Era

Éric Lévi, the French musician who created the project ERA—an acronym for Enminential Rythmn of the Ancestors—developed ethereal, evocative soundscapes rooted in the approach of Enigma and Deep Forest. ERA generally fuses downtempo electronic rhythms and expansive synthesizer layers with powerful Gregorian chants delivered in a custom language modeled on Latin and Greek yet devoid of literal meaning, although Latin, English, and Arabic lyrics have also been employed. The self-titled debut surfaced in 1996, later reissued repeatedly and reaching number one in five countries. Middle Eastern elements entered the music with Reborn in 2008, while Classics in 2009 and its 2010 sequel centered on reinterpretations of classical works. After a 2013 collaboration with singer and actress Arielle Dombasle, ERA returned to earlier material on The 7th Sword in 2017. The act sustained a presence in popular culture, staging its first live concerts in 2019 before resuming tours in the 2020s.

During the 1970s and early 1980s Lévi belonged to the French hard rock band Shakin' Street and later established himself as a film composer in the early 1990s. He collaborated with British composer, lyricist, vocalist, and arranger Guy Protheroe on the soundtrack for the 1993 comedy blockbuster Les Visiteurs. Protheroe co-wrote and sang lead on “Ameno,” the lead single from the 1996 self-titled debut. Both the track and album achieved major success throughout Europe and Latin America; after multiple reissues with changed track listings, ERA ultimately sold more than 6 million copies. ERA 2 followed in 2000, and The Mass appeared in 2003—its title track referencing Carl Orff’s O Fortuna—later attaining platinum status in France and Switzerland. The Very Best of ERA arrived in 2004, gathering key tracks from the first three albums plus several remixes.

The Arabic-influenced Reborn was released in 2008 and, like earlier albums, reached the Top Ten on France’s album charts. Classics in 2009 showcased ERA’s adaptations of works by composers such as Verdi, Bach, and Vivaldi; in France it became their highest-charting album since ERA 2, leading to Classics II in 2010. ERA then joined forces with French-American singer, actress, and director Arielle Dombasle on the album Arielle Dombasle by ERA. They issued The 7th Sword in 2017, containing both new compositions and reimagined versions of prior material, with its lead single a cover of “7 Seconds” by Neneh Cherry and Youssou N’Dour performed by vocalists Mim Grey and Racha Rizk.

ERA’s music has stayed prominent through frequent placement in films, television shows, and wrestling or mixed martial arts events. “Ameno” in particular regained visibility after appearing in numerous Internet memes. The group gave its first live concerts in 2019, featuring actors Pierre Bouisierie and Irene Bustamante—performers in the videos for “Ameno” and other singles—as part of the cast. Following a pause in live events caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, ERA resumed touring in 2022.