LAURENT SUREAU
PERCUSSION - KEYBOARD - HANDPAN AND DRUMS
LAURENT SUREAU
PERCUSSION - KEYBOARD - HANDPAN AND DRUMS
Biography
Laurent grew up in a musical family and his passion for music started early.
He began learning piano at the age of 6, then expanded his range of skills by studying percussions: classic and contemporary first (timpani, vibraphone, etc.), percussions from various continents (Congas, Cajon, West African balafon), modern drums, chromatic balafon and the Hang.
In 2008, Laurent started studying vocal techniques to further develop his work in the band Mayaelo.
His curiosity and thirst for discovery allowed him to express himself through music without style boundaries. He feels aesthetics as color palettes and doesn’t hesitate to work with traditional, improvised, amplified, electronic, pop, experimental and classical music.
He enjoys combining all aspects of music, from singing to body percussion, using his eclectic background of musical capabilities to explore the possibilities to blend diverse flavours. Through an extensive variety of encounters throughout his life, Laurent has built a highly individual musical identity.
DEM, prizes, Diplômes d’Etat in musical training and percussion, certificate of aptitude for current amplified music validate his academic studies, but it’s outside the box that he prefers to act and create.
As a graduate of the French Conservatory system (gold medal and DEM) Laurent excels in scored music. Internships, master classes and travelling have prompted him to incorporate oral traditions and improvised music, so he has joyfully built bridges between different musical expressions.
The joy of sharing and a taste for novelty led him to travel and perform in groups with very varied compositions and to accompany other artists for their on-stage or studio projects.
He has worked with OLOJi, TwinPan, the Tempo Primo symphony orchestra, the Ars Nova brass quintet, Le grand Rateau big band, Morgane Ji, Mayaëlo, Bill Banquise, Dine et Déon, Cordéone, Olivier Carole Ensemble, Doro't, Sale Petit Bonhomme, Rauni, Siko, Imad Saleh, Nour, Bebey Youla, Alama Kanté, Dave Golitin, Pablo Mendez, Matthieu Metzger, Thomas Grimmonprez, Christophe Lardeau...
Currently, he performs live in his solo “Unlimited”, Owa, and as a member of Labulkrack and Toma Sidibe.
You might have also discovered him opening for Ben l'Oncle soul, Lo'Jo, Faada Freddy, Susheela Raman, Sandra N'Kaké, Brigitte Fontaine, Mathieu Boogaerts ...
Discography
Laurent Sureau
Human Being (2024)
OLOJi
Orion (2015)
OSNI (2017)
Exploring the 12 chakras (2016)
Seed of Crystal (2018)
Laurent Sureau
Unlimited (2017 - 2024)
Twin Pan
First contact (2016)
OWA
Promises (2020)
EP Wake Up (2022)
Cordeone
Vida (2010) - Guest
Dine et Déon
Cousu Main (2007)
Ironic Bombact (2002)
Mayaëlo
Message (2014)
Bill Banquise and his icebergs
Berry's way of life (2006)
Dirty Little Man
My week (2011) - Guest
Sale Petit Bonhomme
Ma semaine (2011) - Guest
La vie qui danse (2008) - Guest
Mon Brassens (2013) - Guest
Marie Coutant
À vivre (2000)
Unlimited
A solo experiment, Laurent Sureau plays each instrument separately as if in a band, reproducing the effect of a concert with different parts of himself.
The album features compositions as well as a prelude by JS BACH and a postlude by Erik Satie, underscoring an eclectic, poetic universe.
Without realizing it, Laurent was a pioneer in recording and performing chromatic classical pieces on handpans. He pushes the limits of his creativity and participates in the evolution of this type of musical instrument in collaboration with luthiers.
Released confidentially in 2017, this album is now officially available in 2024.
Human Being
This album is dedicated exclusively to the Handpan, with compositions by Laurent Sureau and an opening arrangement of JS BACH's Prelude BWV 846.
Each track is an astonishing performance on this type of instrument, a sound photograph celebrating the present moment, blending authenticity and the vulnerability of live recording. Expressions of gentleness, strength, disappointment, hope, love, beauty and ecstasy can all be experienced on this eclectic opus.
States of being that we all experience universally...
Videos
Laurent Sureau - Human Being
Laurent Sureau - Unlimited
Owa
OLOJi
TwinPan
Various
Collaboration with Morgane Ji
Pedagogy
Laurent studied pedagogy out of a desire to share his passion for music. Enabling others to find their own musical path is his main objective.
Amongst other courses, he studied at CEFEDEM in Poitiers, where he obtained the National Diploma in Music Education and Percussion (1997). Then he taught at CRD Chateauroux, CRR Poitiers and at Mamady Keïta’s « Tam Tam Mandingue Poitiers » School of African Arts.
In 2001, further research and his developing musical profile led him to obtain a Qualification as a coordinator/teacher of contemporary amplified music, which resulted in a very eclectic and personal educational project.
He is currently Professor of Artistic Education at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Grand-Poitiers in Migné-Auxances, France, and has produced online handpan lessons for MasterTheHandpan.