Press
Press
Short biography
François Mathian is a violinist and composer based in Ho Chi Minh City. He writes chamber and contemporary classical music for small ensembles, performs it in concert, and records it at Soulbow, his studio. His recent work includes Innocence, released in 2026 for piano and for harp and flute.
Full biography
François Mathian is a French Australian violinist and composer based in Ho Chi Minh City.
He trained in both music and science in Lyon, then toured and recorded for years as a jazz and rock violinist with French bands including Hoy, Payou Rabalat and Corcovado Trio. In Australia he began releasing his own music, and today he composes, records and produces at Soulbow, his studio in Ho Chi Minh City. His recordings have been featured on Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer contemporary classical editorial playlists ("Not Quite Classical", "Classical Edge" and more).
His writing centres on small ensembles: piano and viola in Tourmente, guitar and violin in the tango Just a Few Steps Away, harp and flute in Innocence. Many of his pieces are written for the concert stage, and several live in more than one arrangement, each a work in its own right.
He performs regularly in Ho Chi Minh City, most recently on the violin with a piano trio and on the 5-strings viola in duet with classical guitar, and collaborates with composers and performers in Europe and Asia, among them the German composer Ingo Höricht. His 5-strings viola was made for him by Alain Carbonare, master luthier in Mirecourt.
Photographs
Performances
With Ju Sun Young, piano, and Elaine Lee, cello
- Café Music, Paul Schoenfeld
- Dumky Trio, Antonín Dvořák
- Café Music, Paul Schoenfeld
- Czárdás, Vittorio Monti
- Por Una Cabeza, Carlos Gardel
With Huy Quang Tran, guitar
- A sonata for violin and guitar, Niccolò Paganini
- Arpeggione Sonata, Franz Schubert
- Music by Astor Piazzolla
Heard by others
One of the most moving slices of instrumental music I have heard for quite some time, and certainly the most poignant.
One World Music Radio · on Survivors
The production and mix are just perfect and tones of the instruments are so warm and performance is sublime. Really a flawless track.
Active Light Records · on Beyond Yonder
The piano and viola complement each other beautifully, with the viola adding just enough warmth and depth to make the melody feel even more expressive.
Edanur · on Bords de Seine
Melodies flow like the water! This composition strikes the listener in the heart.
Kiraz Müzik · on Just a Few Steps Away
Fantastic violin playing. You are a great performer and composer.
Listnerd · on Survivors
I really like this very dramatic and dreamy mood! Also very nice melody with that kind of soft tension in it. Makes the song interesting until the very last second.
verenaleuze · on Tourmente
Such a lovely and moving piece… great violin and piano interpretation, heartfelt and moving!
Sunrise Coffee · on Carousel of Life
A very well-composed and performed piece which I really enjoyed listening to. I loved the harmonies and the overall feeling as well as the excellent playing of all instruments.
Nikolas Belalis · on Parfums d’un Soir
Contact
info@soulbow.com