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Florian Picasso

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Florian Picasso
Background information
BornHo Chi Minh City, Vietnam
OriginCannes, France
Genres
Occupations
Years active2011–present
Labels
Websitehttp://florianpicasso.com/

Florian Ruiz-Picasso is a French DJ and record producer based in Cannes.[2] By adoption, he is a great-grandson of the well-known artist, Pablo Picasso.[3][4][5] He gained recognition for collaborations with Martin Garrix, Nicky Romero and Steve Aoki.[4] In 2016, he was ranked by DJ Mag at 38th on their annual list of Top 100 DJs.[6]

Since 2024, Picasso has pursued a more underground and independent musical direction. In 2025, he launched his own label, DKD Records, debuting with the Hi Heels EP, which introduced a harder, more groove-oriented techno sound.[7] He also initiated Dekadance, envisioned as a creative movement and platform for genre-blending electronic music.[8]

In 2025, following the release of his Hi Heels EP on DKD Records, Picasso released his second major project of the year, the single "When I Saw U".[8] The track was designed to evoke a sense of pure happiness and emotional uplift, aiming to capture the instant, euphoric feeling of connection when someone enters a room.[9] Picasso’s recent work reflects his focus on releasing music independently and shaping his own artistic direction.[8][9][10]

Early and personal life

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Picasso was born in Vietnam[11] and was adopted by Marina Picasso,[12] the granddaughter of the famous artist, Pablo Picasso.[4] After his adoption, he moved to Cannes, France, and has described the city as his hometown.[13] He was also raised in Paris and Switzerland.[13] He started making music at the age of 13, when he would perform at events in his boarding school Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil.[14][15] He became more serious about his musical career at the age of 19.[14]

He currently resides in Geneva, Switzerland and Cannes, France.[14]

Career

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Florian Picasso grew up between Paris, Cannes, and Switzerland. Florian's passion for music began at a young age, with a love for classic hip-hop. His musical influences expanded as he discovered electronic music through artists like Basement Jaxx and Groove Armada. Starting at the age of 13, Florian began DJing and honing his skills on a basic setup.[16] He quickly developed his own style, showcasing a versatile range of genres from trance to trap and electro house.

Florian Picasso started his career as a DJ and music producer in 2013. He has collaborated with several renowned DJs and producers, including Steve Aoki, Nicky Romero and Martin Garrix. Picasso has performed at major music festivals such as Ultra Music Festival and Tomorrowland.[4] He has been performing in big clubs since he was 16 years old, has opened for acts like Swedish House Mafia and began headlining his own shows.[17]

On 29 June 2016, he released a single titled "Final Call" through Armada Music under exclusive license from Protocol Recordings, a label run by Nicky Romero.[18] The song peaked on Billboard's Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart at 39.[19] On 23 November 2016, it was announced that Picasso signed a deal with Spinnin' Records, with whom he released a single titled "Cracked Wall" on 2 December 2016.[4] Florian Picasso was known for his hybrid and versatile style that encompasses genres such as electro house, progressive house, and bass house. His achievements have earned him a spot on DJ Mag's list of top 100 DJs multiple times, reaching a rank of #38.[20]

In 2024 and 2025, Picasso's career took a significant turn as he embraced a more independent sound focused on hard groove. In 2025, he launched his own label, DKD Records, and released the Hi Heels EP, which featured a hard groove style that marked a shift towards his evolving, self-directed musical identity.[8] Also in 2025, he released the single "When I Saw U" on Hot Meal Records, the label run by well-known DJ Badboombox.[10] The track reflected Picasso's focus on emotional uplift and pure happiness, marking a further step in his move towards independent music production and artistic freedom. This period highlighted Picasso's commitment to autonomy in the music industry, creating releases on his own terms.[21]

Show at the Villa Californie in Cannes

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On August 11, 2020, Florian Picasso organized a captivating music and light show at Villa La Californie. This was an exclusive, 90-minute DJ set live from Pablo Picasso's atelier in his villa in Cannes. The backdrop of the performance was recreated to showcase the atelier as it was when Pablo lived and worked in it. In addition, Vietnamese/French painter and graffiti artist Cyril Kongo will paint a custom piece live throughout the stream. After the show, Kongo's work was auctioned off to buyers. Proceeds were directed to Vietnam's Quang Chau Foundation Orphanage.[22] The presentation involved the efforts of over 25 individuals who worked diligently for a period of four months. Florian expressed that turning the entire house into a moving piece of art felt like the right way to pay tribute to what this place represents and the history it has. "My team and I put a lot of work into this show and the response has been absolutely amazing so far.", said Florian.[23]

NFT auction

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Florian Picasso's intended to auction an NFT connected to a ceramic bowl claimed to be crafted by his great-grandfather, Pablo Picasso. Musician John Legend had written a new song together with Nas and Florian to accompany the Picasso NFT auction.

Florian and his mother, Marina Picasso, initially announced that the NFT and the bowl would be up for auction in March 2022. However, it later became apparent that the auction would also include NFTs associated with Florian's own work, rather than Pablo's. This confusion prompted the Picasso estate to intervene and prevent the auction from proceeding without their permission.

According to The Art Newspaper, the Picasso Administration stated that Florian and Marina's project would be considered "counterfeit" if the sale were to take place without obtaining proper authorization. Despite the setback, it has been clarified that the NFT sale has been postponed rather than cancelled. Florian Picasso's manager, Cyril Noterman, expressed the intention to provide further details to alleviate the confusion surrounding the situation.

Swift action was taken, and the NFT was removed from the auction platform. The licensing agent responsible for Basquiat's archive clarified that the estate owned the copyright to the artwork and had not granted any license or rights to the seller. Consequently, the NFT was withdrawn from sale.[24]

Discography

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Extended plays

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List of EPs, with selected details
Title Details
X
Héritage
  • Released: 3 December 2021[26]
  • Label: Stmpd
  • Formats: Digital download
Hi Heels EP
  • Released: 4 April 2025 [27]
  • Label: DKD Records[27]

Singles

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Charted singles

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Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US Dance/Mix Airplay

[19]

"Final Call" 2016 39 Non-album single

Other singles

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Title Released Record Label Additional Information
That Drum 2011 Joia Records
How To Sing Toolroom
Muki Toolroom
Artifact 2013 Cr2 Records Free download
Artemis Ones To Watch Records
Ace Fake Music
Trivia 2014 Cr2 Records
Can Not Stop 2015 Mixmash Records Free download
Keep Your Eyes On Me Scorpio Music
Origami Protocol Recordings
Outline Free download
The Shape (Steve Aoki Edit) Dim Mak
Want It Back (Origami) Protocol Recordings
FRFX Mixmash Records
Saïgon 2016 Free download
Vanguard Dim Mak
Kirigami DOORN Records
Hanoi Free Download
Final Call Protocol Recordings
Danang Free Download
Mamo Protocol Recordings with Tom Tyger
Sheitan Maxximize Records
Make Up Your Mind Stmpd Rcrds with Martin Garrix
Cracked Wall Spinnin' Records with Vassy
This Is Our Time 2017 Spinnin' Records
Blast From The Past Musical Freedom
Hanabi Protocol Recordings with Raiden
X (We Don't Want No, Suwave, Vindaloo Bounce, Genesis) Spinnin' Records with Nygma, Loopers, Tom Tyger, Raiden and Blinders
With Me Spinnin' Records with Laidback Luke
Guns Down Spinnin' Records
Only For Your Love Protocol Recordings with Nicky Romero
Obsession Musical Freedom
Hanoi to Paris Free download
Here With You 2018 Dharma Worldwide with Yves V
Glitch Protocol Recordings
The Answer[28] Musical Freedom
Hikari Protocol Recordings
Midnight Sun[29] 2019 Protocol Recordings with Nicky Romero
But Us[30] Stmpd Rcrds featuring Echosmith
Restart Your Heart[31] 2020 with GRX
Armageddon[32] Dim Mak Records with Timmy Trumpet
Get Away[33] 2021 Stmpd Rcrds
Far Away[34] with GRX
Yume[35]
Make It Home[36]
This is The Voice Of Vietnam Diverse Records with THIEURHINO+
Tomorrow[37] 2022 John Legend Music with John Legend featuring Nas
The Tide[38] Stmpd Rcrds
The Tide - Extended Mix[39]
Ay Papi[40] 2023 La Californie Musique
It's Alright[41]
What's The Next Move?[42]
Shiretsu [43] Stmpd Rcrds
Safari[44] La Californie Musique
Make Me Dance[45]
The Edge[46]
Unwind[47]
Waking Dream[48]
When I Saw U[10] 2025 Hot Meal Records

Remixes

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2013

2014

2015

2017

References

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  1. ^ "Florian Picasso launches DKD RECORDS with 'Hi Heels'". Electronic Groove. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
  2. ^ "FLORIAN PICASSO". Official Global DJ Rankings. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016.
  3. ^ "Interview : quand Florian Picasso invite Steve Aoki... au musée Picasso" (in French). Direct Matin. 21 September 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Achterkleinzoon Picasso tekent platendeal bij Spinnin' Records". telegraaf.nl (in Dutch). 24 November 2016. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  5. ^ Staff, TMZ (13 February 2016). "Picasso's Grandson -- We Love Kanye ... Thanks for Honoring My Great Granddad!". TMZ. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  6. ^ "Top 100 DJs 2016 | DJMag.com". djmag.com. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  7. ^ Wilkinson, Juan Ignacio R. (6 December 2024). "Florian Picasso: "DJing is about connection, not the spotlight"". Electronic Groove. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d Wilkinson, Juan Ignacio R. (9 April 2025). "Florian Picasso launches DKD RECORDS with 'Hi Heels'". Electronic Groove. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  9. ^ a b Hamdan, Hana. "RB Exclusive Interview: Florian Picasso Reveals the Euphoric Spark of 'When I Saw U'". Relentless Beats. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  10. ^ a b c "Florian Picasso - When I Saw U (Extended Mix), by Florian Picasso". Hot Meal Records. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  11. ^ vietnamnet.vn. "Famous Dutch DJ to perform at Da Nang festival - News VietNamNet". english.vietnamnet.vn. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  12. ^ "Florian Picasso's Facebook Post". www.facebook.com. 13 February 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2019. I was adopted at three months old from Vietnam (sic) my mother Marina Picasso is the best life brought me so far.
  13. ^ a b Remmers, Christopher (12 September 2017). "Travel Profile: Florian Picasso". Suncity Paradise. Retrieved 7 September 2021. Growing up between Paris, Cannes and Switzerland ... 'Cannes is my hometown. It was the first place I lived in after leaving Vietnam at three months old. I grew up there.'
  14. ^ a b c Prince, Dan (9 July 2013). "Florian Picasso - DMC World Magazine". DMC World Magazine. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  15. ^ Lamberski, Jamie (22 June 2016). "Meet the EDM Producer & Great Grandson of the Great Pablo Picasso". EDM.com. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  16. ^ maz_adm_2018 (3 March 2021). "In conversation with Florian Picasso". Numéro Netherlands. Retrieved 19 June 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ LaSane, Andrew (21 January 2015). "Pablo Picasso's Great-Grandson Is a Globetrotting EDM DJ". Complex. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  18. ^ Pesavento, Nick (3 June 2016). "Florian Picasso - Final Call - By The Wavs". By The Wavs. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  19. ^ a b "Florian Picasso - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  20. ^ "Artistic House DJ Florian Picasso Releases 'Ay Papi'". NEW KG (in French). 27 January 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  21. ^ Farmer, Grahame (21 April 2025). "Getting to Know… Florian Picasso". Data Transmission. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  22. ^ Bendoni, Kasey (19 February 2021). "Great-Grandson of Pablo Picasso Announces Live DJ Set from Legendary Artist's Workshop in Cannes". EDM.com - The Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  23. ^ Bosk, Andry (13 August 2020). "Florian Picasso performed an outstanding show at the Villa Californie in Cannes". Rave Jungle. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  24. ^ Holmes, Helen (31 January 2022). "Florian Picasso's NFT Auction Has Hit a Snag". Observer. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  25. ^ X - EP by Florian Picasso, 24 March 2017, retrieved 15 September 2022
  26. ^ Goldenberg, Ross (9 December 2021). "Florian Picasso reflects on his 'Héritage' with progressive house-filled EP on STMPD RCRDS". Dancing Astronaut. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  27. ^ a b "Florian Picasso (FR) - Hi Heels EP [DKD RECORDS] | Music & Downloads on Beatport". www.beatport.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  28. ^ "The Answer - Single by Florian Picasso on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Archived from the original on 29 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  29. ^ Fabrick, Mark (13 May 2019). "Nicky Romero and Florian Picasso join forces for 'Midnight Sun'". Your EDM. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  30. ^ "But Us (feat. Echosmith) - Single by Florian Picasso on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  31. ^ Goldenberg, Ross (17 April 2020). "Martin Garrix resurrects GRX alias on Florian Picasso collaboration, 'Restart Your Heart'". Dancing Astronaut. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  32. ^ "Armageddon - Single by Timmy Trumpet & Florian Picasso on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  33. ^ Get Away, 26 March 2021, retrieved 19 June 2023
  34. ^ Goldenberg, Ross (1 November 2021). "Florian Picasso pays homage to his roots on nostalgic first 'Héritage' piece with Martin Garrix, 'Far Away'". Dancing Astronaut. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  35. ^ "Yume - Single by Florian Picasso on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  36. ^ Make It Home, 3 December 2021, retrieved 19 June 2023
  37. ^ Tomorrow, 4 February 2022, retrieved 19 June 2023
  38. ^ The Tide, 10 June 2022, retrieved 19 June 2023
  39. ^ The Tide - Extended Mix, 10 June 2022, retrieved 19 June 2023
  40. ^ Ay Papi, 20 January 2023, retrieved 19 June 2023
  41. ^ It's Alright, 10 February 2023, retrieved 19 June 2023
  42. ^ What's The Next Move?, 24 February 2023, retrieved 19 June 2023
  43. ^ Shiretsu, 10 March 2023, retrieved 19 June 2023
  44. ^ Safari, 31 March 2023, retrieved 19 June 2023
  45. ^ Make Me Dance, 14 April 2023, retrieved 19 June 2023
  46. ^ The Edge, 5 May 2023, retrieved 19 June 2023
  47. ^ Unwind, 26 May 2023, retrieved 19 June 2023
  48. ^ Waking Dream, 16 June 2023, retrieved 19 June 2023
  49. ^ Kusnierek, Timmy (14 November 2015). "Nervo - The Other Boys (Florian Picasso Remix)". Your EDM. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
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