New album on 11th April on Planisphère
Behind the alias Prōtokol is Luc Bydon, a Paris-based musician, sound artist, and DJ. Merging electronic and acoustic soundscapes, his ambient and experimental compositions weave together strings, organs, and his signature instrument - the trumpet.
Drawing inspiration from artists like Abul Mogard, Kali Malone, Loscil, Aho Ssan, KMRU et Félicia Atkinson and labels like Subtext Recordings, Warp Records, Editions Mego, and Exiles Electronics, Prōtokol sculpts intricate sonic textures, often veering into noise and electronic abstraction, constructing melancholic landscapes imbued with a quiet emotional depth.
With a conceptual and deconstructivist approach, his compositions remain generous despite their structural rigor. His long-form pieces subtly alter perception, propelling the listener into weightlessness—into a meditative, entrancing journey.
Beyond his compositions, Prōtokol is an active figure in the French experimental scene. As co-founder of the Planisphère label and the Échosystème collective, he supports innovative artistic initiatives. Classically trained in trumpet, piano, and composition at a Conservatory of Music in France, he later pursued his sonic explorations at Sorbonne University and Paris XVII, where he discovered electroacoustic music.
In 2021, he initiated the Kowuq aesthetic cycle with Kowuq: Prolegomena, a four-track EP. This work continues with his first full- length album, Kowuq: Ætheria, set for release in 11th April 2025. The album delves into the notions of beauty, perception, and aesthetic judgment through textured soundscapes where the synthetic and organic intertwine.
