Jean-Christophe Le Saoût (; born on 19 July 1975), better known by the stage name Wax Tailor, is a French record producer, DJ, and talent manager. He has released six studio albums in collaboration with other artists.
Early career After being a host on French radio in the Paris suburb of Mantes-la-Jolie, Le Saoût started the French rap group La Formule in the 1990s. He created his label Lab'Oratoire in 1998. He began working on the Wax Tailor project in 2001, first appearing on a remix of Looptroop and La Formule's "Deep Under Water".
Releases
In 2004, JC Le Saoût launched the Wax Tailor project with an EP, Lost the Way, that gained the attention of DJs and music critics in his home country.
In 2005, Wax Tailor released his debut album, Tales of the Forgotten Melodies. In addition to sampling Nina Simone, Doris Day and Alfred Hitchcock films, the album also featured collaborations with The Others and Charlotte Savary.
In 2007, Wax Tailor released his second album, Hope & Sorrow, and had his first crossover hit single with "Positively Inclined".
On 21 September 2009, Wax Tailor released "Say Yes", the first single from his new album In the Mood for Life, featuring Charlie Winston, Charlotte Savary, Sara Genn, Dionne Charles, A State of Mind, Mattic, Ali Harter, and Speech Defect.
In 2012, after three years of touring around the world, Wax Tailor released Dusty Rainbow from the Dark. The album was narrated by actor Don McCorkindale, whom Le Saoût selected after listening to nearly 300 voices.
In 2014, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his career, Wax Tailor launched the Phonovisions Symphonic Orchestra. Alongside a 35-piece orchestra and a 17-person choir, Wax Tailor embarked on a re-orchestration of 27 highlights from his 4 albums, to present them in a different setting. After a sold-out European tour, the Orchestra was chosen to play 3 shows for the re-opening of the Teatro Colon in Bogotá, accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia.
In 2016, Wax Tailor released his fifth album By Any Beats Necessary. The title references the Malcolm X phrase "By Any Means Necessary", which was inspired by Sartre's play "Dirty Hands". The album features collaborations with Ghostface Killah from the Wu-Tang Clan, R.A. the Rugged Man, A-F-R-O, Token, Tricky, Lee Fields, Charlotte Savary, Sara Genn, Mattic and Raashan Ahmad and IDIL.
In 2017, Wax Tailor went on a long world tour, during which he decided to completely remix the album. Established producers such as Ollie Teeba (The Herbaliser) and the US duo Du-Rites (J-Zone), as well as a cohort of rising artists such as ProleteR, Soul Square, The Geek x Vrv, Poldoore, Kognitif, Fatbabs, Madwreck, Benji Blow and Le Parasite, were selected by Wax Tailor to keep the project musically cohesive and bring new life to the album.
In January 2021, Wax Tailor released The Shadow of Their Suns, his sixth studio album, featuring guest artists Mark Lanegan, Del The Funky Homosapien (Gorillaz), D Smoke, Gil Scott Heron, Rosemary Standley (Moriarty), Mr Lif, Adeline, and Yugen Blakrok.
In January 2023, Wax Tailor released Fishing For Accidents. The album featured appearances from Mick Jenkins, Mr. Lif, Kuf Knotz, Lojii, Napoleon Da Legend, Ill Conscious, Voice Monet, David Bars, Mattic, Jennifer Charles (Elysian Fields) and Victoria Bigelow. This album will be followed by an international tour in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
In March 2025, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his debut album Tales Of The Forgotten Melodies, he went back on tour in the United States and Canada.
Awards Winner of 2013 Sacem Electronic Music Prize Winner in 2008 of the 7th annual Independent Music Awards Vox Pop vote for best Dance/Electronica album Hope & Sorrow Three of his albums, Hope & Sorrow,:fr:Victoires de la musique 2008#Artiste de musiques .C3.A9lectroniques ou dance de l.27ann.C3.A9e In The Mood for Life,:fr:Victoires de la musique 2010#L.E2.80.99enregistrement de musiques .C3.A9lectroniques ou dance de l.E2.80.99ann.C3.A9e and Dusty Rainbow From The Dark were nominated for Best Electronic Album at the Victoires de la Musique in France.
Discography
Albums YearAlbumPeak positionsCertificationFRALesCharts.com: Wax Tailor discography2005Tales of the Forgotten Melodies 1502007Hope & Sorrow312009In the Mood for Life92012Dusty Rainbow from the Dark82016By Any Beats Necessary122017By Any Remixes Necessary2021The Shadow of Their Suns142023Fishing for Accidents137
Live albums YearAlbumPeak positionsCertificationFRA2010Live 2010 à l'Olympia 622014Phonovisions Symphonic Orchestra
EPs and singles YearTitlePeak positionsCertificationAlbumFRA2004Que Sera/Where My Heart's AtLost the Way2006Our Dance/Walk the LineTales of the Forgotten Melodies2007To Dry Up/The Games You Play78Hope and SorrowPositively Inclined / The Way We Lived782008We Be / There Is Danger782009"Say Yes" (feat. ASM) 30In the Mood for LifeThis Train" / "Leave It252010I Own You2012Heart Stop81Dusty Rainbow from the Dark2016I Had a Woman1942017The Chase Remixes
Remixes Looptroop & La Formule - Deep Under Water (Wax Tailor remix) 2001 Clover - Death of the Lonely Superhero (Wax Tailor remix) 2005 Wax Tailor - Our Dance (Wax Tailor Remix) 2006 Nina Simone - I Am Blessed 2008
Covers, references, and sampling His track Seize The Day recorded with Charlotte Savary appears in the soundtrack of the 2008 film Paris by Cédric Klapisch.
References
External links Official website Wax Tailor at Discogs Wax Tailor artist page at Le Plan Wax Tailor at MusicBrainz