Jean-Michel Jarre in "K": AI is just another tool

Pioneering French composer Jean-Michel Jarre expressed a deep affection for Greece, recalling how fans there were among the first to reach out after his seminal 1976 album "Oxygène" was released. "Whenever I come here, I feel like I'm home, because Greece is the home of the whole planet," Jarre said during a Zoom conversation.

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Ξέρετε, τα πρώτα γράμματα που άρχισα να λαμβάνω από το εξωτερικό όταν κυκλοφόρησε το άλμπουμ μου “Oxygène”, ήταν από Ελληνες θαυμαστές. Ετσι, δημιουργήθηκε για εμένα μια ιδιαίτερη σχέση με την Ελλάδα. Οποτε έρχομαι εδώ νιώθω σαν να βρίσκομαι στο σπίτι μου, γιατί η Ελλάδα είναι το σπίτι όλου του πλανήτη.

Born in Lyon in 1948, Jarre began experimenting with magnetic tapes and loops in Paris during the 1960s. His early work was influenced by composers like Pierre Schaeffer and Karlheinz Stockhausen. He highlights the European origins of electronic music, stating it stems from a classical music heritage and is distinct from genres like jazz, blues, or rock. "Electronic music, when I started, was truly underground," he noted. "Oxygène" became one of the first non-underground electronic projects, paving the way for a genre now popular worldwide.

Jarre, who is celebrating 50 years since "Oxygène" launched him to international fame, described the album as a bridge between experimentation and pop culture. Its success surprised him, as it diverged sharply from the prevailing music of the era. After facing rejections from numerous record labels, the album eventually sold 12 million copies.

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Φιλοδοξώ να εκπλήσσω το κοινό κάθε φορά με μια νέα ιδέα. Αυτή τη φορά, έχω χρησιμοποιήσει πολλά στοιχεία τεχνητής νοημοσύνης στον σκηνικό σχεδιασμό που θα δείτε, τα οποία εντάσσονται με τρόπο ποιητικό και οργανικό σε αυτό που θα παρουσιάσω, κάτι εντελώς καινούργιο σε σχέση με την προηγούμενη φορά που βρέθηκα στην Ελλάδα.

Known for his spectacular shows that push technological boundaries with visual effects and lasers, Jarre aims to surprise audiences with each new concept. For his upcoming concert in Athens as part of Release Athens x SNF Nostos 2026, he revealed that artificial intelligence elements are being poetically and organically integrated into the stage design. "What makes an artist unique," Jarre stated, "is to use the past to create something new."

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Αυτό που κάνει έναν καλλιτέχνη μοναδικό, είναι το να αξιοποιεί το παρελθόν για να δημιουργήσει κάτι νέο.