After spells in Mauritius (where he was born), Mauritania, France and Burundi, in 1995 Jean-Paul Hourton finally settled in Chile, his mother’s country of birth. It was here that he began studying sound engineering and tried his hand at advertising before returning to his first love, music.

More of a technician than an instrumentalist, Hourton recorded several albums to great local acclaim before deciding to create his own “Latin psychedelic rock” group, Panico. Their style met with success across Chile and then South America before the group – comprising five Chileans who share a connection with France – decided to try their luck on the other side of the Atlantic and moved to Paris. After several successful tours, Panico signed with Sony France and put out their first album. Unfortunately, it proved an unhappy alliance and neither side achieved what they had hoped for.

Undeterred, Panico stuck with its unique Latin sound until the group was picked up by the Tigersushi label. “They’ve got exactly what we’re looking for in terms of positioning and audience, and we’re the first group to sign with them,” comments Hourton on a partnership that already looks promising. “The tracks are ready; we just need to find a producer who’s equally at home with South American sounds, electro music and rock,” he explains – a search the Jean Luc Lagardere Foundation grand went a long way toward accomplishing. To the recording studio!

Achievements since winning the grant

Jean-Paul Hourton successfully completed his 2005 project: Sublima Kill, his second album, is now in the record bins and has impressed the critics. His group Panico is touring the festivals and is performing as the support band for Franz Ferdinand’s concert in October. He also toured in South America with his group in March 2006.