QuinzeQuinze
QuinzeQuinze sonic experimentations started in 2013 when they decided to join forces and give life to this creative entity which later became a music group. Since then, the five self-taught members of QuinzeQuinze - Julia, Tsi-Min, Ennio, Robin and Marvin - have made a solid reputation for themselves: over the past few years, they released a slew of captivating and all-encompassing projects which makes the listener re-evaluate their expectations as to what a musician could be and sound like.
Their first EP, Nevaneva, which also included a short film, was a tribute (the first of a long series) to the Polynesian culture (Tsi Min and Enno are both natives of Tahiti). While serving as an introduction to their insular and climatic music (the island and elements remain a constant source of influence for the collective), this first project also unveiled soon-to-be defining traits of the QuinzeQuinze universe: traditional percussions (to'ere, steel drum) and South American and Caribbean influences (candombe, calypso) intertwine and provide a rich backdrop for their songwriting and lyric delivery which finds its strength in ōrero, a traditional Polynesian oratory art (Ennio’s dad used to tell him tales in the morning, a moment where the fantasy of dreams slowly transitions into the return to consciousness). On this EP, QuinzeQuinze tells the Polynesian tale of the creation of the world, all the while creating their own kind of poetry and oneirism. This ease in the art of storytelling and the ability to create an entire world with only a few words is the trademark of the act, along with their talent in crafting soundscapes that capture minds and ripple on bodies.
Their burning hot sense of experimentation and boundless imagination has evolved and blossomed to reach their full capacity on their second EP called Le Jeune mixed by Ash Workman (British sound engineer and producer who’s also worked with Metronomy and Christine & the Queens). Upon first listen, what’s striking is the band’s meticulous and precise mastery of sounds. Truth is, these five studio fanatics spend a lot of time building their own soundbank, which allows them to create music with deep and rich textures. Each sound is an inspiration to them, from branches rubbed against each other to squeaky doors or the sound of hands (Marvin’s dad’s) tapping on a belly (true story). Their singing technique, inspired by the himene tarava (a form of polyphonic singing from the Society Islands), shows that even their voices act as tuned instruments.
Not only do the acute aural sensibility, surrealist references, and visual nods to sci-fi hit the mark on this project, but they are being taken to another (political) level on the eponymous track “Le Jeune” illustrated by a photorealistic 3D video (directed by Marvin and Uncanny Valley Studio, the creative studio he’s also a member of). This mind-blowing video incisively addresses historical facts which are still affecting the lives of people living in Polynesia up to this day, i.e. the 193 nuclear tests conducted by France from 1960 to 1996 in the atolls of Mururoa and Fangataufa.
The creative solution to the collective’s societal concerns consisted in the subversion of collective imagination with a video showing damaged protagonists evolving in devastated surroundings, subtly replacing usual idyllic postcard tropes with post-apocalyptic wasteland aesthetics. The visuals, daring in their content and ingenious in their form, solidified QuinzeQuinze’s reputation as contemporary storytellers gifted with strong imaginary powers. This prowess, added to their capacity to create spontaneous and ever-lasting eargasms, has caught the attention of Jamz Supernova, who ranked Le Jeune - EP as one of the best releases of the week in her After Dark Discovery show on BBC Radio 1Xtra.
QuinzeQuinze’s minds and music are teeming with creativity, and experimentation is the cornerstone of their production work. The formula is complex, yet effective - their tracks are sometimes reminiscent of Jai Paul’s tantalizing first productions or Animal Collective’s psychedelic wanderings while being infused with dancehall rhythms and equally catchy / off the wall hooks. You got the picture now: building bridges between past traditions and modern practices, or between ancestral singing and futuristic sounds has become a bit of a superpower for these five sound alchemists. And the new single “Vega” is a true proof of that - as it includes parts in Tahitian but also Tahitian slang, the bouncy track marks a return to their roots for both Tsi-Min and Ennio:
““The track’s title comes from “Cerwin Vega”, an emblematic sound system brand that has remained deeply associated with the Polynesian car tuning and party worlds. The rhythm, inspired by Baile Funk and Ori Deck (a music genre derived from Moombahton), is light in its danceable form but loaded with meaning”.”
Press play to get acquainted with their entrancing soundscapes and make sure not to miss the band if you have the chance to see them live. Welcome to the world of QuinzeQuinze - the French music act turning Polynesian legends and culture into thought-provoking bangers.
words JEAN-FRANCOIS ADJABAHOUÉ
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