Belgian pop icon Angèle officially enters her “French Touch” era. Following her record-breaking performance at the Paris Olympics, she returns today with “What You Want,” a collaboration with the legendary electronic duo Justice. Out now via Angèle VL Records / Because Music, the track serves as a muscular pivot for an artist who has already conquered the globe.
The Evolution of Angèle: From “Nightcall” to “What You Want”
The momentum behind this release stems directly from the 2024 Paris Olympics closing ceremony. After Angèle’s performance of “Nightcall” with Phoenix and Kavinsky shattered Shazam records, the world craved more of her signature vocals paired with industrial electronics. Angèle What You Want delivers exactly that, blending her featherlight pop instincts with the “rock-damaged grandeur” that Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay of Justice perfected in the 2000s.
A Studio Connection Built on Tension
The collaboration felt entirely organic. After meeting Justice backstage in Brussels, Angèle invited the duo to her studio to breathe life into a “sultry, sensual, offbeat” demo she had previously set aside.
“I thought Justice could bring the electro-club expertise—and the tension—that were missing from that first version,” Angèle explains. The result is a track that balances power and intimacy without compromising either artist’s identity. Justice mirrors this sentiment, noting that the track required something “sensual and brutal” that they instinctively connected with.
Cinematic Grit: The Official Video by (LA)HORDE
The official video, directed by the visionary trio (LA)HORDE, strips away the high-fashion polish of Angèle’s previous campaigns. Shot entirely on an iPhone 17 Pro in the backstreets of Marseille, the visual follows a breathless midnight chase featuring dancer Nora Monsecour.
The choice of hardware isn’t just a gimmick; the iPhone 17 Pro acts as a narrative tool, capturing the density of the night and the fluid choreography of (LA)HORDE (known for their work with Madonna and Sam Smith). Angèle appears as a magnetic figure moving through laundromats and bars, breaking taboos and reclaiming the male-dominated codes of the French electronic scene.
Global Ambition and Lyricism
Singing in both English and French, Angèle purrs, “What you want / I’m only / What you want / c’est pour la vie.” The track feels like a direct continuation of her global ascent—following her Dua Lipa collaboration, Netflix documentary, and Coachella debut—but with a sharper, unglossed edge.
“What You Want” confirms that Angèle is no longer just a “pop girlie” in ascension. She is a producer and musician in total control of her sound, standing at the intersection of pop precision and electronic danger.