Chromeo

Chromeo

Chromeo performing at the Monolith Festival in 2009. From left: David Macklovitch, Patrick Gemayel
Background information
Origin Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Genres
Years active 2002 (2002)–present
Labels
Website chromeo.net
Members
  • David Macklovitch (Dave 1)
  • Patrick Gemayel (P-Thugg)

Chromeo is a Canadian electro-funk duo from Montreal, formed in 2002 by musicians David "Dave 1" Macklovitch and Patrick "P-Thugg" Gemayel. Featuring a sound influenced by blue-eyed soul, dance music, rock, and varied styles, they've released four studio albums, their latest being 2014's White Women.

History

The duo met in the mid-1990s at Collège Stanislas in Montreal. Considering their backgrounds, the two childhood friends jokingly describe themselves as "the only successful Arab/Jewish partnership since the dawn of human culture" Around the time when they were both 15, Macklovitch joined Gemayel's band.[4][5] During this time, Macklovitch's younger brother A-Trak (of Duck Sauce) started winning the Disco Mix Club Championships, becoming World Champion in 1997.[6] After the band, Dave 1 and P-Thugg started to produce hip hop music together. Also, at this time Tiga was working with Dave 1 at a record store and asked Dave 1 to work on a project for his label, Turbo.[5] Dave 1 and P-Thugg signed as Chromeo and started creating music together.

Their 2004 debut album, She's in Control, defined Chromeo and started their music career. Reviews were mostly favorable, comparing the sound to 1980s groups like Hall & Oates,[7][8] Klymaxx and Sylvester.[9] "Needy Girl" became a worldwide club hit.[10] According to Dave 1, "She's in Control didn't blow up. But we had "Needy Girl", and "Needy Girl" was like a musical passport. That song went all around the world and DJs played it everywhere". The song "You're So Gangsta" was featured as the theme tune for the PC game Space Colony. In 2005, Chromeo released a mix CD of funky dance tracks on Eskimo Belgium records entitled Un Joli Mix Pour Toi (French for: A Nice Mix for You). In 2006, the group was featured in DJ Mehdi's song "I Am Somebody". During early 2007, Chromeo supported indie rock group Bloc Party on their British tour.[10]

Chromeo at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in 2008

After a three-year break, they released a second album, Fancy Footwork, which was also positively reviewed.[11][12] Chromeo and Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates teamed up in the Summer of 2008 for a jam session on Live from Daryl's House.[13] They would team up once again for a live performance at the 2010 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, TN.[14] Chromeo released their third studio album entitled Business Casual to critical acclaim on September 14, 2010.[15] In the time since the release, the music video for "Night by Night" has received over 4 million views on YouTube,[16] the band has appeared on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic,[17] been on the cover of Future Magazine,[18] and sold out The Forum in London.[19]

At the beginning of March 2011, Chromeo sent out notice that they had recorded the "world's smallest album", entitled Drive Time, which consists of 55 songs in only 183 seconds.[20] About a week later, it was revealed that Drive Time is actually a free musical Nokia Own Voice satellite navigation pack for Ovi Maps, made for usage with Nokia's compatible cell phones.[21] A red vinyl 5" single consisting of regular, instrumental and a cappella versions of "Turn Left" and "Follow" was released to promote it, with a sticker on the shrink wrap saying that it was a numbered limited edition of 40 copies.

Early September 2013, the group announced their fourth album White Women with a trailer video featuring the track "Over Your Shoulder".[22] It was released May 9, 2014, in Ireland and May 12 elsewhere.

Members

Discography

Main article: Chromeo discography

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2007 Bucky Award Best Sweatin' to the Indies Workout Song "Fancy Footwork" Won[28]
2008 Woodie Award Left Field Woodie N/A Won[29]
2008 Juno Award Dance Recording of the Year Fancy Footwork Nominated[30]
2011 Juno Award Dance Recording of the Year Business Casual Nominated[31]
2011 MTV Video Music Award Best Special Effects "Don't Turn the Lights On" Nominated[32]

References

  1. 1 2 DeLuca, Dan (August 30, 2014). "Chromeo are lords of neo-disco at Made in America". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philly.com. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  2. ↑ O'Donnell, Kevin (September 14, 2010). "Chromeo Team Up With Vampire Weekend". Spin. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  3. ↑ Sisario, Ben (October 6, 2010). "Looking to a Sneaker for a Band's Big Break". The New York Times. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  4. ↑ Franciscovich, Matt (30 September 2009). "Kicking It With Chromeo". Jambands.com.
  5. 1 2 Joseph, Aaron (July 2007). "P-Thugg interview @ The Official Chromeo Make Up Party". MVRemix. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
  6. ↑ "DMC World Champions". DMC World DJ Championships. Retrieved 2014-08-05.
  7. ↑ vinnie baggadonuts, changed man (February 2004). "cd review CHROMEO - SHE'S IN CONTROL". tastes like chicken. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
  8. ↑ Pytlik, Mark (22 February 2004). "Album Review Chromeo She's In Control". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
  9. ↑ Telling, Gillian (26 February 2004). "Review: She's In Control". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 4 April 2010.
  10. 1 2 "Chromeo". ION Magazine. 8 September 2010. Retrieved 2014-08-05.
  11. ↑ "Review: Fancy Footwork". StarPulse.
  12. ↑ "Chromeo – Fancy Footwork (Review)". URB.com. 24 July 2007. Archived from the original on 2014-01-08.
  13. ↑ Byrne, Katie (28 July 2008). "Chromeo And Daryl Hall — Yes, Of Hall & Oates — Team Up For Sure-To-Be-Epic Jam Session". MTV Newsroom. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
  14. ↑ "Bonnaroo 2010 Lineup". Bonnaroo Music Festival. Retrieved 2014-08-05.
  15. ↑ Chromeo YouTube Channel
  16. ↑ Chromeo - "Night By Night" Video on YouTube
  17. ↑ "Chromeo". Morning Becomes Eclectic. 30 August 2010. KCRW.
  18. ↑ "Chromeo – In The Studio With Future Music Magazine". 17 April 2011.
  19. ↑ "Greenmoney Rinse Mix + Chromeo Afterparty". 23 November 2011.
  20. ↑ "Chromeo Make "World's Smallest Album"". Exclaim!. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  21. ↑ "Nokia - Own Voice for Ovi Maps". Nokia. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  22. ↑ Chromeo New Album Trailer on YouTube
  23. ↑ "Chromeo Interview". Winnie Cooper. 3 November 2010.
  24. ↑ "Chromeo Bio, Music, News & Shows". DJZ.com. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
  25. ↑ Jackman, Robert (July 25, 2007). "Chromeo Fancy Footwork Review". BBC Music. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
  26. ↑ "Department of French and Romance Philology - Graduate Student Profiles". Columbia.edu. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
  27. ↑ "Faculty". Barnard College. Archived from the original on 2013-10-19.
  28. ↑ Lawrence, Grant (December 19, 2007). "The 2007 Bucky Awards". CBC Radio 3. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  29. ↑ "mtvU Woodie Awards | 2008". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  30. ↑ "Dion leads the Juno pack". Edmonton Journal. Postmedia News. February 6, 2008. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  31. ↑ "2011 Juno Award Winners". Tribute. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Best Special Effects Nominees". MTV. Viacom. Archived from the original on September 25, 2011. Retrieved December 16, 2014.

External links

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