Albums

Chris Ardoin

“Nouveau Zydeco Innovator & Dance-Floor Boss”

Quick Intro

Chris Ardoin (born April 7, 1981 in Lake Charles, Louisiana) is the accordion-slinging powerhouse who helped define nouveau zydeco—blending traditional Creole rhythms with R&B, hip-hop, soul, and pop sheen. Launching early with his band Double Clutchin’, he evolved into NuStep Zydeko and has been a headliner across clubs, trail rides, and festivals. Key releases live in our catalog through Maison de Soul and the Flat Town Music store, keeping his fan-favorites in easy reach.

In-Depth Profile

A fourth-generation member of the Ardoin musical family (grandson of the legendary Bois Sec Ardoin, son of Lawrence Ardoin, and brother to Sean Ardoin), Chris was a child prodigy who formed Double Clutchin’ before his teens. After early success on the road and in the studio, he pushed zydeco forward with sleek production, big hooks, and fearless genre crossover. Albums across his career—Gon’ Be Jus’ Fine (1997), Turn the Page (1998), Best Kept Secret (2000), and later sets like Sweat, MVP, Unleashed, Zydeko Fever, and Evolution—map a steady climb from prodigious accordionist to full-stack bandleader, writer, and producer. Through our Maison de Soul reissues and ongoing distribution via Flat Town, his catalog continues to move bodies and move units.

Signature Tracks

  • “Put n’ Work” — a trail-ride charger with chant-ready hooks and hard-stepping accordion lines built for packed floors.
  • “Stallion” — low-slung groove and swagger; call-and-response breaks that show off the band’s live bite.
  • “Fly Solo” — melodic, mid-tempo crossover cut where R&B polish meets a modern zydeco pocket.
  • “Candyman” — club-tested, sugar-sweet on top with a tough backbeat underneath; pure dance-magnet.

Notable Accomplishments & Awards

  • Best of the Beat (Zydeco Album) — Turn the Page (1998).
  • Catalog cornerstone with our label family — multiple releases and reissues on Maison de Soul, available via Flat Town Music.

Bonus Notes

  • Stage show = high-octane: call-and-response, R&B polish, and deep Creole pocket.
  • Producer/arranger as much as frontman—layered vocals, programmed textures, and accordion leads share equal billing.

Album Reviews

Unleashed
OffBeat Magazine — Written by Dan Willging (December 2012)

“A smartly crafted, 16-song blend where urban inflections never smother the zydeco core; among his best.”

Chris Ardoin’s past few discs were released independently; then months, even years later, Maison de Soul Records would reissue the same, previously released title when it wasn’t exactly fresh anymore. Finally Ardoin and Maison de Soul have synced up, making Unleashed its only public offering that’ll be easier to procure. Like Unleashed’s predecessor Headliner, Ardoin played all instruments and tracked, mixed and mastered everything at his home studio. But to these ears, Unleashed is much more interesting. It’s a smartly crafted 16-song amalgamation of old school nouveau zydeco, contemporary soul-breezy R&B and rap-infused songs that achieves a rare yet delicate balance in modern zydeco, where the urban street influences don’t smother its zydeco counterpart. Zydeco tracks such as “Talk 2 Me Gud Whiskey” and “Go Boy Go” don’t mean Ardoin is attempting to reconnect with a departed demographic but push the envelope his way with whipping beats, DJ-like voiceovers and unbridled energy. “Kuntry Lyfe” bounces with a fat-bottom end and speaks to a Creole country life that’s often invaded by pretenders.

Where things get really exciting is with the pounding title track, “My People” and “Peepin’,” where Ardoin raps constantly. The accordion is still a peer in the arrangement; the atmosphere is electrifying and the lyrics infectious. Overall, everything is so well balanced that it reaches out to demographics beyond Ardoin’s normal, homey-hood constituency, making it one of his best ever.

Zydeko Fever
OffBeat Magazine — Written by Dan Willging (March 2016)

“Hard-charging nouveau zydeco with mainstream hooks and club-tight execution.”

Since making his debut at Carnegie Hall at age four, Chris Ardoin has accomplished a lot. As a teenager in the ’90s, he was one of the leading lights of the nouveau movement and later developed a new sound that incorporated elements of funk, R&B and gospel. Songs were composed in the verse-chorus, chorus-verse format with the B3 organ, Rhodes piano and synthesizer being a focal point in crafting melodies, instead of the accordion. Acquiring a home studio helped, as did rechristening his band from Double Clutchin’ to Nustep to complete the rebranding.

Now, on this prolific songwriter’s 15th album that spans a copious 17 originals, he states in the liner notes that it’s his duty to make sure zydeco’s roots aren’t forgotten. He skillfully mixes ’90s-sounding nouveau (“Zydeko Fever,” “Wolf Cochon”) and a squealy, first generation–style waltz with contemporary stuff like the truck envy “Big Toyz,” the risqué “My Chank-A-Chank” and the veritable stompin’ storm of “Find U Some Business.” “Old Tractor” offers clever lyrical twists. A guitar-strumming country-esque intro develops into a wholesome return-to-farm concept that blossoms into an amorous, sexy setting that’s almost a South Louisiana, hormone-flying version of a farmers’ matchmaking commercial.

The studio whiz is a one-man wrecking crew, playing six instruments (including accordion) in addition to producing, recording, mixing and mastering at his home studio. Additionally, Ardoin handles all vocals, which are occasionally stacked for a resounding, full-force effect. As the cover suggests, it’s a loaded jukebox that should never sit idle.

Zydeko Fever
The Advertiser — Written by Herman Fuselier (October 2015)

“Chris Ardoin shakes up world music charts… Again!”

Chris Ardoin is a history maker again. In March, 2013, Ardoin released his “Back Home” CD on Maison de Soul Records of Ville Platte. The CD landed at No. 1 on the iTunes Best-Selling World music chart and No. 1 on Amazon’s Best-Selling Blues Chart. The disc was the first zydeco or Cajun record to do so. Earlier this month, Ardoin had an iTunes repeat. His new CD, “Zydeko Fever,” debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes Top 100 World Music Albums chart. After his second-straight No. 1 CD, Ardoin celebrated with fans on social media.

“APPRECIATIVE & BLESSED!!!,” Ardoin wrote Oct. 1 on Facebook. “Album don’t drop for another 3hrs & u guys & gals have helped me reach #1 for the second album in a row! Had never been before in the history of zydeco/cajun until Back Home was released & even if it’s changed by morning, it still happened again!!!! #WeBelieve” As of last week, “Zydeko Fever” was still in the top 10 at No. 5, ahead of discs by global performers such as Celtic Woman, the late Hawaiian music icon Israel Kamakawiwo’ole and a Disney collection called “Relaxing Piano – BEST.”

Congrats to Ardoin on this major feat for Louisiana music. His second-straight chart buster treats the world to 17 original songs of zydeco with R&B and hip hop flavors. The songs include a live version of “Breathe,” a selection, which a few lyrics borrowed from the Temptations “I Wish It Would Rain,” from his “MVP” CD of 2007. Ardoin flexed his musical muscle on “Fever” with all songs written, arranged, produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by him at his own studio, Soul Rehab Music. He played accordion, bass, guitar, drums, rubboard and keyboards, along with lead and background vocals, on all songs. Desmond Joseph also helped out on bass. Abraham Oyelowo also played keys.

Ardoin’s history-making CD continues a music heritage that few families can match — regardless of genre. An Ardoin has been recording Creole music and zydeco for close to 90 years. In the 1920 and ‘30s, Amede’ Ardoin, a cousin of Chris’ grandfather, and Cajun fiddler Dennis McGee recorded tunes that helped lay the foundation for Cajun music and zydeco.For 60 years, Chris’ grandfather, Alphonse “Bois Sec” Ardoin, and fiddler Canray Fontenot played traditional Creole music around the world. The Ardoin Brothers, which included Chris’ father Lawrence, further fueled the legacy in the 1960s and ‘70s.

Chris, his brother Sean and their band, Double Clutchin’, were leaders in a groundbreaking zydeco beat that caught fire in the 1990s. Sean remains active with his band, Zydekool. Chris refuses to rest on that rich heritage. He’s already piquing interest in his next CDs.

The “Zydeko Fever” liner notes state that in 2016, he’ll be part of “The Louisiana Blueprint,” a tribute album featuring various Creole, zydeco, Cajun and swamp pop musicians. There’s also “Requested & Reloaded: Chris Ardoin Greatest Hits Live.” With exciting projects ahead, Ardoin will have a high “Zydeko Fever” for some time to come.

Back Home
The Advertiser — Written by Herman Fuselier (March 2014)

““I also feel we kind of lost the zydeco in zydeco. We need to get people to realize where it came from.”

Chris Ardoin and his heavy-on-the-R&B zydeco have put him at the top of the game for well over a decade. But a local TV appearance a few years ago made Ardoin consider a return to his roots as a third generation Creole recording artist. “They wanted me to bring my accordion and play a few tunes,” said Ardoin. “When I got there, I noticed I really couldn’t play a lot of my songs. So many of my songs were lead by the keyboards. “I found myself playing a lot of Boozoo (Chavis) and my grandfather’s songs. I was like, ‘Dude, I got to do something. This is not cool.’ “I’m here trying to promote something and I’m having to play standard tunes by other artists instead of playing my own.”

Ardoin returns to a more rootsy sound with his new CD, “Back Home,” published on Maison de Soul Records in Ville Platte. The 17 new tunes still boast lots of contemporary flavor. But the accordion, long the driving force in zydeco, is front and center. Ironically, the downhome sound of “Back Home” has the world paying attention. As of last week, the CD was No. 1 on the iTunes Best-Selling World music chart and No. 1 on Amazon’s Best-Selling Blues chart. “Down Home” was No. 20 on Google Play’s Top Albums chart, which includes all genres of music. That ranking put Ardoin in the company of Bruno Mars, Jason Aldean and other mainstream stars. These rankings are rare feats for zydeco music and pleasant surprises for Ardoin.

“That is amazing to me,” said Ardoin. “For the culture, it’s a big thing to get that kind of response on an album. “The album started getting a lot of buzz when I dropped the album cover. The picture was taken in front of an old house on the back of my property. I think it caught a lot of people’s attention. “I put a waltz on this album. When people heard it, it was different and something they hadn’t heard since the early 2000s. I think the music got a little too close to R&B.”

Chris’ CD continues a historic legacy of Ardoins recording and performing zydeco and its predecessor, Creole music. In the 1920 and ’30s, Amede’ Ardoin, a cousin of Chris’ grandfather, and Cajun fiddler Dennis McGee, recorded tunes that helped lay the foundation of Cajun and zydeco songs that followed. For 60 years, Chris’ grandfather, Alphonse “Bois Sec” Ardoin, and fiddler Canray Fontenot played traditional Creole music around the world. The Ardoin Brothers, which included Chris’ father Lawrence, further fueled the legacy in the 1960s and ’70s.

Chris, his brother Sean and their Double Clutchin’ band were leaders in the groundbreaking contemporary style of the 1990s. Chris, who turns 33 in April, looks back at his career and family legacy with fond memories. “I’ve done so much,” said Ardoin, who started playing at the age of 4. “Not to say that I didn’t appreciate it, but I didn’t realize the magnitude of what I was a part of. Back then, I was just playing for fun. “But now, I realize I played Carnegie Hall. I was 9. I’ve traveled the world, been in movies, just a lot of stuff. It took me a long time to get the recognition locally, which is something we strive for around here.”

Later this year, Ardoin is looking to release a tribute CD to zydeco’s pioneers. He’s enjoying having a foot in the zydeco’s contemporary world and another going “Back Home” to the roots. “Zydeco is at an all-time high. People are getting into it left and right. “I also feel we kind of lost the zydeco in zydeco. We need to get people to realize where it came from.”

Alter Ego
BluesRag — Written by Dennis Rozanski (June-July 2011)

““Importantly, such a major Creole evolution is securely in the best of hands: those of an Ardoin, zydeco’s first family.”

Creole Accordionist Alphonse “Bois Sec” Ardoin begat accordionist Lawrence “Black” Ardoin, who, in turn, begat accordionist Chris “The Candyman” Ardoin. In 2009, the 28-year-old begat Alter Ego, a radical update to what it sounds like to be a modern-day Creole. The accordion and scrubboard are still there. But gone are zydeco’s familiar rhythmic landmarks and lyric antiquities; no paper in the shoe, no toot toots, no snap beans sans salt.

This is NuStep Zydeko: wise to saggin’ jeans, Facebook, and Hennessy; all heavily dipped in R&B beats and sly rhymes for an extra-smooth coating. “Good, Good,” “Make U Surrender,” or the sex-u-up “Rockin’ the Stiletto” may be light-years removed from the primal coarseness of, say, “Brunette’s Waltz,” originally waxed in ’34 by his famously famous ancient cousin, Amede Ardoin. Yet the stylishly stylish wrapper around this entirely original set still houses the same instinctual interests: life’s ups, life’s downs, seeking that desirous girl.

And the music’s nu form still remains a dance floor cathartic. Importantly, such a major Creole evolution is securely in the best of hands: those of an Ardoin, zydeco’s first family.