mind” and Vancouver Sleep Clinic on “Only Way Out”).  Leclercq cites influences such as The Beatles and Daft Punk, the latter of which certainly finds its way into the album. Keeping with the theme of ambition, Leclercq has developed an interesting game for himself to help facilitate his motivation, it’s known as the “24-hour EP.” The challenge: create a three-song EP in the span of one day, artwork included, mastered and delivered. Inside his home studio, the spirited producer will lock the door not to emerge until his creative juices have been squeezed dry.

“Adventure” reached the number one spot on Billboard’s Dance chart. This success spawned Madeon’s Pixel Empire Tour, an extensive U.S. tour stopping off in cities normally untouched by international artists including Kansas City, Tulsa, Norfolk and Chattanooga. Again, it’s the ambition of the young man that sets him apart from other producers his age. During his upcoming performance in Los Angeles, fans can expect a new format wherein Leclercq will showcase his voice and keyboard skills, or as he puts it, the “true Madeon experience.”

Catch Madeon at Club Nokia on Jan. 22. See ticket information here.