Started in a time before streaming platforms, and when the business of putting out music was very different, founder Laurent Bizot had become tired of the approach taken by most labels. Many of them were not focusing on the artistic merits of the work, but merely on the numbers. He states that »if the music wasn’t calibrated to these marketing criteria, it wasn’t released.«
A seed began to take root in his mind of a different kind of label, one that focused on putting out an eclectic range of music, aiming to reach a community of like-minded enthusiasts. It would be as he puts it »a beautiful space for timeless music.« Having recently read Naomi Klein’s beloved »No Logo« and feeling an affinity with its central arguments on commercialism, Bizot combined its name with the word »format« as he was sick of the industry placing importance on whether music would work in the »radio format« or the »TV format« and the like.
So Kono
Our Calling
Ululo
Musique De Nuit
The genesis of the name, like much to do with the label, was organic and it became somewhat of a statement of intent. Over the years Nø Førmat has given a platform to everything from wistful folk to modern classical, African music, jazz and much more besides. For Bizot, the main criteria for releasing a record is that he is »surprised and charmed by the artistic proposal«. It’s this dogged commitment to authenticity and going with what feels right that has led Nø Førmat to success and helped them chart a course through two turbulent decades of change in the music industry.
Launching in April 2004 with an eclectic line-up of records featuring a quasi-acapella album from Totobonalokua, a noisy and abrasive record from post-black metal outfit Le Dogme de VI Jours and more. Later that year, the solo piano music of Chilly Gonzalez would top the charts vindicating Bizot’s approach and creating success not through slavishly adhering to commercial norms, but through authenticity and raw passion.
Recognizably human
Alongside the eclecticism and deep-rooted commitment to artistic integrity, there’s something else that defines Nø Førmat, and that’s collaboration. Almost two thirds of the releases in the label’s catalogue are collaborative projects, often bringing together a western artist with a musician from another tradition. The label has a strong affinity for African music, releasing luminaries such as the »Golden Voice of Africa« Salif Keita and kora master Ballaké Sissoko. It was indeed the duo of Sissoko and Vincent Segal that has created one of the label’s most celebrated projects to date. The melting pot of cultural influences in Bizot’s home city creates a perfect environment for collaboration and the cross-pollination of ideas. He states that »Paris is a very African city, it’s connected to Africa through history and immigration so it’s naturally very conducive to encounters between African and European musicians.«
With Nø Førmat, Bizot has created a label that has stuck to its principles while gradually evolving over time. It has become a home for adventurous music, particularly that which brings artists together across cultural lines. While the music may be wildly varied, coming together through an ethos rather than a shared sound – the visual aesthetic of the label lends a recognisable feel and a continuity to proceedings. It was key for Bizot to establish a form of »visual branding« through a distinct artistic style. This came through an ongoing collaboration with the artist Jérôme Witz, with whom Bizot worked closely to devise the distinctive layout for their covers. With their white background, bespoke lettering and consistent approach to visuals, you can spot a Nø Førmat cover a mile off.
»Paris is a very African city, it’s connected to Africa through history and immigration so it’s naturally very conducive to encounters between African and European musicians.«
Laurent Bizot
Where some labels occupy a space based on a particular sound or musical scene, Bizot has deliberately cast the net far wider, developing a following from open minded music fans who share his passion for authenticity. The label has undoubtedly weathered multiple storms in the music industry over its two decades of existence, but he sees a coming threat on the horizon – AI generated music. But consistent to form he has an answer to meeting this challenge, and that is staying firmly rooted in the artistic integrity that continues to define Nø Førmat’s output. In a world where AI music abounds, the unpredictability of human co-creation will carry a particular currency.
