M83

Anthony Gonzalez and Nicolas Fromageau formed M83 in the early 2000s in Antibes, in the south of France. The project’s name was inspired by the spiral galaxy Messier 83. Their self-titled debut album was released in 2001, but the combination of electronic music, shoegaze and ambient pop began to attract greater critical attention with Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts, released in 2003. After the album’s promotional tour, Fromageau left the group, and M83 came to be led by Gonzalez.

In 2005, the musician released Before the Dawn Heals Us, an album marked by an expansive, cinematic sound, featuring tracks such as “Don’t Save Us from the Flames,” “Teen Angst,” and “A Guitar and a Heart.” Two years later came Digital Shades, Vol. 1, a predominantly instrumental and ambient album, influenced by artists such as Brian Eno and various strands of German electronic music.

Saturdays = Youth, released in 2008, expanded the artist’s reach. Inspired by the culture and music of the 1980s, the album featured a sound closer to synthpop and was produced by Anthony Gonzalez and Ken Thomas—known for his work with Sigur Rós, The Sugarcubes and Cocteau Twins — and Ewan Pearson. Highlights include “Kim & Jessie,” “Graveyard Girl,” and “We Own the Sky.”

International recognition grew even further in 2011 with Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming. The ambitious double album includes “Midnight City,” which became the most popular song of the project’s career, as well as standout tracks such as “Reunion” and “Wait.” Its follow-up, Junk, was released in 2016, exploring elements of pop, funk, and TV soundtracks from the 1970s and 1980s.

In 2019, Gonzalez returned to M83’s instrumental and atmospheric side with DSVII, the follow-up to Digital Shades, Vol. 1. The album was inspired by 1980s video game soundtracks, fantasy films, and pioneers of electronic music.

M83 returned in 2023 with Fantasy, their ninth studio album. Produced by Gonzalez and Justin Meldal-Johnsen, the album revived the epic interplay between guitars and synthesizers, a hallmark of albums such as Before the Dawn Heals Us. “Oceans Niagara” was released as the first single.

In 2025, Anthony Gonzalez released two new soundtracks: A Necessary Escape, composed for the documentary Dakar Chronicles, and Resurrection, created for the science fiction film by Chinese filmmaker Bi Gan.