YOAN (Trade Union): son parcours, l’industrie musicale, le Zouk, le R&B et son projet avec Axel Tony

In this episode of Culture & Transmission, Grice interviews Yoan, founding member of the R&B group Trade Union, for a candid conversation about his musical journey, his successes, his challenges, and his vision of the industry. From his first steps in music within his family and in the choir, to the creation of Trade Union with his brother and cousin in 1997, Yoan reflects on the adventure of a group that has become a major force in the music scene. He discusses, in particular, their landmark collaboration with Booba, the arrival of the vocoder in the music world, and the eight years of difficulties they faced with record labels. The artist also recounts his transition to a solo career, his foray into zouk music with Ali Angel, the release of his albums, his tours in the French West Indies, his remarkable comeback in 2018, and his ability to continue filling venues without significant support from national media. Throughout the discussion, Yoan shares his perspective on the evolution of zouk, the emergence of bouyon and shatta, the realities of the music industry, mistakes to avoid when signing a contract, and the importance of passion for long-term success. The interview concludes with a look at his current projects, his collaborations with Axel Tony, and the preparation of their three-part joint album, the first chapter of which is expected in June. Chapters: 00:49 – His beginnings in music linked to his parents 01:54 – The choir 03:26 – Creation of the family group Trade Union in 1997 03:51 – Working on his voice 05:07 – Navigating the hip-hop scene while making R&B 06:09 – Collaboration with Booba, the arrival of the vocoder, and struggles with record labels 07:22 – A lover of music: first zouk single with Ali Angel 09:11 – The zouk album 09:26 – A look back at Trade Union: the role of each member and the healthy competition within the group 11:28 – The parallel with T.O.K., the dream of signing a record deal, and the artists favored by labels 13:00 – Some artists more "manageable" than others 13:43 – The obstacles with record labels and the tracks that will never see the light of day Day 14:55 – His advice to young artists before signing a record deal 18:01 – The recording conditions of the album Premier Souffle 21:32 – Artistic sensitivity in choosing a single 22:13 – The tour in the French West Indies with Marvin 23:07 – The lack of support from traditional media 24:48 – His comeback in 2018, audience feedback, the Zénith concert hall, and other concerts 27:50 – Trying to appeal less? 28:38 – Urban pop, the new zouk? 31:29 – The French mentality 31:56 – Criticisms related to the absence of Creole in his songs 33:22 – A passion that never ends 34:32 – No ageism 35:00 – His motivations and the evolution of music 36:58 – The vibe of bouyon and shatta 37:27 – A community more focused on entertainment than social interaction? 40:04 – The Gemini album 41:33 – How to tour without national media support 42:46 – Collaborations with Axel Tony and their joint album 46:31 – Tareeq & C2AM 47:27 – His favorite French classic albums 48:57 – Bad or Thriller? 50:10 – What he would say to a younger Yoan 51:38 – His social media 52:13 – Hair update 53:07 – Acknowledgments