Location: Colomiers
Country: France
Genre: New wave, darkwave, metal
Single: Idée Fixe
Format: Digital
Label: Independent
Release date: January 16, 2026
J-L has been making a name for himself as a metal musician for a while now, but his true passion has always been composing in the vein of new wave and dark wave. In an interview with Lelahel Metal, he stated that he was writing material for the French industrial/dark metal band Hanibal Death Machine when he realized that what he was creating would be better suited to his own solo project. He founded J-L and began blending new wave and dark wave with heavier guitar and bass sounds, combining guttural vocals with a vocal style closer to The Cure and backing vocals reminiscent of a chorus of ethereal spirits.
The concept of this project is easy to understand because J-L composes in a relaxed way. It seems he wasn’t trying to impress metal or darkwave fans with his versatility, but to make music for himself and see how people would respond. “Idée Fixe” is an honest, casual mix of genres that used to seem at odds when in their infancy. His experience with both styles probably helps explain why listeners say he successfully blends The Cure with dance metal bands such as Rammstein, according to his interview. Given the long-lasting popularity of those bands, I think this single is on its way to a bigger response.
I listened to Hanibal Death Machine while conducting some further research; the darkened guitar tone, atmosphere and industrial overtones create an encompassing mechanical wall of sound similar to “Idée Fixe,” evoking similar sensations of being repeatedly struck by a sledgehammer. Here, the atmosphere is brought to the forefront to enhance the song’s heavier elements rather than hovering around them. Blending these themes emphasizes the controlled energy with which the single was crafted, allowing more intense emotions to drift into your mind rather than hammering their way in.
The musicianship and overtones of “Idée Fixe” resonate so readily because they emanate from a deeply rooted place within, a space of nostalgia and catharsis that’s less self-confrontational and anguished, as if past successes and failures are acknowledged equally, inviting the listener to reflect without being overwhelmed by the sounds flowing around and within him. In many cases where former band members go solo and take creative control over all their work, the soundscapes are less overt and more internalized.
I read that J-L is streaming the single exclusively on Bandcamp as a protest against streaming platforms that offer little financial compensation for a musician’s work. He believes bands and solo performers are the true foundation of the music industry, not internet platforms that are supposed to support them. “Idée Fixe” is not only a statement about music from the soul, but also a message that you don’t have to be a “starving artist” to care about integrity in music, and of artists who seek their due for their contributions. –Dave Wolff
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