Thomas Kahn

From Auvergne, Thomas Kahn develops a French soul rooted in rhythm and blues and a rock legacy, with a deeply expressive vocal supported by spare, taut arrangements. Before devoting himself fully to this idiom, he came out of the indie rock world and graphic design — a background that sheds light on his taste for direct forms and strongly embodied atmospheres. His music draws on American soul of the 1960s and 1970s, from both Memphis and Philadelphia, while remaining grounded in personal songwriting driven by tight rhythms, deep basses, taut guitars and organ. Active since the early 2010s, he has gradually established himself on French stages associated with soul, R&B and roots music, in a lineup conceived for live performance. His discography notably includes This Is Real, released in 2022, an important step in asserting his musical identity. Thomas Kahn therefore belongs to a contemporary French soul scene alongside artists such as Tiwayo and The Buttshakers, with an approach focused on voice, groove and the band’s tension.