Joachim Garraud: The Odyssey of a Pioneer of French Electronic Music

September 28, 2026

Joachim Garraud : L’Odyssée d’un Pionnier de la Musique Électronique Française

A journey through 40 years of passion, innovation, and transmission, told in the book I Love My DJ Life – a 528-page interactive work with 590 QR codes to relive the history in sound and images.

📜 Introduction: Why is "I Love My DJ Life" a must-read?

Joachim Garraud is not just a DJ, producer, or festival organizer. He is a memory keeper, a passionate archivist who has documented 40 years of French electronic music history, from pirate radio stations to international stages. His book, I Love My DJ Life, is much more than a simple narrative: it is a living work, enriched with exclusive multimedia content (via QR codes) and an online Geek Zone updated monthly.

"This book is not an end. It is a means: one of transmission and living memory." – Jean-Michel Jarre

"Joachim Garraud belongs to a rare category: that of the memory keepers. This book is a work of documentation in the noble sense of the term; a patient, obsessive, and always spirited endeavor." – Antoine Baduel

If you are a fan of electronic music, radio, or simply curious to discover the behind-the-scenes of a scene that shaped France, this book is your ticket to an immersive journey into the world of an artist who has lived, preserved, and transmitted the history of electronic music.

👉 Buy I Love My DJ Life here

🌱 The Beginnings: A Childhood Rocked by Music (1970s–1980s)

A Family of Artists

Joachim Garraud grew up in a family where music was omnipresent.

His mother, Marie-Christine, a physical education teacher and dancer, led a modern jazz dance troupe, Les Ateliers de la Danse.
His father, Alain, a sales representative and music lover, was passionate about classical music, jazz, and sound. Their home in Nantes was a veritable musical treasure trove: piano, guitars, percussion, and a hi-fi system that fascinated young Joachim.
His siblings: Raphaël (pianist and composer) and Pauline (singer, photographer, and videographer) shared this family passion for art.

"The apple never falls far from the tree." – Marie-Christine Garraud

First Musical Revelations

1978 (age 10): Joachim discovered Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone by The Temptations, a track over 10 minutes long that served as his first musical epiphany. He found the fundamental elements of his future passion: rhythm, hypnosis, repetition, impeccable groove.
First records: O Superman by Laurie Anderson (vocoder, sampling, sound experimentation) and Oxygène by Jean-Michel Jarre, borrowed from his mother.

"To think that, eighteen years later, I would go to live at Jean-Michel Jarre’s house for almost a year." – Joachim Garraud

1982 (age 14): He took over his father’s Akai Model-44D 2-track tape recorder and created his first edits by cutting and splicing magnetic tapes with adhesive tape. His mother became his first client, asking him for mixes for her choreography.

"Good editing is editing you cannot hear." – Alain Garraud

First Professional Experiences

Mobile Disco: At 15, Joachim hosted birthday parties with his equipment (Tandy Realistic reverb, cassette recorder). He transitioned from amateur to professional by charging for his services (5 francs, then 10 francs).
First lucrative contract: 150 francs for a party organized by the veterans' association of the La Chapelle-Basse-Mer football club.
Parental support: His father bought an Audi station wagon to transport his equipment (60 kg!) and helped him set up his mixing booth.

🎙️ The Radio Era: From Pirate to Recognition (1980s–1990s)

Radio Fantaisie: The High School Pirate Radio

Joachim and his friends set up a pirate radio station at high school, Radio Fantaisie, which broadcast on weekends and during lunch breaks.
He hosted a show dedicated to funk and created his own jingles by tinkering with montages using the pause button on his cassette player.

RF1 Nantes: The First FM Radio (1984)

Meeting Alain Delmas (Thierry Allio), the charismatic director of RF1, who gave him his first break on a real FM radio station.
Professional equipment: Cobra console, Barthe Rotofluid turntables.
Learning the cut: A technique consisting of syncing his voice to the start of a track’s vocals for a perfect transition.
Flagship shows: Cash Box and Import Export, where he broadened his musical knowledge (Scorpions, Chaka Khan, Téléphone, Sade, Earth, Wind & Fire).
Meeting Fabrice Revault: A friend and future traveling companion who shared the airwaves with his brother Jean-Charles.

NRJ Nantes (1987)

Joachim spent all his free time recording mixes that he sold on BASF 90 chrome cassettes (30 francs + the cost of the cassette).
Key encounters:
- Patrick Marcelin, resident DJ at Speak Easy in Nantes.
- Laurent D., host of Dérapage Nocturne on Radio Mandarine, who deeply influenced his musical culture.

The Technological Revolution: TO7, MIDI, and Computer-Assisted Music

Thomson TO7: Joachim’s first personal computer, bought for 2,500 francs. He discovered computer-assisted music composition (4 sounds, 8 bits, mono).
MIDI Standard: A universal protocol that revolutionized the connection between computers and synthesizers.
Computer-Assisted Music (CAM): A total reinvention of the DJ and producer profession. Joachim sold his TO7 for an Atari 520 ST, the first computer to natively integrate MIDI ports.
First software: Notator and ST Replay.

"Music was no longer the exclusive privilege of classical musicians." – Joachim Garraud

🎛️ The Rise: From Mobile Disco to International Stages (1990s–2000s)

The Mobile Disco Years and First Stages

Joachim juggled odd jobs (babysitting, mowing lawns) to fund his equipment.
He hosted parties and developed his setup (amps, turntables, integrated spotlights).

Maxximum (1991): The Radio That Changed Everything

Joachim joined Maxximum, a free Nantes radio station, where he became a key figure.
Zemixx show: A weekly program that would become one of the most influential in the French electronic scene.
Key encounters: David Guetta, Bob Sinclar, and other future pillars of the French Touch.

Collaboration with David Guetta: The First Records

1990s–2000s: Joachim and David Guetta began producing together, marking the start of the French Touch.
First tracks: Their collaboration gave birth to songs that defined the French electro sound and propelled them onto the international stage.
2002: Joachim co-produced the album "Just a Little More Love" with David Guetta, including hits like Money and Just a Little More Love.
2004: They released "Guetta Blaster", an album that confirmed their status as pioneers of the French Touch and placed them among the top global producers. Joachim shared the production secrets of this album during the Happy Hour on Radio FG.

"June 8, 2004: stuck in Parisian traffic, I’m listening to Radio FG. Tonight, the guest on Antoine Baduel’s Happy Hour is Joachim Garraud, who has come to share the production secrets of the new album Guetta Blaster, which he just co-produced with his partner David." – Renaud Guérin

Production with Jean-Michel Jarre (Year 2000)

Joachim collaborated with Jean-Michel Jarre, a major figure in global electronic music, on projects that blended technological innovation and musical creativity.
This collaboration strengthened his international network and production expertise. Joachim even lived at Jean-Michel Jarre’s house for almost a year, an experience that deeply marked his journey.

The Gagarin Party: The Last Rave in the USSR (1991)

Historical context: In December 1991, the USSR was in the middle of collapse. The Minsk Agreements (signed by Boris Yeltsin, Leonid Kravchuk, and Stanislav Shushkevich) marked the official end of the USSR.
Organization: Stéphane Frappat, a friend of Joachim, had the crazy idea of organizing the first (and last) rave in the USSR at the Cosmos Pavilion in Moscow, under a reproduction of the Vostok rocket.
Line-up: Joachim Garraud was the main DJ, accompanied by the group Raketa (the only Soviet electronic music group).
Unique atmosphere:
- Freezing temperatures: -20°C outside, -1°C inside the unheated hangar.
- Exceptional audience: A crowd of young Muscovites hungry for freedom and music, despite the lack of turntables and a local electronic culture.
- Magic of the night: The music never stopped, the energy was positive and benevolent, unlike rock concerts that often ended in fights.
- Historical end: The rave ended at 7:00 AM, with an audience in tears begging for it to continue. Joachim, his friend, and Stéphane left the venue blinded by the snow and moved by having participated in a unique moment.

"We had participated in one of the greatest peaceful historical changes, in our own way." – Stéphane Frappat

"It was a real rave: a unique and timeless moment, in a magical place, defying the established order." – Joachim Garraud

Passport anecdote: To get into Moscow, Joachim had to travel with a forged Soviet passport (under the name Dimitri) and a 10-dollar bill slipped into the photo page to bribe border control.

🎪 The Festival Era: Inox Park and Elektric Park (2010–Present)

Inox Park (2010–2016): The Festival That Revolutionized Daytime Electronic Scenes

2010: First edition on the Île des Impressionnistes in Chatou (near Paris).
- Historical lineup: Antoine Clamaran, Bob Sinclar, Martin Solveig, Eric Prydz (Electro stage) / Richie Hawtin, Jeff Mills, Loco Dice, Popof (Techno stage).
- 12,000 participants despite fickle weather (non-stop rain in the morning).
- Innovative concept: Joachim invited the public to come in costume, inspiring a French-style "Burning Man" spirit.
- Moving finale: Joachim played for the first time in front of his children, his wife, his friends, and his neighbors.
2011–2015: Inox Park established itself as an unmissable event.
- Headliners: Avicii, Skrillex, Steve Aoki, Marco Carola, Tiësto, Sven Väth, Alesso, Armin van Buuren, Hardwell, Zedd.
- Uniform budget: Stars like Steve Aoki or Avicii were negotiated at €9,000 thanks to "double booking" and the festival’s unique daytime position.
- Cultural impact: Inox Park inspired major festivals (Solidays, Vieilles Charrues) to integrate electronic music during the day.
2016: Change of course.
- His partner, Marc Tambon, left France to develop the Inox brand internationally.
- Joachim found himself alone at the head of the festival and had to reinvent the concept.

Elektric Park (2017–Present): The Renaissance

2017: First edition under the name Elektric Park.
- Extreme conditions: Setup in the rain, grounds transformed into an "ocean of mud."
- Drop in attendance: Half the spectators cancelled due to the weather.
- Joachim considered stopping... but new partners (Regart, Allo Floride) gave him hope.
2018: Successful relaunch.
- The festival expanded to 2 days, with more stages and artists.
- Loyal audience: Elektric Park became an annual meeting point for electronic music lovers.
2021: First festival to reopen after Covid-19 in France.
- Standoff with authorities: Joachim negotiated for the public to be able to dance without restrictions (vaccination proof or recovery certificate).
- Symbol of freedom: A breath of fresh air for artists and the public after months of lockdown.
2024: "Joachim Garraud & Friends" stage.
- A full day dedicated to the co-composers of his collaborative album (40 emerging artists).
- Ecological commitment: One tree planted on the Île des Impressionnistes for every edition of the festival.

🎤 Joachim Garraud: An Engaged and Innovative Artist

Notable Projects

"Invasion 2011": Second solo album featuring prestigious collaborations:
- Roland Clark (vocalist for Fatboy Slim and Prodigy) on Stop and Bang Bang.
- Poet (Black Eyed Peas) on We Are the Future and Everybody Is in the Place.
- ZE on My Boyfriend Is a Robot, I’m Invaded, and Wrecking Ball.
- Space Box 2011: Limited edition box set including a WESC headset, exclusive DVD, Alien mask, and photo book.
Techno Parade 2007:
- Joachim was the patron of the 2007 edition.
- He organized the first audio-video float (covered in video panels for his DVJ).
- Ecological commitment: He pledged to pay a carbon offset to the Ushuaïa Nature association (Nicolas Hulot) until 2012.
1213JUNE (2021):
- Charity livestream to support DJs struggling during Covid-19.
- Unexpected partnership with Groupe Jean Rouyer Automobiles (Renault) to fund the operation.
"Joachim Garraud & Friends" (2024):
- Tech House album produced online with 100 "Space Invaders" (passionate fans).
- 40 co-composers co-signed their first track alongside him.
- Collector’s double vinyl with booklet.
The Zemixx Forum:
- Joachim launched an online forum that became a meeting place for electronic music enthusiasts.
Springboard for young talent: Artists such as Arno Cost, Norman Doray, Tristan Garner, The Avener, Worakls, and Avicii emerged thanks to this forum.

"Joachim's forum was a massive springboard for me and for many other artists. It allowed us to express ourselves and gather at a time when there were few tools available and electronic music was still a niche!" – Norman Doray

Maximus (2012): A Track That Marked a Turning Point

Meeting with Sophie Broussard (singer of A Girl and A Gun), introduced by Steve Aoki.
Recording of the track Maximus: The first of Joachim's songs to be broadcast on Fun Radio and NRJ, marking his shift toward the mainstream public.
Success: Maximus became an essential hit in his sets between 2012 and 2013. It was even played during a concert at Bercy for Starfloor.
Official music video: Filmed during his mix at Inox Park.

"Before Maximus, I was categorized more as a producer of tracks designed exclusively for clubs and intended for DJs. But this song found its place in radio programming." – Joachim Garraud

🌍 The Legacy of Joachim Garraud

Joachim Garraud is much more than a DJ: he is a scene builder, an innovator, a mentor, and a keeper of memory.

✅ French Touch Pioneer: He helped define the French electronic sound alongside David Guetta, Bob Sinclar, Daft Punk, and many others.
✅ Legendary Festival Organizer: Inox Park and Elektric Park made history in the French electronic music scene.
✅ Mentor for Young Talent: His Zemixx forum and his "Joachim Garraud & Friends" project prove his commitment to the new generation.
✅ Ecological Commitment: He offsets his carbon footprint and plants trees for every edition of his festival.
✅ Interactive Book: I Love My DJ Life is a gold mine for fans, with exclusive archives, rare testimonials, and a Geek Zone online updated monthly.
✅ Historic Collaborations: With David Guetta (albums Just a Little More Love and Guetta Blaster), Jean-Michel Jarre, and international artists such as Avicii, Steve Aoki, or Eric Prydz.
✅ Landmark Events: Organized the last rave in the USSR (Gagarin Party, 1991), a historic and unique moment in the evolution of electronic music.