By Azzam Bilal 
HangupsMusic.com – Brussels, Belgian pop icon Angèle has officially pulled back the curtain on her highly anticipated third studio album, titled ‘INSTINCT’. Scheduled for a worldwide release on October 16th, the 13-track project marks a significant evolution in the career of the singer-songwriter, who has rapidly become one of the most influential voices in modern French-language music. Distributed through her own imprint, Angèle VL Records, in partnership with Sony Music, the album is positioned to be a bold exploration of sound, blending her signature pop sensibilities with a sophisticated array of electronic influences and high-profile collaborations that span the breadth of the contemporary musical landscape.
The announcement of ‘INSTINCT’ follows a period of immense growth for the Brussels-born artist. Since the release of her debut album ‘Brol’ in 2018 and its successor ‘Nonante-Cinq’ in 2021, Angèle has transitioned from a local phenomenon to an international star, capable of filling arenas and collaborating with global icons like Dua Lipa. With this third effort, she appears to be leaning further into her electronic roots, enlisting a "who’s who" of the French and Belgian electronic scenes to help shape the record’s sonic identity.
Among the most notable names featured on the tracklist are the legendary French duo Justice. Known for their era-defining "French Touch" sound and high-octane distortion, Justice’s involvement suggests a more rhythmic and perhaps aggressive edge to Angèle’s usually melodic compositions. Joining them is SebastiAn, another pillar of the Ed Banger Records family, whose production style is famously characterized by its intricate layering and gritty textures. The inclusion of these artists indicates that ‘INSTINCT’ will likely move beyond the traditional boundaries of pop, venturing into the darker, more club-oriented territories of the Parisian underground.
Further bolstering the album’s experimental credentials is the participation of Soulwax. The Belgian brothers David and Stephen Dewaele, who also perform as 2manydjs, are renowned for their ability to deconstruct and rebuild electronic music with academic precision. Their presence on the album serves as a nod to Angèle’s Belgian heritage and her appreciation for the country’s rich history of electronic innovation. Additionally, the album features a collaboration with American art-pop visionary Caroline Polachek. Polachek, whose own work has been praised for its ethereal vocal arrangements and avant-garde production, represents a perfect stylistic foil for Angèle, promising a track that bridges the gap between European chanson and cutting-edge indie-pop.
To coincide with the album announcement, Angèle has released a new single titled ‘Une seule vie’ (One Life Only). The track serves as a thematic cornerstone for the upcoming record, accompanied by a visually arresting music video directed by Thomas Mailaender. Mailaender, a multi-disciplinary artist known for his work with photography and found objects, has crafted a piece that focuses heavily on the tangible and the tactile.
Speaking on the creative direction of the video, Mailaender described the project as a journey through the subconscious. “We imagined the video as a succession of memories, visions and mental images that physically burst into Angèle’s reality,” he explained. This approach utilizes analogue film as its primary medium, a choice intended to mirror the fragility and imperfection of human recollection. By using film, the director sought to capture a sense of nostalgia and the inevitable passage of time—themes that appear to be central to the narrative arc of ‘INSTINCT’. The grainy, organic quality of the visuals provides a stark contrast to the often polished world of mainstream pop, suggesting that Angèle is seeking a more authentic and raw connection with her audience this time around.
The lead-up to this announcement has been marked by several strategic musical moves. Earlier this month, Angèle surprised fans by collaborating with Belgian techno titan Amelie Lens on the track ‘run’. The collaboration was a significant departure for both artists, merging Lens’s relentless, high-bpm techno aesthetic with Angèle’s airy, melodic vocals. The success of ‘run’ served as an early indicator of the genre-blurring ambitions that define the ‘INSTINCT’ era. It signaled to the industry that Angèle is no longer content staying within the confines of radio-friendly pop, but is instead looking to integrate herself into the wider electronic music community.
The title of the album, ‘INSTINCT’, suggests a move toward more intuitive songwriting. If her previous works were about the anxieties of youth and the pressures of sudden fame, this new chapter seems to focus on the internal drive and the primal impulses that guide an artist’s creative process. The 13-track duration suggests a comprehensive body of work, providing enough space for the diverse range of collaborators to leave their mark while maintaining Angèle’s central perspective.
From a business standpoint, the release via Angèle VL Records highlights the artist’s continued commitment to creative independence. By maintaining control over her own label while utilizing the global reach of Sony Music, she has secured a position that allows for both artistic experimentation and commercial scale. This model has become increasingly popular among top-tier artists who wish to bypass traditional label constraints while still accessing the resources necessary for a global rollout.
The Belgian music scene, of which Angèle is a primary figurehead, has undergone a renaissance in recent years. Brussels has become a melting pot of styles, where hip-hop, electronic, and pop frequently intersect. Angèle’s ability to navigate these different worlds—working with rappers like Damso one day and techno producers like Amelie Lens the next—has made her a unique cultural ambassador. ‘INSTINCT’ appears to be the culmination of these diverse experiences, a record that reflects the eclectic nature of the modern European music scene.
As the October 16th release date approaches, the anticipation within the industry is palpable. The combination of Angèle’s star power and the technical brilliance of Justice, Soulwax, and SebastiAn makes ‘INSTINCT’ one of the most intriguing releases of the year. It is a project that threatens to redefine the "pop" label, infusing it with the grit of the club and the sophistication of the avant-garde.
In ‘Une seule vie’, listeners are given a glimpse of this new direction. The song’s focus on the singular nature of existence and the fleeting beauty of the moment sets a reflective tone for the album. If the music video is any indication, fans can expect a visual campaign that is as thought-provoking as the music itself. The use of "fragile, imperfect material" to talk about time slipping away suggests that ‘INSTINCT’ will be an album of deep emotional resonance, grounded in the realities of the human experience.
With ‘INSTINCT’, Angèle is not just releasing a new set of songs; she is asserting her place as a versatile and visionary artist. By surrounding herself with some of the most respected names in electronic music, she is challenging herself to reach new heights of production and performance. For an artist who has already achieved so much at a young age, this album represents a daring leap into the unknown, guided by the very intuition its title celebrates. As the summer fades and the October release nears, the global music community will be watching closely to see how this instinctual new chapter unfolds.
