zouk
what it is
Zouk (or Zouk béton) is a fast jump up carnival beat style of rhythmic music originating from the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique, popularized by the French Antilles Kassav' in the 1980s. Elements of gwo ka, tambour bélé, ti bwa and biguine vide, including the full use of the MIDI technology, are prominent in zouk. Its originator French Antilles Kassav' is the only band that includes it in its repertoire to a lesser extent.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make zouk a playlist
turn these 17 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is zouk?
Zouk (or Zouk béton) is a fast jump up carnival beat style of rhythmic music originating from the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique, popularized by the French Antilles Kassav' in the 1980s. Elements of gwo ka, tambour bélé, ti bwa and biguine vide, including the full use of the MIDI technology, are prominent in zouk. Its originator French Antilles Kassav' is the only band that includes it in its repertoire to a lesser extent.
What are good zouk albums to start with?
Try Ao Vivo em São Paulo by Banda Calypso, C' est La Vie by Rouge, Jalousie by Toto Patrick, and Lia Sophia by Lia Sophia.
Who are some women making zouk?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/zouk/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making zouk, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-22