Anoraak

Anoraak is the musical project of French musician Frédéric Rivière, multi instrumentalist, singer, producer and DJ, former drummer of Pony Pony Run Run.[1] and member of the Valerie Collective along with artists such as College, Maethelvin, The Outrunners, Minitel Rose and Russ Chimes. Coming from the rock scene at first, he later came to electronic music, starting Anoraak beside his drummer position.[2]

For other uses, see Anorak (disambiguation).
Anoraak
Anoraak playing a DJ set in Valencia, Spain in 2014
Background information
Origin France, Nantes
GenresSynthpop, Synthwave, Indie dance, Nu-Disco, Dream Pop, Italo disco
InstrumentsGuitar, synthesizer, drums, bass
Years active2008-present
LabelsEndless Summer Music
Valerie Collective
Eskimo Recordings
Grand Blanc
Naïve
Associated actsDavid Grellier (College), Sally Shapiro, RAC (DJ), Neon Indian, Futurecop!, Maethelvin
Websiteanoraak.com
MembersFrédéric Rivière
Past membersBaudouin Marnez, Guillaume Marnez

His music is related to the retro-synth and 80's inspired scenes recently highlighted by the movie Drive's soundtrack.[3] His sound is described as "dreamy synth-filled tracks that fall somewhere on the spectrum between disco and new wave",[4] "contemporary but retro-tinged" [5] or "easy, breezy [...] chugging along on airy synthesizers like a weekend train to the beachside town of Nantes".[6]

Anoraak has collaborated with artists such as the former Swedish Italo Disco outfit Sally Shapiro,[7] American singer Slow Shiver,[8] French producer College, Danish singer Lydmor, and has also remixed numerous artists such as Neon Indian,[9] Mika,[10] Junkie XL, Wild Belle, Julian Perretta, among others.

Career

Rivière started Anoraak circa 2008,[11] when he released his debut album Nightdrive With You, first limited to 1000 copies,[12] then reissued in Japan [13] and Australia.[14] The title track "Nightdrive with You" touched the entire blogosphere,[15] and got highlighted on the Myspace US homepage.[16] He first started to perform in France,[17] and eventually made it to the USA early 2009 with a first show at Webster Hall in New York.[18]

Anoraak's second album Wherever The Sun Sets launched in 2011. UK's Clash Magazine review lauded Anoraak's mix of italo-disco, indie rock, and 80s pop, writing "he does it so well it’s as if these sounds were born to be together despite being totally disparate".[19] Anoraak then grew up to a 3 piece band,[20] playing renowned France's Festival des Inrocks,[21] SXSW festival in Austin, Texas,[22] Noise Music Festival in Monterrey, Mexico [23] before embarking on The Drive Tour in 2012 with College and Electric Youth in USA and Canada.[24][25]

In 2013, his third album Chronotropic came out, "lead[ing] the way in sunset-inspired dance pop" according to Nest HQ [26] and described as "new wave vocals on disco" by French magazine Tsugi,[27] quickly followed by the EP Reworks, alternative versions of tracks from the album,[28] whose track Guest Star (Rework) was premiered on Rolling Stone.[29] Back as a solo act, he keeps performing mostly stateside.[30]

After releasing in 2015 the single Odds Are Good on the Belgian label Eskimo Recordings,[31][32] he came back in 2016 with the EP Figure, out on his own imprint Endless Summer Music.[33] The title track's video was premiered on British trendsetting site Nowness,[34] and Brooklyn based online publication Vehllingo stated that this EP "embod[ies] the different personality traits of Anoraak’s various experiments over the years".[35] The same year he teamed up with Anglo French duo Loframes for the track "Since You've Gone" released on Los Angeles based label Midnight in Paris [36]

In June 2017, Anoraak released Black Gold Sun, described by Australian webzine Acid Stag as "Italo-disco, retro-synth, electro-pop goodness".[37] The video for the track Last Call was premiered on major online French media Konbini.

He's on the bill for the 2018 edition of Electric Daisy Carnival in Mexico.[38]

In November 2019, Anoraak premiered a more nu-disco sound with "Panarea" on the Vehlinggo Presents: 5 Years compilation.[39]

Discography

Albums
  • Nightdrive With You (2008, ESR / Grand Blanc)
  • Wherever the Sun Sets (2010, Naïve / Grand Blanc)
  • Chronotropic (2013, Grand Blanc)

EPs
  • Nightdrive With You Remixes (2008 - ESR / Grand Blanc)
  • Try Me (2010, Grand Blanc)
  • Crazy Eyes (2011, Grand Blanc)
  • Behind Your Shades (2014, Grand Blanc)
  • Reworks (2014, Grand Blanc)
  • Endless Summer Versions (2014, Grand Blanc)
  • Figure (2016, Endless Summer Music)
  • Black Gold Sun (2017, Endless Summer Music)
  • Black Gold Sun Remixed (2017, Endless Summer Music)

Singles
  • Nightdrive With You (2008 - ESR / Grand Blanc)
  • Make It Better (Compilation "Edges" // 2009 - Because Music)
  • Long Distance Hearts (Compilation "Valerie And Friends" // 2009 - Grand Blanc)
  • Above Your Head (2010, Naïve)
  • Try Me (2010, Naïve)
  • Crazy Eyes (2011, Grand Blanc)
  • Morning Light (2013, Grand Blanc)
  • Behind Your Shades (2014 - Grand Blanc)
  • Odds Are Good (2015 - Eskimo Recordings)
  • We Lost feat. Slow Shiver (2016 - Endless Summer Music)
  • Figure (2016 - Endless Summer Music)
  • Evolve feat. Lydmor (2017 - Endless Summer Music)
  • Last Call (2017 - Endless Summer Music)
  • Panarea (2019 - Vehlinggo Presents)

Collaborations

Music Videos
  • Above Your Head (2011 - Milosh Luczynski)
  • Crazy Eyes (2011 - Jonathan Millet)
  • Can't Stop (2011 - Frédéric Rivière)
  • Made Up (2012 - Marjory Déjardin)
  • Dolphins & Highways feat. Siobhan Wilson (2013 - Josué Pichot)
  • Morning Light (2013 - Ben Chadourne)
  • Behind Your Shades (2014 - O.S.A.K.A.H)
  • Heart Out (2017 - Stephane Benini)
  • Figure (2017 - Simon Savory)
  • Last Call (2017 - O.S.A.K.A.H)

References
  1. "Anoraak live". PulseRadio. 2015. Archived from the original on 2018-01-15.
  2. Trotter, Elliot (2015-12-11). "Ultimate GT Music: Interview with Anoraak - Skyd Magazine". Skyd Magazine. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
  3. Drago, Olivier (2016). "Dans les ténèbres de l'electro". Libération.
  4. Jefferson, Lauren (2013). "Anoraak - Morning Light video". Earmilk.
  5. "Anoraak - Black Gold Sun Review". Vehlinggo.
  6. Brown, Harley (2015). "SPIN Singles Mix". SPIN.
  7. Stosuy, Brandon (2010). "Anoraak – "Don't Be Afraid" (Feat. Sally Shapiro) (Alternative Version)". Stereogum. Stereogum.
  8. Sundius, Michael (2016). "DA Premiere: Anoraak, feat. Slow Shiver - We Lost". Dancing Astronaut. Dancing Astronaut.
  9. Grishkoff, Jason (2010). "Neon Indian - Psychic Chasms (Anoraak Remix)". Indie Shuffle.
  10. "Blame It On The Girls (Remixes)". Discogs. 2010.
  11. Jefferson, Lauren (2015). "Anoraak shows off his synths for a remix of GOLF's "All In All"". Earmilk.
  12. "Anoraak - Nightdrive With You". Discogs (in French). Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  13. "Anoraak - Nightdrive With You". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  14. "Anoraak - Nightdrive With You". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  15. Lawrence, Sebastian (2017). "French Electronic Band Anoraak Enthralling New Track – Figure". Savage Thrills.
  16. Staples, Derek (2014). "The Drop, Vol. 6: Erol Alkan, Anoraak, Phutureprimitive, and Will Runzel". Consequence Of Sound.
  17. "An Indie Epicenter in Paris Opens". New York Times.
  18. "Maserati, College & Anoraak tour dates". Brooklyn Vegan. 2009.
  19. Todd, Chris. "Anoraak – Whenever the Sun Sets". Clash Music. Clash Magazine.
  20. "Last FM Anoraak wiki". Last FM.
  21. Mialot, Benjamin (2011). "L'extravagance de l'Anoraak". Les Inrockuptibles.
  22. Benson, Nikki (2012). "Anoraak live performance and interview". SSG Music.
  23. Castillo, Leyda (2012). "Noise Music Festival". Vice.
  24. Roffman, Michael (2012). "College, Anoraak, and Electric Youth Team Up for the Drive Tour". Consequence of Sound. Consequence of Sound.
  25. Caballero, Martin (2012). "THE DRIVE TOUR". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 2018-01-15.
  26. "Anoraak Behind Your Your Shades". Nest HQ. 2014. Archived from the original on 2018-01-16.
  27. Meunier, Clémence (2013). "Chronique Anoraak Chronotropic". Tsugi.
  28. "Anoraak Releases The Rework's E.P". Future City Records. 2014.
  29. "Guest Star - Anoraak". Rolling Stone.
  30. "Anoraak Returns to North America for Tour". France Rocks. 2014.
  31. Murray, Robin (2015). "Premiere: Anoraak - 'Odds Are Good'". Clash Music.
  32. "Anoraak - Odds Are Good". Discobelle.
  33. Sundius, Michael (2016). "DA Premiere: Anoraak, feat. Slow Shiver - We Lost". Dancing Astronaut. Dancing Astronaut.
  34. Mathis, Camilla (2017). "Bodies bend and interlock in a dance of polyamoric passion for the French synthwave act's latest". Nowness.
  35. Vehling, Aaron (2016). "Anoraak embraces contemplative vibes on 'Figure'". Vehllingo.
  36. Jefferson, Lauren (2016). "Loframes and Anoraak get chill for "Since You've Gone"". Earmilk.
  37. "Anoraak – 'Black Gold Sun'". Acid Stag. 2017.
  38. "LINEUP - EDC México 2018". EDC Mexico 2018 (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  39. "Anoraak – 'Panarea'". Indie Shuffle. 2019. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  40. Stosuy, Brandon (2010). "Anoraak – "Don't Be Afraid" (Feat. Sally Shapiro) (Alternative Version)". Stereogum. Stereogum.
  41. Brink, Nick (2016). "Etienne Bardelli & Frédéric Rivière collaborate in release installation". Design Boom.
  42. Jefferson, Lauren (2016). "Loframes and Anoraak get chill for "Since You've Gone"". Earmilk.
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