S iren Siren
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College Tribune
19th February 2008
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heir current European Tour year to come, their modest s that their infectious beats ying in their style of presenting themselves as being like a rock band, having character and style that reaches far beyond the norm. “More than rock, we are really more into disco bands. Our rock and roll influence is mainly visual, but our inspiration is mainly modern Disco bands. We don’t listen that much to rock really. Mainly 70s rock music if we do at all.” Drawn on the issue of playing live, De Rosnay hammers home the importance of the touring they are now engaged in. “For the moment, the live show is 100 percent of our musical life. Because that is all we do at the moment (tour), we are totally into it. “In March, we will be going back to America. It is strange though. Much of the time, it is not the shows that you remember, but far more the atmosphere of a place that you experience and the people you meet.” The modesty of the group is evident when they reject all ideas of having reached some sort of personal fame. Despite selling out venues everywhere, and with legions of fans, it’s not even on their radar. “Really, I don’t think we’re famous as people,” confesses De Rosnay, “We eat and sleep every day in our tour bus. We go to bed in our one-metre-squared tour bunks every night. “So, it’s not too glamorous really. We do like the life on the road and meeting new people. That aspect is what rock ‘n’ roll is all about. Even
if we are the least rock ‘n’ roll guys ever,” he adds with a chuckle. De Rosnay is modest and quick to emphasise, even if in jest, that the band never believed they would
sic on the road, and we’ll be touring until late this year,” explains De Rosnay. “We will go back to the home environment, to just me and Gaspard together on our own, in my bedroom at home. That is how we make music.” It is in such an intimate mode that the group pens their tracks, but unashamedly absorbs influences from music all around them. And who better to take direction from than the troubled King of Pop, Mr. Jackson himself. “Our single D.A.N.C.E. is made from a collage we put together from Michael Jackson lyrics. “You can see it if you look, lines like ‘music and me’ and ‘black or white’. But we were certainly not trying to be cool or chic with that, more going for an old disco vibe,
“It is not the shows that you remember, but far more the atmosphere of a place that you experience and the people you meet” make it as far as they have. “I never thought we’d get to play anywhere outside of France,” he jokes. Then he pauses and re-evaluates. “No wait, actually, I never thought we’d get to play anywhere outside my bedroom,” he adds with a laugh. “We never thought we would make it to these sorts of places. But when you actually go and do these things, it is easy to forget about all the people who actually come out to see you, and actually go out and buy tickets for the show. So, everywhere outside my house is amazing in that respect.” With their much lauded album † having more than made its impact, both critics and fans alike have been clamouring for new material. This is a demand that the band addresses with their prolific remixing, having produced versions of artistes so diverse as Fatboy Slim, Justin Timberlake and the Klaxons. However, the group are strongly averse to prematurely releasing a follow-up, instead preferring to retreat to the intimate environment that first birthed their sound. “We do not make mu-
like Sister Sledge or someone.” It is obvious that the group more than pay homage to the forbears of their sound, but make a point of keeping an open eye on the current goings on in the worldwide scene. Falling out of touch with relevant music is not an option, and the group have their own favourites. “We do listen to a lot of other groups while we are on the road. “At the moment, we love Midnight Juggernaut from Melbourne in Australia. They play some very
good modern pop music, and their album is excellent. Also stuff like Estelle and Kanye West, I really like their latest work.” Such a deliberate mention of Kanje West certainly shows that there is no animosity lingering between the two acts, and the songs are what really matter.” The time is up, and the duo is hurried along to the sound-check. A quick good-luck-wish for the show is graciously accepted, and they’re gone. Here’s hoping the crowd do them justice too.
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