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Jupiter is a French-English duo based in Paris, purveyors of ever so cool electronic pop music and much in demand for their production skills to boot. The impact of disco and electro-funk on their music is a clear one, yet Amélie and Quarles happily quote a wider range of influences, including Sly & Robbie, Beach House, Alan Parsons Project, Siriusmo or even The Beastie Boys, to name but a few.
One O Six (E.P. Minimix)
On the music that influenced their sound:
" Daft Punk's 'Homework' was like an earthquake in the music scene at the time, but our generation was perhaps even more influenced by their second effort, 'Discovery'.
"Another amazing melting pot of pop culture comes to our minds: Too Many DJs' 'As Heard On Radio Soulwax Part II', but we could also quote The Strokes' 'Is This It', or DJ Shadow's 'Endtroducing', as deeply influential records".
On their musical backgrounds:
"Both of us had older siblings and were very influenced by what they were listening to. Our musical education was as simple as this: being educated by our elders! As such, we grew up listening to a lot of Rock, a bit of Hip Hop and Electronic, some Jazz and French oldies.
"We both picked up the guitar very young and later switched to keyboard as we grew older. It's a bit of a coincidence since we only met much later, but we've basically had the same musical background".
Jupiter's debut album, 'Juicy Lucy', compresses their sound into 11 tracks, joining the dots between boogie-funk, Italo, nu-disco, rock, pop and dub reggae, while their widely lauded remixes for Metronomy, Anoraak or Two Door Cinema Club all carried a signature style that has seen them remix and be remixed be many more notable artists:
"Our music is a celebration of popular culture in general, but in terms of sound we're like a disco band with an electro touch. Disco music is all about well-being, having fun and letting go; it doesn't take itself more seriously than it should, it's just feel-good music.
"We haven't worked with too many artists per se, but we've (and have been) remixed on several occasions. Amélie sang a bit on a track by Italo-disco producer Bottin (a cover of french singer Lio's, 'Sage Comme Une Image') but that's about it for now; in terms of remixes however we can mention Metronomy, Two Door Cinema Club, Anoraak, Para One & Tacteel and many others".
Having appeared on compilations put out by Ministry Of Sound, Valérie and eventually Kitsuné, it was the latter that came to release Jupiter's following two singles: 'Saké', which was very well received, enjoying some chart success in early 2011, and a couple of months later the tropical disco rework, 'Kass Limon' - an electronic take on a forgotten tune by Kassay.
On the connection between the scenes in London and France:
"English and French music have had a strong relationship for quite some time; for the better part of it, it's been a British invasion of the French airwaves, but since the 1990s a handful of French acts have managed to put the country on the (music) map. As a matter of fact, the trend reversed in the late 1990s and French artists were more celebrated than locals in the United Kingdom!
"Ever since, there's been a mutual respect between both sides, a kind of artistic entente cordiale if you will. Kitsuné, Valerie and Club Cheval are all second-generation offsprings of that phenomenon".
Their live shows see Quarles on the bass (both electric and synth), Amélie providing lead (vocals and synth) as well as some percussion, and a third musican, Pierre, taking care of the rhythm synth, samples, electronics and backing vocals. And they'll be plenty to see at tomorrow's show, with live painting from Japanese visual artist Sil Sil, Chromophase VJ on visuals and two support acts, Midnight Call and iAmalam.
WORDS: S247
PICTURES: Jupiter
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