Frédéric L’Épée is a French guitarist, composer, educator, and bandleader based in Berlin. His career spans over five decades, touching progressive rock, contemporary classical, ambient, and experimental music.
Early Years & Education
Began as a self‑taught guitarist, founding the progressive rock band Shylock in 1974. Shylock released two LPs with CBS before disbanding in 1979, and later reunited in 2012 to perform in some festivals. The band was known for its dark and melodic style
Between 1984-1988, he trained classically at the Conservatory of Nice, studying composition, harmony, counterpoint, and fugue, achieving top honors in 1988.
Ensemble & Solo Ventures
In 1987, inspired by minimalist figures like Steve Reich, he founded Philharmonie, an electric guitar ensemble exploring contrapuntal techniques, releasing five albums through labels like Cuneiform Records
By 1995, he initiated the Nice Guitar Cercle, uniting students to perform music from Bach to Steve Reich in diverse styles.
In 2000, joined by Serge Pesce, he co-founded the Groupement de Libres Improvisateurs (GLI), further exploring live improvisation.
His solo career features an extensive discography of electric‑guitar studies and ambient compositions, with albums like Campanologie (2019), The Empty Room (2019), and 12 Pieces for Solo Electric Guitar (2023).
Yang & Collaborative Bands
In 2002, he formed the instrumental quartet Yang, blending progressive rock, math rock, and contemporary structures. Yang has released five albums since 2004, including A Complex Nature, Machines, The Failure of Words, Designed for Disaster (2022), and Rejoice! (2024). Frédéric studied composition formally to realize this ensemble’s ambitions.
Other projects include Lobotonics (2008) and collaboration with e‑w e r k, a Berlin-based electric guitar quartet.
Teaching & Berlin Influence
Taught electric guitar workshops at Cité de la Musique in Paris from 2003 to 2013, later relocating to Berlin in 2013, where he continues teaching guitar, harmony, and composition.
Active as a performer in Berlin’s contemporary music scene, premiering works such as La Fin du rêve for guitar and accordion, solo guitar études, and multi-guitar compositions premiered by ensembles like e‑w e r k.
Musical Style & Vision
Frédéric’s music blurs genre boundaries—bridging rock, contemporary classical, minimalism, and world influences (African, Central/Eastern Asian rhythms) His solo works often approach the guitar’s untapped expressive scope, treating it as both a classical and electric instrument
Selected Discography
Shylock – 2 LPs (1970s), revived 2012
Philharmonie – 5 albums (1980s–1990s)
Yang – 5 albums (2004–2024)
Solo & improvisational lyrics:
Campanologie (2019)
The Empty Room (2019) – a reflective work on grief and healing
12 Pieces for Solo Electric Guitar (2023) – electric guitar études
Legacy & Outlook
Frédéric L’Épée is a dynamic figure straddling performance, composition, and pedagogy. From progressive rock roots to avant-garde contemporary works, his ongoing journey evolves through Berlin’s vibrant music scene. He regularly publishes on Bandcamp and performs new compositions, embodying an eclectic, evolving artistic path.
©Frédéric L’Epée 2025