David Grellier

David Grellier
Birth name David Grellier
Born (1979-07-02) July 2, 1979
Nantes, France
Genres Electronica, synthwave
Occupation(s) Composer, Performer, Producer
Years active 2004–Present
Associated acts Sexy Sushi, Electric Youth
Website www.valeriecollective.com

David Grellier (born July 2, 1979, Nantes, France)[1] is a French electronica musician and founder of the musical projects College (2005) and Valerie (2007). Under the stage name Mitch Silver, he is also a member of the electroclash band Sexy Sushi, active since 2004.[2]

Musical projects

College

College
(Musical Project)
Origin Nantes, France
Genres Synthpop, synthwave
Years active 2005–Present
Labels FVTVR , Valerie
Members David Grellier

College, in Grellier's words, was an attempt "to synthesize into my music the emotions of my childhood" and was greatly influenced by American 1980s pop-culture, "80's soaps and an aesthetic which I particularly like: color, images, silvery films and the sun – images of Los Angeles, Chicago and all of the other cities that [...] continue to fascinate me"[3] as well as artists including Daft Punk, Alan Braxe, Fred Falke, Lifelike, Jacques Lu Cont, Nicolas Makelberge, DJ Falcon, and John Carpenter.[4]

In 2008, College released the album Secret Diary,[5][6] alongside the EP Teenage Color. In 2011, the collective released a second album Northern Council.[7] The same year, College's song "A Real Hero" was used in the soundtrack of the film Drive[8][9] becoming a charting hit in France reaching #26.[10] The following year the same song was included in the soundtrack of the film Taken 2.[11]

On March 13, 2013, College released a third full-length album, Heritage, introducing a new series of live acts around the world accompanied by new visual content. French visual system artist Chromaphase cooperated for the Shanghai act.[12][13]

On 10 October 2014, College announced their fourth EP Save The Day. The title track features vocals by Nola Wren. [14] The official music video for "Save The Day" debuted on 9 November 2014. [15] Jay Buim directed the music video, which has been described as "dark." [16] Both the EP and music video are said to have been inspired by stalker films of the late 1970s and early 1980s. [17]

Valerie

Valerie
(Music Collective)
Origin Nantes, France
Genres Electro, "retro-futurist", 1980s music, synthwave
Years active 2007–Present

The Valerie Collective described as "responsible for some of the very best original electronic music now coming out of France", was created as a way to foster musical talent, by providing opportunities for collaboration among artists, also connecting them through blogs and other internet channels. The collective is characterised by a "retro-futurist", "romantic blend of 1980s inspired electro" or synthwave.[3]

The musical cooperation was founded in Nantes in 2007 by David Grellier and his friends and colleagues. Various acts in Valerie include The Outrunners, Minitel Rose, Anoraak, Maethelvin, all from Nantes[3] as well as Russ Chimes from London and DVAS from Toronto. Other artists included Keenhouse and Electric Youth. The hymn of the collective is "West Coast Valerie", a remix of the TV series Côte Ouest.[18]

Some of the works are released under the Valerie own record label, whereas others are released under various labels like FVTVR, Endless Summer Recordings, Believe Digital, Flexx, Free Danger. The label Endless Summer Recordings also prepared a compilation album in 2009 entitled Valerie and Friends joining a great number of artists in the project.

Sexy Sushi

Under the pseudonym stage name Mitch Silver, David Grellier is a member of Sexy Sushi, a French electroclash band he formed with vocalist Rebeka Warrior (real name Julia Lanoë). She is also part of the band Mansfield.TYA .[19] Their first albums were released as burned CD-R by alternative distributors like Wonderground. An EP and an album were then released in 2009 by Scandale Records.

Discography

As College

As Valerie Collective

As part of Sexy Sushi

References

  1. Brochen, Philippe (9 April 2011). "Electro choc". Libération Next (in French). Libération. Retrieved 18 Dec 2011.
  2. Bordier, Julien (21 June 2010). "Sexy Sushi, Cyril et Jean-Pierre Pernault". LEXPRESS.fr (in French). L'Express. Retrieved 17 Dec 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 "Interview with David Grellier of College and founder of the Valerie Collective 2009". What's On The Hi-Fi. 2010. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
  4. Interview with David Grellier of College and founder of the Valerie Collective
  5. Philippe Richard, «Le nantais College boosté par Drive», Ouest France, 17 December 2011.
  6. Northern Council de College, Magicrpm
  7. Drive OST, Record Makers
  8. Récap' live par Elvire Camus et Arnaud Aubry , Magicrpm dated 21 December 2011
  9. "College feat. Electric Youth – A Real Hero". lescharts.com (in French). Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  10. Taken 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
  11. , SmartShanghai, 15 June 2013.
  12. College Asia Tour Live Video , 'Shanghai Rose on the Bund', 15 June 2013.
  13. Save The Day
  14. YouTube
  15. UNIT9
  16. Tsugi: Les années College
  17. 20 minutes: La douce violence d'un duo (in French)
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