Thomas Prunier founded Paris-based Pont Neuf in 2016 after organizing parties with a collective of friends and discovering music together. Over the following decade, he has run the independent label himself, taking on roles spanning A&R, creative direction, distribution, press, events, booking, and administration.
Photo credit: Thomas Prunier – Official
Pont Neuf has developed around long-term artist relationships and a close connection to Parisian club culture. Its roster has included artists such as Madcat, Maison Blanche, Tour-Maubourg, and Kx9000, while its musical direction has expanded from soulful and jazz-influenced house toward club-oriented sounds, UK influences, and breakbeat.
As Pont Neuf marks its tenth anniversary with a compilation and a series of celebrations, Prunier looks back on the label’s evolution, the importance of maintaining an independent identity, and his plans for its next chapter.
EG: Hi Thomas, welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you with us. How have things been lately, and where are you joining us from today?
Thomas Prunier: Thank you for having me! Things have been pretty intense lately in the best possible way. From preparing the 10-year celebrations and the anniversary compilation to planning the next releases, there’s a lot happening. I’m answering from Paris, where Pont Neuf has always been based.
EG: First of all, congratulations on reaching ten years of Pont Neuf. That’s no small feat in today’s music landscape. Looking back, how does it feel to arrive at this milestone, and what emotions does it bring up for you?
Thomas Prunier: It’s a strange mix of pride, gratitude, and disbelief. When I started Pont Neuf in 2016, I wasn’t thinking about where we’d be ten years later. I just wanted to build a home for artists and release music that I genuinely loved. Looking back now, what makes me happiest isn’t a particular streaming number or achievement. It’s seeing artists who released their first records with us still being part of the family today. That’s something I’m incredibly proud of.
EG: When you started Pont Neuf, what was the original idea behind the label? Did you have a clear vision from the beginning, or has its identity revealed itself gradually over time?
Thomas Prunier: The idea came quite naturally. I was organizing parties with a collective of friends, and we were constantly discovering music together. Starting a label felt like the next logical step. Pont Neuf has always been deeply rooted in Paris: the city’s energy, diversity, and club culture have shaped our identity from the very beginning. I wanted the label to feel more like an artistic family than a traditional record label. Of course, the musical identity evolved over time, but the philosophy never really changed: build long-term relationships with artists instead of chasing trends.
EG: Ten years inevitably come with highs, setbacks, surprises, and lessons. Was there a particular moment when you realized Pont Neuf had become something bigger than you initially imagined?
Thomas Prunier: There wasn’t one single moment; it happened gradually. Some releases started reaching audiences far beyond what we had imagined. Then our In House We Trust events completely changed our perspective. Seeing thousands of people gathering around the values we’ve been promoting for years made us realize Pont Neuf had become more a community than just a catalogue of records.
“What makes me happiest isn’t a particular streaming number or achievement. It’s seeing artists who released their first records with us still being part of the family today”
EG: One of the strengths of the label has always been its sense of community. Over the years, you’ve worked with artists like Madcat, Maison Blanche, Tour-Maubourg, Kx9000, and many others. What qualities do you look for in artists, beyond the music itself?
Thomas Prunier: I’d say curiosity, honesty, and patience. Great music might catch our attention, but it’s never the reason we sign an artist; personality matters just as much. We’re much more interested in artists who have something personal to say and who want to build a long-term project. Our role has never been just to release records but more to help artists develop careers, as we’ve never really built Pont Neuf around numbers but trust.
EG: The anniversary compilation brings together different generations and sounds connected to the label. What did putting this project together teach you about the journey Pont Neuf has taken over the last decade? What can you tell us about this release?
Thomas Prunier: Putting the compilation together reminded us how much the label has evolved without losing its identity. The early years were heavily inspired by soulful and jazz-influenced house, while today’s roster naturally embraces more club-oriented sounds, UK influences, or even breakbeat, while staying faithful to our initial DNA. Yet somehow, everything still feels connected because the common thread has never been a genre; it’s the people behind the music. Rather than looking backwards, we wanted this compilation to feel like a snapshot of where Pont Neuf stands today.
EG: Running an independent label today requires wearing many hats. How has your relationship with the role evolved over the years, and what aspects of it still excite you the most?
Thomas Prunier: I’ve always run Pont Neuf on my own, so wearing multiple hats has never really been a choice; it’s simply how the label has always existed. Over the years, I’ve found myself working as an A&R, creative director, project manager, digital and vinyl distribution coordinator, press officer, event producer, booker, and administrator, sometimes all within the same day. The beautiful thing is that Pont Neuf has constantly pushed me to learn new skills. As some of our artists grew, it eventually led me to launch my own management and booking agency, so this journey has naturally expanded far beyond running a record label. What still excites me the most is precisely that no two days are ever the same. One morning I might be discussing artwork with an artist, then approving a vinyl pressing, announcing an event line-up, or planning a press campaign. It can be exhausting, but it’s also incredibly rewarding because every part of the process contributes to building something bigger than a single release.
EG: Dance music moves quickly, but labels with strong identities often outlive trends. What do you think independent imprints need to protect in order to remain meaningful in the long run?
Thomas Prunier: Their identity, definitely. Streaming platforms reward consistency and algorithms, but independent labels shouldn’t compete on those terms. Our strength is being able to take risks, support artists before anyone else believes in them, and create worlds that people genuinely want to belong to. Once you lose that identity, you simply become another distributor.
“I wanted the label to feel more like an artistic family than a traditional record label”
EG: Looking back, what advice would you give to the Thomas who launched Pont Neuf ten years ago? And what do you think that younger version of yourself would make of where the label stands today?
Thomas Prunier: “Don’t compare yourself to everyone else.” For years I felt like we always had to catch up with bigger labels. Looking back, I realise Pont Neuf grew the most when we focused on doing things our own way. I also think the Thomas of 2016 would be genuinely surprised that the label still exists after ten years.
EG: Beyond the compilation and anniversary events, what excites you most about the next chapter? Are there new directions you’d like Pont Neuf to explore over the coming years?
Thomas Prunier: Honestly, it feels like we’re only getting started. The next few years are about helping a new generation of artists grow while continuing to develop those who’ve been with us for years. Beyond releasing music, I want Pont Neuf to become an even stronger cultural platform through events, collaborations, and experiences that bring people together. If the first ten years were about building a family, maybe the next ten are about sharing it with even more people.
EG: Thank you so much for your time. We wish you all the best with the 10th anniversary celebrations of Pont Neuf and everything ahead. Take care!
Thomas Prunier: Thanks to you!
Pont Neuf’s ‘Ten Years’ anniversary compilation is out now. Stream and download your copy here.
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