Music Cycles Around The World
#01 New York
3rd Bass “Brooklyn-Queens”
#01 New York
3rd Bass “Brooklyn-Queens”
Music Cycles Around The World
#02 France
Catia “Saudade de Paris”
In this second instalment of our new series Music Cycles Around The World, themed around “cities and music” and inspired by the idea of travelling the world through music on two wheels, we turn our attention to France — in celebration of the 2025 Tour de France, which kicks off on 5 July from the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
Though it’s been nearly 20 years since my last visit, I travelled to France many times throughout the 1990s and 2000s. My first trip to Paris was 33 years ago, when I spent every waking hour scouring the city for records — especially French cinema soundtracks. That trip played a key role in inspiring me to open my own shop, Café Après-midi. Later, in early summer 1999, I returned to France on a research trip to explore café life à la Parisienne — another pivotal moment.
Over the years, I had the opportunity to produce music for artists such as the quintessential Parisienne singer Clémentine, as well as Catia, a Brazilian singer-songwriter based in Paris. These projects brought me to the French capital on a regular basis. On one such work trip, I extended my stay to take a short holiday in Provence — and was utterly enchanted. The landscapes and streetscapes of Saint-Tropez in particular left an indelible mark on me, like a dream: sweet, nostalgic, and etched vividly into the reel of my memory.
If I were to choose just one treasured musical memory from that time, it would be Saudade de Paris, the debut album I produced in 2003 with Catia — a singer originally from Rio who had moved to Paris and was making her mark on the European jazz and bossa nova scene. It’s a true gem of French-Brazilian fusion, adorned with elegant melodies and Catia’s beautifully supple voice, brimming with saudade and mellowness that resonate deeply with the listener. The sound is full of gentle, honeyed vitality — so much so that even legends of Brazilian music like Carlos Lyra and Marcos Valle offered it their praise.
Saudade de Paris is an album I will always hold dear — a genuine masterpiece of bliss. There’s a subtle sadness in the music, a tender melancholy, and yet it pulses with a deep joy for life. The poetry, melody, and rhythm intertwine effortlessly, breathing together in a natural, richly coloured harmony. And within it all, there’s the vivid image of a joyful encounter between the French and Brazilian worlds.
The covers featured on the album — including songs by Stevie Wonder, Tania Maria, Ivan Lins, Toninho Horta and Milton Nascimento — were all carefully handpicked by me, a true labour of love. Among them, the track that particularly resonated with listeners in Japan was a stunning reinterpretation of Djobi, Djoba, originally sung in Spanish by the legendary French group the Gipsy Kings and a global hit in its own right. Catia’s version offers a fresh brilliance — rich in depth and nuance, yet fluid, mellow, and beautifully luminous.
Following the success of Saudade de Paris, I had the pleasure of producing two more albums with Catia: La Vie en Rose, recorded in Paris in 2004, and Catia Canta Jobim, recorded in Rio in 2007 — making it a trilogy I remain deeply proud of.
♬Music Cycles Around The World STORAGE♬
#01 3rd Bass “Brooklyn-Queens”
#02 Catia “Saudade de Paris”
♬CYCLE MUSIC STORAGE♬
#01 The Style Council “My Ever Changing Moods”
#02 Cordelia “Play Pretend”
#03 Corinne Bailey Rae “Put Your Records On”
#04 Georgie Fame ”Happiness”
#05 Alulu Paranhos “Bicicletinha”
#06 Motoharu Sano “Angelina”
#07 B.J. Thomas “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head”
#08 The Smiths “This Charming Man”
#09 Dominic Miller “Bicycle”
#10 NewJeans “Bubble Gum”
#11 Tank and the Bangas “Smoke.Netflix.Chill.”
#12 Kraftwerk “Tour de France”
#13 Livingston Taylor “Don’t Let Me Lose This Dream”
#14 RM “Bicycle”
#15 Norah Jones “Christmas Calling (Jolly Jones)”
Profile
Toru Hashimoto (SUBURBIA)
Editor / Music Selector / DJ / Producer. Founder of Suburbia Factory. Owner of Shibuya’s “Cafe Apres-midi” and “Apres-midi Selecao.” Over 350 compilation CDs, including series like ‘Free Soul,’ ‘Mellow Beats,’ ‘Cafe Apres-midi,’ ‘Jazz Supreme,’ ‘Music With A View,’ and many others, have been curated, making him the world’s foremost selector. He oversees and produces music broadcast channels “usen for Cafe Apres-midi” and “usen for Free Soul” on USEN, wielding significant influence in Japanese music scene since the 1990s. In recent years, his ‘Good Mellows’ series with a focus on mellow chillout has gained great popularity both domestically and internationally.
Art Work＿yua
Post Date：2025.06.27
