Sittin' Pretty: Philadelphia's Viv Peyrat
James Dean—ageless dreamboat, immortal rebel. If you’re gonna channel someone, you may as well aim high.
Viv Peyrat does so in his song, “So James Dean.” And though the 22-year-old singer-guitarist may share some of Dean’s rebel allure, he also begs more contemporary comparisons: Jeff Buckley for looks, and Jason Mraz for musical sensibility.
Peyrat, a Philadelphian by way of France, mixes pop with R&B, funk and blues, sometimes organically, sometimes with the amps turned up. Like Mraz, his singing is insouciant and breezy; with lyrics revealing a pure heart and a positive mind. Though most songs may shuffle along at an unhurried pace, they’re still driven by hooks—lots of them. “So James Dean” is a lackadaisical little melody, brightened by an organ and Peyrat’s pretty arpeggios. But “Mine Tonight” inches closer to pop rock—reverberating guitars pulse and break into an anthemic chorus:
“We can ride out in the sunset / We can walk right out the door / We can fly up to the stars/ I’ll leave you running back for more.” To all the Natalie Woods out there, this rebel promises a pretty sweet ride.
Published by
Sam C. on
August 22, 2009 in
Artist News.
Tags: bad bugalu, Black Lips, Brooklyn Funk Essentials, Cut Copy, Daft Punk, Daniel Antoine, E.L.K., Ed Banger Records, France, Justice, Phoenix, St. Germain, The Agency, The Blisters Boyz, The White Loose Woman, Yelle.
Daniel Antoine
Oui, oui! It’s time to voyage the land of baguettes and berets to scope out the finest French artists on OurStage. Recently, the French electronic scene slowly seeped its way into the states. Acts like The Teenagers, Phoenix and Yelle have enjoyed consistent college radio airplay while Daft Punk and Justice get spun at any nightclub worth going to. Of course, the artists in this week’s Model U.N. don’t all have crazy synth lines going all over the place so there’s certainly enough variety to keep your headphones happy—Ooh la la!
Marseille-based DJ/Producer bad bugalu takes inspiration and clips of the funkiest latin and soul beats on the track “Tito Puente (Black Brother Remix”). This is a must hear for fans of Brooklyn Funk Essentials and St. Germain.
The Agency is an indie pop group consisting of New Zealander ex-pats based in Paris. With infectiously catchy vocal harmonies and a mention in You Ain’t No Picasso, heavy rotation of the track “Platforms” on college stations across the country is almost inevitable.
The White Loose Woman
The White Loose Woman, out of Lille, is a garage rock-influenced group with a sense of humor. For a group that has the same energy as Black Lips and the same level of absurdity as Gravy Train it’s only a matter of time before a cult following ensues.
If you’re a diehard fan of Cut Copy’s mixtapes then you should listen to the track “HRTBX” by E.L.K. This solo electronic musician blends industrial with new wave to create an emotional dreamscape fit for long drives in the middle of the night.
For fans of acts on Ed Banger Records you should give The Blisters Boyz a shot. DJs Alastor and Ufukama 2000 draw upon their electro-rock influences to keep the club moving with “Come On.”
If you’re looking for a good blues jam, “u and i” by renowned French keyboardist Daniel Antoine is an excellent choice. The track is driven home with a top notch solo on the B3 over a guitar oozing with reverb.
