Noblesse Oblige videos
Noblesse Oblige is French-Caribbean performer Valerie Renay and German producer Sebastian Lee Philipp. After making a name for themselves on London’s electro/indie club circuit (NagNagNag, Trash, Kashpoint), the duo released their debut full-length record ‘Privilege Entails Responsibility’ in 2006. The album quickly became a classic on the international club scene, thanks to the support of renowned DJs such as Erol Alkan and Mark Moore (S'Express). Two years later, Noblesse Oblige began a new life in Berlin, where work on their second album ‘In Exile’ received funding from Music initiative (Federal Ministry of Culture and Media) and was greeted by the German press with numerous ‘Record of the Month’ honours. The album was also awarded the Russian Steppenwolf Music Prize, picked up at a T.V appearance in Moscow. Inspired by Robert Pacitti’s tarot project at London Spill Festival 2009 (in which they portrayed the Lover Major arcana card) Noblesse Oblige immersed themselves into the world of the occult, researching the literature of Aleister Crowley, and artists such as Kenneth Anger and Donald Cammell. The result was their third album ‘Malady’ and a string of international “voodoo spectacular” concerts. Sharing the stage with The Irrepressibles, The Dresden Dolls, IAMX, Lydia Lunch, Ann Clark and many more, Noblesse Oblige have played more than 300 concerts across Europe, Russia and South America. From major festivals (Latitude/UK, Bestival/UK, Decalage/BR, Moncofa Beach/ES) to nightclubs, film festivals, fashion parties and art galleries. Outside of the band, Valerie is a successful performer and theatre director (at Berlin’s Hebbel am Ufer and Sophiensaele amongst others). Sebastian composes radio plays for the German National Broadcasting Service and has produced and remixed many artists including the Hidden Cameras, Ascii Disko and Schwefelgelb.. 2013 sees the release of new album ‘AFFAIR OF THE HEART’, recorded at Chris Corner’s (IAMX / SNEAKER PIMPS) Berlin countryside studio. It will be supported by a new live show toured around Europe.
NOBLESSE OBLIGE
New Album: AFFAIR OF THE HEART
Release: 24. 5. 2013 (RepoRecords/AL!VE)
Singles: RUNAWAY (Video dir. Chris Corner)
MATA HARI (Video dir. Valquire Veljkovic)
Pulsating with raw passion and a desire for anthemic melodies, Berlin based Noblesse Oblige have crafted their most polished and unapologetic work to date. New album release ‘Affair of the Heart’ presents a sophisticated pop opus, destined to unite the ears of dance floor dreamers and bedroom escapists alike.
Powerful male & female harmonies melt over an ocean of warm electronics, voluptuous dance floor beats and euphoric disco arpeggios, as you’re welcomed into a rich fantasy world of exotic spies, demonic preachers and lonely souls lost at sea…
“Affair Of The Heart is a romantic journey in the classic sense of the term. Our study of human passion from its most uplifting to its gloomiest…”
Formed after a chance meeting at a masked ball in London, French performer Valerie Renay and German producer Sebastian Lee Philipp have spent the last few years touring the European club circuit, picking up a Russian Music Prize for their chanson pop album ‘In Exile’ along the way…
However, when it came to working on their latest release, the duo locked themselves away in a live-in factory on the outskirts of Berlin (at studio haven ‘Turmwerk’, founded by Chris Corner of Sneaker Pimps/IAMX.) Undisturbed by the rest of the world, they collaborated for the first time with mixing engineers David Wrench (Caribou, Bat For Lashes) and Harald Blüchel (Cosmic Baby, Energy 52) in order to bring a fresh dimension to their sound.
The result is an album that defies the isolation it sprung from and instead, shoots straight for the dance flloor and into the soul. Harnessing pop sensibilites and a slick electronic production, ‘Affair of the Heart’ recalls the emotional energy of iconic 80s bands like Eurythmics, Tears for Fears and Depeche Mode, whilst also reaching out to fans of more contemporary favourites like Hurts, The Knife, Austra and Trust.
It’s a far cry from their arty beginnings in London’s electro-punk scene, but if the album’s chilling and hypnotic cover of an Eagles’ classic demonstrates anything, it’s that not only are Valerie and Sebastian braving new territories; they’re creating their own as well…
“As an artist, you never know how the music will sound after you leave the dream world of the studio, and how it will translate into the real world of the listeners. The many moments of joy, the countless late nights we spent in the studio, and passionately worked on our music, remain particularly fulfilling moments in our memory. I hope that this energy and emotion are felt by the outsiders, and will entice them into our world…”
In short, Noblesse Oblige welcome you to share the pleasures of their new found pop universe. An invitation no one should refuse.