It is a great joy to share the inspiring journey of one of our former interns, Benjamin Boukris. From his beginnings as an advertising sales intern at TRACE TV in 2014 to becoming a chart-topping music producer, Benjamin’s story is a shining example of what passion, perseverance, and a little help from TRACE can achieve.
Benjamin Boukris’s story with TRACE started long before he worked here. As a 90s kid, Benjamin grew up watching music videos and being influenced by the music of the early 2000s, which was heavily broadcast on TRACE channels in France. Hits crafted by producer legends of that time like Timbaland, The Neptunes, and Scott Storch shaped his unique sound, blending groove, lush orchestration, sweet harmonies, and modern production.
After high school, Benjamin faced a pivotal decision: follow his passion for music or pursue a safer path through higher education. He chose the latter, attending ESCP Europe, one of France’s top institutions, inspired by the journey of music entrepreneurs like TRACE founder, Olivier Laouchez, also an ESCP alumni.
“I’ve always been fascinated by music industry entrepreneurs, executives like Berry Gordy [founder of Motown] or Clive Davis. I felt as a music producer you should have good taste and artistic vision but also a strong business sense and understanding of popular taste.”
This education equipped him with a strong work ethic and essential business skills, which later proved invaluable in his music career.
Benjamin’s journey with us began when he joined TRACE TV as a 21-year-old intern working in the ad sales department. From day one, one could feel his love and enthusiasm for both music and entrepreneurship. His responsibility was to help labels and artists get to the next level through promotion on TRACE Networks. Here, he learned the intricacies of the music industry, the techniques of music promotion, and made connections that would support his future endeavors.
“Working at TRACE was one of the happiest times of my life. Working alongside like-minded people sharing the same passion for music. I made lifelong friends there, people like Johan Yamamoto, who has played such a big role in my development as a producer. I also learned so much about the business of music, which has proved useful over the years.”
In 2018, a few years later, Benjamin decided to follow his heart and dive headfirst into music production. His leap of faith soon paid off with the success of Lacrim’s hit single “Jon Snow,” which topped the French charts. This breakthrough marked the beginning of his rise as a sought-after producer. He went on to work with numerous celebrated French artists, like Nej, Black M, Patrick Bruel, Amandine Bourgeois, Still Fresh, and Hayce Lemsi. His versatility and willingness to explore different musical genres have made him a standout producer in the industry.
Today, Benjamin works between Paris and Los Angeles, continuing to create music that resonates with a global audience, working with megastars like Headie One (Sony UK) and Faouzia (Atlantic Records).
At TRACE TV, we couldn’t be prouder of Benjamin Boukris. His story is a great example of what our interns can achieve with a mix of passion, hard work, and the support of the TRACE family.