Balenciaga's Musical Evolution: From Couture Runway Soundtracks to Britney Spears Remixes and Beyond
Balenciaga's couture salon in Paris has been transformed into a runway for the final presentation by Demna, the creative director of Balenciaga. The day before the show, the space is filled with the voices of Balenciaga employees, who recorded their names without any background music to become the show's soundtrack. Demna and BFRND, Balenciaga's music director, are ending their roles at the same time, with BFRND having worked on groundbreaking projects like collaborating with Britney Spears and using a Sade song for a fashion show.
For Balenciaga's spring 2025 collection, BFRND remixed Britney Spears' "Gimme More" to match the collection's theme of defining sexy in today's context. The remix was well-received, leading to Britney's team reaching out for another remix of "Oops! ... I Did It Again." BFRND released the remixes on a two-pack titled BRITNEY4EVER, and Balenciaga later collaborated with Spears on a collection and playlist curated by her.
Balenciaga Music, launched in 2024, focuses on the role of music in Balenciaga's creative impact and was created in collaboration with BFRND. BFRND's journey from working at a small venue in France to becoming a music composer for fashion shows has been marked by pushing boundaries and building an identity for Balenciaga through bespoke music. He collaborated with Miraval Studios' Damien Quintard to produce music for Balenciaga, including the iconic Sade song used in the final show.
BFRND's move to Gucci marks a new chapter where he aims to build a different identity from his work at Balenciaga. He launched a new artist identity under the name Loki to create separation and continue evolving the intersection of fashion and music. Embracing his underground roots, BFRND values collaboration with underground artists and looks forward to new creative endeavors at Gucci.