Céline Founder of Sundae on the Docks of the Seine
CÉLINE.
From Parisian model to New York selector to the woman who gave Paris back its Sundays.
Some people read a city's appetite before the city knows it's hungry. Céline looked at Paris and saw that what it was missing was Sunday afternoon.
I have always loved the Sunday daytime party as a form. It is dancing with the lights on, no hiding, no posing into the dark. It takes a particular kind of confidence to play to people who can see each other's faces. Céline built her whole world on that premise.
A French model who bought a pair of turntables in New York, calls them the best purchase of her life, and went home to start Sundae, the open-air Sunday parties on the docks of the Seine that put daytime dancing on the Paris map. She is part of a family tree that runs all through this archive: she opened for Seth Troxler and Shaun Reeves in New York, and booked Guti and Anthony Collins, both longtime friends of these pages, on her docks. Sensitive, groovy, allergic to hype. Exactly our kind of selector.
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Born and raised in France, Céline spent her early years in front of the camera as a model. At 25 she began questioning her path, and soon after, a pair of turntables changed everything. She calls them the best purchase of her life.
The turning point was New York. She moved there in 2007 and quickly landed a Sunday afternoon residency at the monthly Sonem party, mixing alongside a generation of DJs and producers who sharpened her love of house and techno into something serious.
Inspired by New York's Sunday daytime phenomenon, she moved back to Paris in 2009 and launched the city's first outdoor Sunday daytime party for underground house and techno, appropriately named Sundae. An immediate hit, the parties on the docks of the Seine run twice a month through the summer season, and it would not be too much to say they single-handedly put Sunday daytime on the radar for lovers of underground dance music in Paris. Some of the city's biggest events now happen on that day.
Recognized as a pioneer of the Paris scene, in 2012 she took up the position of art director and head of communications at the Malibu Club, transforming the former African club into a home for underground house and techno: weekly events, local talent first, in a cozy and private environment. Her sensitive, deeply personal sets have since carried her from Berlin to New York to Tokyo. And don't miss her recent Cream Hotel podcast.
"It was about right place, right time. I bought turntables in New York, met the local scene, and soon I was opening for Seth Troxler."Céline
Greatest inspirations?
Many grooves! Reggae, funk, soul, hip-hop. You'll hear them all in my sets.
How did Sonem and Sundae happen?
It was about right place, right time. I bought turntables in New York, met the local scene, and soon played Sonem's rooftop parties at Bar 13, opening for Seth Troxler, Shaun Reeves, and others. Later, on a holiday in Paris, I randomly met the owner of Le Café Barge and asked to throw Sunday parties on his terrace. That's how Sundae was born. Now in its third season!
Current musical loves?
Techno, minimal, deep house... even nu-disco surprises me! It's all about the moment.
Who has graced the Sundae decks?
After two seasons, the list is long:
Dream collaboration?
I've already found my perfect partner: Romain Azzaro. Our back-to-back sets just click.
Most memorable gig?
Barranquilla, Colombia. My first South American crowd. They screamed my name!
Upcoming projects?
Growing Sundae. New lineups coming soon.
Favorite blogs and sites?
- Get the Curse · French interviews and podcasts
- Autobrennt · New York events and mixes
- La Petite Maison Électronique · Paris nightlife
- Deepmix.ru · 24/7 deep house from Moscow
- Céline's Beats · her own eclectic picks
Anything else you'd like to share?
I love long walks, bicycles, and cats... purrrrr.
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About Antakly Projects
Antakly Projects has been in conversation with artists and creatives from around the world since 2003.
And for the personal rants, opinions you didn't ask for, and the occasional existential spiral: follow me on Substack
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