The musical sound bed for the vocally explosive, burlesque- blazoning Zoe Colotis is created by the band’s three founder members Hughes Paven (violin), Charles Delaporte (upright bass) and Arnaud Vial (guitar), plus Camille Chapelière (clarinet) & Antoine Toustou (trombone and electronics) over the beats provided by Paul-Marie Barbier (vibraphone, washboard, piano). The result is a decadent, potent cocktail of jazz manouche, hip-hop, jive, house and beats that defies simple categorisation.
The band’s appeal has grown off-radar, appreciated for both their musical virtuosity and their sheer ability to deliver a ballistic good time.
Having originally formed in 2005 the band’s eponymous debut album in 2008 set the tone – a rip-roaring party, bursting with fun and good humour. This album went on to define a new sound called Electro Swing, while charting in their native France where it quickly attained a platinum sales award.
The second album, 2012’s ‘Panic’, featuring the massive tunes ‘Clash’ and ‘Rock It For Me’ remains a treat to listen to, whether in a burlesque bar or at home. Since its release the band’s live profile has risen unrelentingly, their concert tickets flying out with minimum promotion and zero-hype across the USA, a true word-of-mouth sensation that earned them a spot at Coachella last year.
