Maxence Cyrin

Maxence Cyrin is a French pianist and composer whose distinctive artistic language brings together the worlds of classical piano, electronic music, rock and contemporary culture. Born in Besançon and based in Paris, Cyrin received classical piano training at a conservatory before discovering New Wave and electronic music as a teenager.

His early career developed within the French electronic scene, where he released recordings for independent labels and experimented with techno and electronic music. After moving to Paris, he worked with Radio Nova and performed as a crooner at the legendary Paris club Le Baron, before returning decisively to the piano and developing his unique concept of transforming electronic and popular music into sophisticated solo-piano compositions.

In 2005, Cyrin released Modern Rhapsodies on F Communications, the label founded by French electronic-music pioneer Laurent Garnier. The album established his signature approach: reimagining tracks by artists such as Massive Attack, Depeche Mode, Moby and Aphex Twin through solo piano. The project was notable for bringing the aesthetics of electronic music into an acoustic, classically informed setting.

His international breakthrough came with Novö Piano, released in 2009 and produced by Marc Collin, founder of Nouvelle Vague. On the album, Cyrin transformed songs by The Pixies, Nirvana, Daft Punk, MGMT and other contemporary artists into atmospheric solo-piano pieces. His haunting interpretation of “Where Is My Mind?” by the Pixies became his signature work and reached a global audience, subsequently appearing in productions including The Leftovers, Mr. Robot and black-ish.

Cyrin has continued to develop both his repertoire of reinterpretations and his original compositions. His albums include The Fantasist, Nocturnes and Novö Piano II, while his original music explores a more cinematic and neoclassical territory. He has also composed music for film and silent cinema, including a substantial original score for Jean Epstein's 1923 silent film Cœur fidèle, which he has performed as part of ciné-concerts.

His work extends beyond the concert hall. Cyrin has regularly collaborated with the fashion and contemporary-art worlds, creating and performing music for major fashion houses including Chanel, Lanvin, Hermès and Valentino. He has also performed internationally at concert venues, clubs, festivals and contemporary-art spaces.

What distinguishes Maxence Cyrin is his ability to make seemingly distant musical worlds coexist: the precision and emotional depth of classical piano with the energy, nostalgia and iconography of electronic and popular music. His performances transform familiar melodies into intimate, cinematic piano pieces while his original compositions continue to explore the possibilities of contemporary neoclassical music.

Today, Cyrin remains an internationally recognized figure in the modern piano and neoclassical scene, with a repertoire that bridges classical tradition, electronic culture, alternative rock and contemporary composition. His recent official channels continue to present new recordings, including The Lovers and a new piano version of “Where Is My Mind?”.