Contre Jour

Contre Jour is a French trio made up of Roxane Benassaya (vocals), Christof Méoni (bass, synths, programming), and Emmanuel d’Auzon (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals). Their sound blends cold wave, post-punk, and ethereal electronics into a cinematic, emotionally charged atmosphere. After a decade-long hiatus, the band returns in 2025, fueled by the same creative fire that defined their early years.

Formed in 2009 from the ashes of Neptüne—created by Roxane, Christof, and Greguy—Contre Jour debuted with One Night at the Station, exploring a colder, more electronic direction. At the time, Roxane handled both vocals and guitar. Emmanuel joined in 2010 to bring the band’s sound to the stage with a more focused and technically equipped approach to guitar work, allowing Roxane to concentrate fully on vocals. This evolution refined the band’s textured sound, inspired by 80s post-punk and new wave, as well as 90s shoegaze.

In 2012, Greguy stepped away from the project but remains a close friend and occasional collaborator. Their second album Passion and Fall and the Abîme EP expanded their sonic range with shoegaze layers and trip-hop moods. A black-and-white cover of Siouxsie and the Banshees’ “Into the Light,” a tribute to John McGeoch, gained unexpected attention. Quietly embraced by underground scenes across Europe and Latin America, Contre Jour returns—older, sharper, and still burning with unfinished stories.