Jean-Michel Jarre to publish first book, ‘Machines: A History of Electronic Music’
Jean-Michel Jarre documents electronic music’s evolution in new book.
Jean-Michel Jarre is giving readers an inside look at the history of electronic music through the lens of one of the genre’s defining pioneers. On November 24, 2026, Jarre will publish Machines: A History of Electronic Music, a book that blends his personal journey with more than a century of technological innovation and cultural evolution. Widely recognized as one of electronic music’s most influential figures, Jarre has spent more than five decades as a composer, performer, and producer, helping shape the genre into what millions of fans know today.
Rather than serving as a traditional autobiography, Machines combines Jarre’s own experiences with the technological breakthroughs, artistic movements, and cultural shifts that have defined electronic music for more than a century.
Through one of the world’s largest collections of electronic and electro-acoustic instruments, Jarre traces the genre’s evolution from its earliest experiments to modern production techniques. The book features 130 specially photographed instruments, ranging from iconic modular synthesizers to rare prototypes and one-of-a-kind creations, illustrating how each technological breakthrough influenced the sound of electronic music.
Alongside this historical journey, Jarre offers readers a more intimate look into his own creative path. He reflects on his childhood fascination with reel-to-reel tape machines before taking readers through his studies under Pierre Schaeffer at the Groupe de Recherches Musicales in Paris. By weaving together personal stories with key moments in electronic music history, Jarre demonstrates how each stage of his life influenced his artistic voice and approach to sound.
The book also features more than 400 illustrations, including archival photographs, technical diagrams, and images from Jarre’s personal collection. Contributions from influential musicians including Armin van Buuren, Vince Clarke (Erasure, Yazoo, Depeche Mode), Gillian Gilbert (New Order), Nicolas Godin (Air), Richie Hawtin (Plastikman), Johnny Marr (The Smiths, The The, Electronic), Gary Numan, Benjamin John Power (Fuck Buttons, Editors, Blanck Mass), and Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran) provide additional perspectives on the evolution of electronic music and the innovations that continue to shape the genre today.
Beginning with Luigi Russolo’s 1913 Futurist manifesto The Art of Noises, Machines: A History of Electronic Music explores the artistic movements, groundbreaking technologies, and influential figures that helped define electronic music. Blending history, innovation, and personal storytelling, Jarre offers readers a rare look at both the machines behind the music and the creative minds that transformed electronic sound into a global cultural movement.
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