Live Review: Myd @ Songbyrd Music House — 2/17/22

Posted on February 23, 2022 by Casey Vock in Live Review and tagged DJ, France, French house, French touch, house, Myd, Songbyrd Music House.

French DJ, producer, and sound engineer Myd performs a set and leads the party at Songbyrd Music House on Feb. 17, 2022. (Photo by Casey Vock)

If ever there was a time when America needed to get up off its collective ass and dance, it’s probably now.

And who better to coax us into the groove than one of the most exciting electronic dance artists out of Paris?

A DJ, producer, and sound engineer who hails from Lille in Northern France, Myd is a musician with skyrocketing popularity and an expanding network of collaborators. Myd, who’s actual name is Quentin Lepoutre, began making sound his life alongside three like-minded musicians when the group met while studying the famed La Femis, and they burst onto the scene in 2012 as Club Cheval.

Song of the Day: “Noir” by YELLE

Posted on April 7, 2021 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged France, new wave, Paris, Song of the Day, synthpop, Yelle.

Yelle (Photo by Jerome Lobato)

Have you ever just put on an all-black outfit and stayed out as late as possible? That’s what the new single “Noir” from YELLE is giving us.

It’s moody. It’s fashion. It’s attitude.

Song of the Day: “Les Jeux Interdits” by Jane Birkin

Posted on January 20, 2021 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged chanson, France, Jane Birkin, Paris, Song of the Day.

Jane Birkin (Photo by Nathaniel Goldberg)

Oh! Pardon tu dormais…, the forthcoming album from actress, singer, songwriter, and fashion icon Jane Birkin, is set for US release on Feb. 5 via Verve Records.

Lead single and video, “Les jeux interdits,” is out now!

Live Review: CloZee @ Frederick Fairgrounds — 10/23/20

Posted on October 27, 2020 by Brenda Reyes in Live Review and tagged CloZee, EDM, France, Frederick Fairgrounds.

CloZee performs at Frederick Fairgrounds on Oct. 23, 2020. (Photo by Brenda Reyes)

Baltimore Soundstage and All Good Presents recently featured CloZee with Memba at Frederick Fairgrounds as an entry in their socially distanced drive-in series. After many months of not going to any shows live, enjoying and living the ambience of a show was one of the best feelings. And CloZee didn’t disappoint as she DJ’ed a two-hour set with new music for everyone to enjoy.

Song of the Day: “J’Veux Un Chien” by Yelle

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged France, new wave, Paris, Song of the Day, synthpop, Yelle.

Julie Budet of Yelle (Photo by Jerome Lobato)

France’s YELLE recently revealed the sweltering video for their song “J’Veux Un Chien” (“I Want a Dog”), the third single with a double-entendre.

Wanting a supportive partner (a dog) who respects one’s mind but also fulfills the dirtiest desires (not a dog!). The song is deep, dark and erotic. But yes, playful enough for your little cousin to sing. Brilliant. The music video, directed by Giant, is sophisticated yet simple, precise and powerful like the song.

Song of the Day: “quelque chose” by Carla Bruni

Posted on July 31, 2020 by Mickey McCarter in Preview and tagged Carla Bruni, chanson, France, Song of the Day.

Carla Bruni (Photo courtesy Press Here Productions)

Internationally renowned singer-songwriter and fashion icon Carla Bruni returns with the official video for her new single, “quelque chose,” from her forthcoming fall album (Verve Records/Universal Music Group).

Song of the Day: “Je T’Aime Encore” by Yelle

Posted on May 22, 2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged dance, France, Paris, Song of the Day, synthpop, Yelle.

Julie Budet of Yelle (Photo by Marcin Kempski)

The French dance pop duo Yelle recently returned with a brand new song “Je T’Aime Encore” and a very personal music video focused on Julie Budet and hair stylist Charlie Le Mindu, directed by fashion documentary filmmaker Loïc Prigent.

Song of the Day: “La Vita Nuova” by Christine and the Queens

Posted on May 11, 2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Christine and the Queens, dance, Europop, France, hip hop, Song of the Day.

Christine and the Queens (Photo by Camille Vivier)

Late in February, Christine and the Queens released a surprise EP, La vita nuova, which draws strength from extreme vulnerability. Produced by Christine and the Queens and Ash Workman, the EP is available now digitally on Because Music, and available to pre-order on CD and LP, due for release May 29.

La vita nuova arrives with an accompanying short film of the same name, imagined by Christine and featuring the EP’s five new songs in as many sequences.

Song of the Day: “Innocence” by Jehnny Beth

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged France, Jehnny Beth, post-punk, Savages, Song of the Day, trip hop.

Jehnny Beth (Photo by Steve Gullick)

Songwriter, singer, and multi-disciplinary artist Jehnny Beth has released a third track — titled “Innocence” — from her forthcoming album, To Love Is to Live, which has a new release date of June 12.

“Innocence” is about the feeling of isolation and distance Jehnny Beth has experienced many times in big cities despite being so close to people all the time. Although recorded well before the current emergency, in many ways, it is an eerily prescient song of our now.

Live Review: Stephane Wrembel @ Creative Alliance — 2/21/20

Posted on February 27, 2020 by Casey Vock in Live Review and tagged Creative Alliance, Django Reinhardt, France, gypsy jazz, hot club jazz, jazz, Paris, Stephane Wrembel.

Stephane Wrembel performs at the Creative Alliance in Baltimore on Feb. 21, 2020. (Photo by Casey Vock)

If Django Reinhardt could somehow return to this planet, he very well might blush to see so many music festivals taking place in his name. There’s little doubt, however, that he’d be pleased by the simple fact that gypsy jazz — a style that he’s credited with creating — lives on in the form of musicians who celebrate the craft and teach it in a communal fashion.

And if the late Mr. Reinhardt was to identify a leader among those carrying his torch, it would likely be Stephane Wrembel, a French guitarist of otherworldly talent who recently performed in Baltimore as part of the Creative Alliance’s fifth annual Charm City Django Jazz Fest.