Born in 1960, he studied at the Paris National Conservatory with Gérard Grisey. There, he won first prize for composition. His doctoral dissertation on aesthetics and research at IRCAM provided an opportunity for theoretical reflection on his work as a composer, his residence at Villa Kujoyama in Kyoto which marked a decisive turning point in his work. His orchestral piece Cielswas awarded the Goffredo Petrassi prize in 1997. In 2003, he was invited by DAAD for a residence in Berlin. His two monographic recordings won the ‘coup de cœur’ award from the Académie Charles Cros. In 2004, together with Thierry Blondeau and Oliver Schneller he founded the Biotop(e) initiative. 

His works are performed by the Ensemble Intercontemporain, Court-Circuit, Contrechamps, MusikFabrik, KNM Berlin, Divertimento, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio-France, Orchestra della Toscana, Berliner Sinfonie-Orchester, etc. He has received commissions from many institutions: Radio-France, IRCAM, the French State, Royaumont Foundation, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Radio Suisse Geneva, Siemens Musikstiftung, Impuls Neue Musik. 

His works range from concert music to sound installation and his current work includes concert-installation works devised for specific sites. He holds many master classes in France and abroad and presently teaches composition at the Boulogne-Billancourt Regional Conservatory. 

In June 2014, his monographic recording Irisationwas published by Wergo and Deutscher Musikrat. His works are published by Edizioni Suvini Zerboni Milan.