Mellow (band)
Encyclopedia
The original concept came from founder Patrick Woodcock, a multi-instrumentalist, who had befriended Nicolas Godin (Air) while they were getting their architecture degree in Versailles. They were brought together by their shared passion for 60s & 70s vintage instruments, such as the mellotron
, the moog
, and other old organs and drum machines, which they both subsequently incorporated in their music… After a short stint with Godin during Air's first incarnation, collaborating on Premiers Symptômes
as a musician and arranger, as well as on Moon Safari
, and co-writing '"Ce Matin-Là"', Woodcock now felt he needed to form his own band. He called on his old friend Pierre Bégon-Lours, then a sound engineer who had access to a big studio near Paris where they recorded their first demos.
This was 1997. mellow was born.
Another sound engineer, enlisted by Bégon-Lours, joined the band for a couple of years.
Their first concert took place in Brighton, in 1998. Soon after, they were signed by French independent label Atmosphériques. In 1998, mellow joined forces with Air and Sean Lennon
for their first French tour, which was a hit.
The first album, Another Mellow Winter, was released worldwide in 1999. They contacted Director Roman Coppola
to shoot the video for the single "Another Mellow Winter".
In 2000, Coppola asked mellow to score his 60s-sci-fi debut feature CQ
. At the same time, mellow scored the title track to Novocaine
, a dark comedy by David Atkins, starring Steve Martin
and Helena Bonham Carter
.
That same year, mellow took the road again and traveled to Japan, the UK and the US.
The soundtrack for CQ
(Dragonfly, a soundtrack to the motion picture CQ) was released as mellow's second album in 2001.
In between albums, mellow continued to work hard on other people's music, lending their hand to bands such as Major Deluxe, Nice Hashimoto, The Free Design, Philippe Katerine
, Bridge & Tunnel… and scoring TV commercials (Gauloise cigarettes, EDF, Tommy Hilfiger
, Johnson & Johnson…).
In 2004, their third album Perfect Colors comes out. Woodcock and Bégon-Lours tour with fellow French band Syd Matters
. Their handpicked band included Lionel Rault (Flairs), Mark Kerr (Simple Minds
, Rita Mitsouko), Laurent Bauer (Venus Paradise).
They then chose to concentrate on designing their own recording studio in Saint-Cloud, Mellow Workshop, where they could switch roles and produce other artists. Since then, Woodcock and Bégon-Lours have been working on album 4, with guest musicians such as Bent (Das Pop
), Rémi Alexandre (Syd Matters
) and Samy Osta (Domingo), Julien Galner (Chateau Marmont).
The next album is slated to be released later in 2010.
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
, the moog
Moog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...
, and other old organs and drum machines, which they both subsequently incorporated in their music… After a short stint with Godin during Air's first incarnation, collaborating on Premiers Symptômes
Premiers Symptômes
Premiers Symptômes is a collection of early Air singles released between 1995–1997. Premiers Symptômes translates to First Symptoms in English, and is most likely a reference to the Serge Gainsbourg song of the same name...
as a musician and arranger, as well as on Moon Safari
Moon Safari
Moon Safari is the first full-length studio album by the French band Air, released in 1998.On April 14, 2008 Virgin Records released a reissue of Moon Safari to mark the album's 10-year anniversary...
, and co-writing '"Ce Matin-Là"', Woodcock now felt he needed to form his own band. He called on his old friend Pierre Bégon-Lours, then a sound engineer who had access to a big studio near Paris where they recorded their first demos.
This was 1997. mellow was born.
Another sound engineer, enlisted by Bégon-Lours, joined the band for a couple of years.
Their first concert took place in Brighton, in 1998. Soon after, they were signed by French independent label Atmosphériques. In 1998, mellow joined forces with Air and Sean Lennon
Sean Lennon
is an American singer, songwriter, musician, guitarist and actor. He is the only child of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. His godfather is Sir Elton John.-Early life and education:...
for their first French tour, which was a hit.
The first album, Another Mellow Winter, was released worldwide in 1999. They contacted Director Roman Coppola
Roman Coppola
Roman Coppola is an American film director and music video director.-Early life:Coppola was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, the son of set decorator/artist Eleanor Coppola and Francis Ford Coppola. Coppola was born in the American Hospital in Neuilly-sur-Seine while his father was in Paris...
to shoot the video for the single "Another Mellow Winter".
In 2000, Coppola asked mellow to score his 60s-sci-fi debut feature CQ
CQ (film)
CQ is a 2001 film written and directed by Roman Coppola. It was screened out of competition at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.It is a homage to 1960s European spy/sci-fi spoofs like Barbarella and Danger: Diabolik and the documentary spoof David Holzman's Diary. The cinematography is done by Robert...
. At the same time, mellow scored the title track to Novocaine
Novocaine (film)
Novocaine is a 2001 film written and directed by David Atkins and starring Steve Martin, Helena Bonham Carter, Laura Dern, Lynne Thigpen and Elias Koteas. The film was shot in the Chicago, Illinois area, during a limited 32-day schedule. The film received extra publicity during production and as...
, a dark comedy by David Atkins, starring Steve Martin
Steve Martin
Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin is an American actor, comedian, writer, playwright, producer, musician and composer....
and Helena Bonham Carter
Helena Bonham Carter
Helena Bonham Carter is an English actress of film, stage, and television. She made her acting debut in a television adaptation of K. M. Peyton's A Pattern of Roses before winning her first film role as the titular character in Lady Jane...
.
That same year, mellow took the road again and traveled to Japan, the UK and the US.
The soundtrack for CQ
CQ (film)
CQ is a 2001 film written and directed by Roman Coppola. It was screened out of competition at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.It is a homage to 1960s European spy/sci-fi spoofs like Barbarella and Danger: Diabolik and the documentary spoof David Holzman's Diary. The cinematography is done by Robert...
(Dragonfly, a soundtrack to the motion picture CQ) was released as mellow's second album in 2001.
In between albums, mellow continued to work hard on other people's music, lending their hand to bands such as Major Deluxe, Nice Hashimoto, The Free Design, Philippe Katerine
Philippe Katerine
Philippe Katerine is a French singer who began his career in 1991. Some of his popular singles include "Mon coeur balance", "Je vous emmerde" and "Louxor j'adore". Given that his songs are mainly in French, he hasn't gained much popularity outside of France...
, Bridge & Tunnel… and scoring TV commercials (Gauloise cigarettes, EDF, Tommy Hilfiger
Tommy Hilfiger
Thomas Jacob "Tommy" Hilfiger is an American fashion designer and founder of the premium lifestyle brand Tommy Hilfiger.-Early life:...
, Johnson & Johnson…).
In 2004, their third album Perfect Colors comes out. Woodcock and Bégon-Lours tour with fellow French band Syd Matters
Syd Matters
Syd Matters is a French band fronted by musician Jonathan Morali. At the time of writing, the other band members are Jean-Yves Lozac'h, Olivier Marguerit, Remi Alexandre and Clement Carle. The name Syd Matters comes from the slight modification of the names of two Pink Floyd members: Syd Barrett...
. Their handpicked band included Lionel Rault (Flairs), Mark Kerr (Simple Minds
Simple Minds
Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the...
, Rita Mitsouko), Laurent Bauer (Venus Paradise).
They then chose to concentrate on designing their own recording studio in Saint-Cloud, Mellow Workshop, where they could switch roles and produce other artists. Since then, Woodcock and Bégon-Lours have been working on album 4, with guest musicians such as Bent (Das Pop
Das Pop
Das Pop is a Belgian band founded in Ghent by schoolfriends Reinhard Vanbergen, Niek Meul, Lieven Moors and Bent Van Looy.-Biography:Das Pop was initially called Things to Come, but the band changed its name to Das Pop when Tom Kestens joined the band...
), Rémi Alexandre (Syd Matters
Syd Matters
Syd Matters is a French band fronted by musician Jonathan Morali. At the time of writing, the other band members are Jean-Yves Lozac'h, Olivier Marguerit, Remi Alexandre and Clement Carle. The name Syd Matters comes from the slight modification of the names of two Pink Floyd members: Syd Barrett...
) and Samy Osta (Domingo), Julien Galner (Chateau Marmont).
The next album is slated to be released later in 2010.
Albums
- 1999 Another mellow winter
- 2001 Dragonfly (a soundtrack to the motion picture CQ)
- 2004 Perfect Colors