The track Hello, produced alongside Dragonette, reached the number one spot on music charts in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands. This 2010 release stands as the most commercially successful work by the Paris-born musician Martin Laurent Picandet, who performs internationally under the stage name Martin Solveig.
Early Musical Foundations
Born in 1976, Picandet spent his youth developing a formal musical base. He joined the Paris Boys Choir, also known as Les petits chanteurs de Sainte-Croix de Neuilly, where he trained as a soprano soloist under the leadership of François Polgár. This classical education preceded his transition into electronic music, as he turned his attention to disc jockeying at age 18. By the mid-1990s, he began securing residencies at prominent Parisian nightclubs including L'Enfer, Le Queen, and Les Bains-Douches.
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Solveig launched his professional discography in 2002 with the studio album Sur la Terre. While that debut did not chart, he achieved increased recognition with his second release, Hedonist, in 2005, which peaked at number 43 on the French Albums Chart. His third album, C'est la Vie, arrived in 2008 and reached number 16 in France. He continued this trajectory with his fifth studio album, Smash, released in 2011, which included collaborations that cemented his standing in the international dance music scene.
Industry Roles and Collaborations
Beyond his solo work, Solveig managed his own label, Mixture Stereophonic, and hosted the radio show C'est La Vie, distributed through Radio FG. His career involved high-profile partnerships, including working as a producer for Madonna’s MDNA album. He also functioned as the in-house DJ for the 2012 MTV Movie Awards. Throughout his career, he collaborated with artists such as Ina Wroldsen, David Guetta, Laidback Luke, Dragonette, Kele of Bloc Party, and Jax Jones, the latter of whom he joined under the project name Europa.
Transition from Live Performance
In July 2025, during a performance at the Les Vieilles Charrues festival, Solveig announced his retirement from live DJ sets. Despite stepping away from the stage, he confirmed that he intends to continue his work in music production and collaborative projects. His contributions to French culture have been recognized with appointments as a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 2008 and an Officer of Arts and Letters in 2016.
Fast facts
- Born: 1976, Paris, France
- Stage Name: Martin Solveig
- Classical Training: Paris Boys Choir
- Early DJ Venues: L'Enfer, Le Queen, Les Bains-Douches
- Major Recognition: Victory of electronic or dance music artist (2009)
- DJ Mag Peak: No. 29 in 2011
- Retirement: Live DJing, 19 July 2025
Questions readers ask
What was Martin Solveig's peak position on the DJ Mag Top 100?
He reached number 29 in the 2011 rankings.
Did Martin Solveig retire from all music production?
No, he only announced his retirement from live DJing, clarifying that he will continue to produce music and collaborate with other artists.
Achievements
- Instruments: voice
- Genres: house music
