Kasztan Serves Rapture On New Single “I Can’t”
French composer Pierre-Marie made an emphatic debut under his newly-launched Kasztan moniker earlier this year with the highly anticipated “Rare Earth Elements” EP. Beginning the rollout of his second extended-player contribution to the circuit, which is set for release in January 2022, the M83 alum shares the first opus “I Can’t” from his forthcoming body of work. “I Can’t” is available now across all streaming platforms.
“I Can’t” is another authentic masterpiece from the esteemed producer, who enjoyed many years conquering the pop, rock and cinematic spaces before fulfilling his underground cravings. The hypnotic cut flaunts anthemic synth-work, subtle rhythmic experimentation and a softly enticing vocal chop that injects itself throughout the almost four-and-a-half-minute run-time. Building with a transmissible fire, Kasztan deftly balances post-rock sensibilities with the emotive grandeur of ambient techno, tailoring the two seemingly disparate genres to create an entirely new voice. Its effect is fluid and immersive, serving as a breeding ground for an array of intricate sound design elements. Bolstered by ethereal soundscaping, Kasztan’s intelligent layering builds in intensity to a rapturous apex moment during its final quarter. Unifying sounds to these epic proportions has become somewhat of a trademark production tool within his discography, representing the best of the post-rock/techno realm.
Born and raised in the city of Nice, Pierre-Marie Maulini launched his first post-rock band ‘A Red Season Shade’ with his brother in his early teens. Releasing two successful albums, the pair caught the attention of fellow French musician Anthony Gonzalez (M83), and subsequently, Pierre spent the next two years travelling the world for the “Saturdays = Youth” tour.
In 2012, he signed his debut album under his STAL moniker with Arista/Sony Music. In parallel with his production output on the project, Pierre-Marie started writing bespoke music for commercials, signing the soundtrack for a documentary before going on to win an award for his work on an animated short film. This was followed by a string of high-profile remixes for the likes of Sia, Tinashe and Years and Years, as well as collaborative efforts with London singer VV Brown.
More recently during lockdowns, Pierre-Marie found himself back in France from LA, and exploring a more techno-oriented production profile in Kasztan, where he champions distinct cinematic qualities whilst staying true to his post-rock roots.
