Merci, Paris!

Light poured through the windows as fans gathered outside, phone flashlights raised and waving back and forth as they watched the performances inside. This year, TONES’ energy reached beyond its venue, with fan queues stretching around the blocks; the surrounding streets became an extension of the event.

Two weeks ago, we headed to Paris for the final TONES of the year. We arrived in the midst of the youth-led protests; Paris was alive with political expression and unrest. Protest chants calling for change, equality, and better opportunities carried through the streets, reflecting the revolutionary spirit that’s long been part of the French identity.

As shared by one of our team members following the event, “Given the social and political climate at the time, it was important that the space we created remained connected to what was happening beyond its walls. Hearing people chanting throughout the city for change was a powerful affirmation of how closely culture and community are intertwined.”

Across the four floors of the venue, colored window tints transformed each level of the building into its own distinct world.

Burgundy framed the main stage on the ground floor, that also hosted a daytime barber shop pop-up. The second floor took on red and deep pink, where conversations, installations, and creative activities took place.

The third popped with greens and burgundy and held a 10 Years of COLORS exhibition and a program of community-led workshops. From instrument-making to a dance workshop, the space encouraged people to get involved rather than simply watch. During the dance workshop, the floor filled with people moving freely, engaging with one another, some stumbling through their steps, while others watched and cheered them on.

The top floor, shining in blue, staged secret performances, giving guests another world to discover as the events unfolded.

Whether listening in on a panel discussion, getting a fresh trim at the barber, or swapping playlists and music recommendations, each guest found a way to make the place their own.

Tucked beside a portrait of the late Prince Waly was perhaps the week’s most profound addition: a phone where visitors could leave memorial messages for him and his family. This simple gesture gave people space to express memories, love, and thoughts that might otherwise have gone unspoken.

This memorial was especially significant to our team members; one shared, "Being able to include a tribute to Prince Waly also meant a great deal to me personally. He was part of French music history, and finding a way to honor his memory within this celebration at COLORS felt especially meaningful."

Then, of course, each musical guest brought their own story with their performances.

(D)Juno’s set drew attention both inside and outside the venue. Those who couldn’t make it through the doors gathered by the windows, holding up their phone flashlights to show their support from the street.

LYNN made a welcome return to the COLORS stage after first joining us a few years ago. There’s something special about seeing one of our alums take the stage again, this time with a few more chapters behind her, and us getting to experience how her sound and artistry evolved during that time.

Victony and Aby Coulibaly, while performing in the same space, set two very different moods for the evening. Victony had the crowd moving with “2FRESH,” the track he’d performed on the COLORS stage just two weeks earlier, taking it from our screens and into a room full of fans. Meanwhile, Aby offered a change of pace with a stripped-back eight-track set, including a Frank Ocean cover that had the audience singing along.

Reflecting on what made the moment stand out, our Artist Relations Manager, Dominic, shared: "My personal highlight was Aby Coulibaly’s performance, with her bringing out Monjola. For me, Aby and Monjola are two of the most exciting artists to come out of Ireland this decade, and to see the passion for them both from COLORS' audiences in a city like Paris was really beautiful to see."

And then there was Ino Casablanca. The artist of the moment had fans lining up around the block, with many more hoping to get inside. The room was packed, and the energy carried from the line straight through to the stage. Performing the night before the release of his album EXTASIAAAAA, Ino got everyone on their feet, jumping and dancing, smiling his way through the set and soaking up every second with his fans.

As our Project Operations Manager, Priya, reflected, “It was beautiful to see him on stage, to see his fans. The line out the door was around the block–nuts!. Really, really fantastic. Something I'm so glad I got to be a part of.”

Beyond the music and the momentum he's built over the past year, witnessing an artist from a generation so central to France's cultural conversation take the stage felt defining. With his growing platform, Ino is becoming a prominent voice for the youth.

Maybe that’s what we’ll remember most about Paris. Not just the performances, but everything happening around them.

And with that, we close out another year of TONES, taking those moments of connection with us.

See you next year.