Ärsenik

Ärsenik will be appearing at Le Frigo 16 in Nice on March 7, 2026. The duo formed by brothers Lino and Calbo, from Val-d’Oise and members of the Secteur Ä collective, established a precise, dark and narrative style of writing, supported by raw instrumentals. Their first album, Quelques gouttes suffisent…, left a lasting mark at the end of the 1990s, with landmark tracks such as Rime et châtiment, Boxe avec les mots, Affaires de famille and Partout la même.

On stage, Ärsenik play on complementarity: Lino’s cutting flow, Calbo’s measured tone, memorable choruses and a cappella passages that refocus attention on the lyrics. The themes blend family, the streets and disillusionment without unnecessary embellishment, with careful attention to imagery and phrasing. In Nice, the duo revisits their repertoire, balancing classics with less-expected songs, in a configuration designed for live performance. It’s an opportunity to experience an important strand of French rap live, up close to what defines Ärsenik: writing, restraint and precision.