Shazz: The French Touch of Deep House

Shazz is a French DJ and producer who became a defining figure in the 1990s deep house and French touch scene. His sophisticated, sample-rich productions achieved significant commercial success, with his debut album going platinum and spawning several enduring dancefloor anthems.

Early career

Born in 1969 in Paris, Shazz, whose real name is Shazz Ghorbani, began his musical journey in the late 1980s. He initially explored various electronic styles before co-founding the label Yellow Productions in 1992, a pivotal platform for the emerging French house sound alongside artists like Dimitri from Paris.

Breakthrough

Shazz's breakthrough arrived in 1994 with his debut album Les Gammes de la Mode on Yellow Productions. The album's lead single, a deep house rework of Chaka Khan's "Ain't Nobody," became an instant club classic across Europe, propelling the album to platinum status in France and establishing his signature sound.

Key tracks

Ain't Nobody (Remix) — This 1994 rework was the smash hit that catapulted Shazz to fame, perfectly capturing the elegant, sample-driven French house vibe.

Les Gammes de la Mode — The title track from his platinum debut album showcases his knack for blending jazzy samples with smooth, infectious house grooves.

Mountain — A later highlight from his 1998 album Metropolitain, this track exemplifies his evolving, more atmospheric production style.

Faces — This collaboration with vocalist Melissa Cox on the 2001 album Faces demonstrated his ability to craft compelling, vocal-led deep house journeys.

Following his initial success, Shazz continued to refine his sound across subsequent albums like Metropolitain (1998) and Faces (2001). He remained a respected figure in the French electronic music landscape, performing internationally and occasionally releasing new material that stayed true to his deep house roots while subtly incorporating contemporary influences.

Fans of Shazz's polished, sample-based French house should also explore the work of similar artists from the same fertile scene. Dimitri From Paris shares a similar aesthetic of chic, disco-infused house music. St Germain expertly blends deep house with jazz, creating another sophisticated branch of French electronic music. Motorbass, the duo of Philippe Zdar and Etienne de Crécy, was fundamental in shaping the raw, filtered sound of the French touch movement. Bob Sinclar emerged from the same Yellow Productions foundation, initially crafting deep house before moving into more mainstream territories.

Shazz's catalog remains a staple on dedicated deep house and classic dance music radio stations. His timeless tracks are frequently featured in sets on specialist FM stations and online radio streams focused on house music history and quality electronic grooves.

The music of Shazz, a pioneer of the French deep house sound, can be heard on radio stations featured on our website. Listeners can discover his influential anthems and albums by tuning into the electronic and house music stations available on onairium.com.