Chromeo is a Canadian electro-funk duo formed in 2002 in Montreal by David Macklovitch and
Patrick Gemayel.
History The duo met in the mid-1990s at Collège Stanislas
in Montreal.
Considering their backgrounds, the two childhood friends jokingly describe themselves as "the
only successful Arab/Jewish partnership since the dawn of human culture".
Around the time when they were both 15, Macklovitch joined Gemayel's band.
During this time, Macklovitch's younger brother A-Trak started winning the Disco Mix Club
Championships, becoming World Champion in 1997.
After the band, Dave 1 and P-Thugg started to produce hip hop music together.
Also, at this time Tiga was working with Dave 1 at a record store and asked Dave 1 to work
on a project for his label, Turbo.
Dave 1 and P-Thugg signed as Chromeo and started creating music together.
Their 2004 debut album, She's in Control, defined Chromeo and started their music career.
Reviews were mostly favorable, comparing the sound to 1980s groups like Hall & Oates, Klymaxx
and Sylvester.
"Needy Girl" became a world wide club hit.
According to Dave 1, "She's in Control didn't blow up.
But we had "Needy Girl", and "Needy Girl" was like a musical passport.
That song went all around the world and DJs played it everywhere".
In 2005, Chromeo released a mix CD of funky dance tracks on Eskimo Belgium records entitled
Un Joli Mix Pour Toi.
In 2006, the group was featured in DJ Mehdi's song "I Am Somebody".
During early 2007, Chromeo supported indie rock group Bloc Party on their British tour.
After a three-year break, they released a second album, Fancy Footwork, which was also
positively reviewed.
Chromeo and Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates teamed up in the Summer of 2008 for a jam session
on Live from Daryl's House.
They would team up once again for a live performance at the 2010 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
in Manchester, TN.
Chromeo released their third studio album entitled Business Casual to critical acclaim
on September 14, 2010.
In the time since the release, the music video for "Night by Night" has received over 4 million
views on YouTube, the band has appeared on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic, been on the
cover of Future Magazine, and sold out The Forum in London.
At the beginning of March 2011, Chromeo sent out notice that they had recorded the "world's
smallest album", entitled Drive Time, which consists of 55 songs in only 183 seconds.
About a week later, it was revealed that Drive Time is actually a free musical Nokia Own
Voice satellite navigation pack for Ovi Maps, made for usage with Nokia's compatible cell
phones.
A red vinyl 5" single consisting of regular, instrumental and a cappella versions of "Turn
Left" and "Follow" was released to promote it, with a sticker on the shrink wrap saying
that it was a numbered limited edition of 40 copies.
Early September 2013, the group announced their fourth album White Women with a trailer
video featuring the track "Over Your Shoulder".
It was released May 9, 2014, in Ireland and May 12 elsewhere.
Members Dave 1 on guitar and lead vocals.
Macklovitch earned his Ph.D. in French Literature from Columbia University and is currently
appointed as lecturer in French at Barnard College.
P-Thugg on keyboards, synthesizers and talk box.
Moved to Canada at the age of 8.
Discography Studio albums
DJ mix albums 2005: Un Joli Mix Pour Toi
2006: Ce Soir on Danse 2009: DJ-Kicks: Chromeo
Singles Music videos
Needy Girl, directed by: Tomorrow's Brightest Minds
Rage, directed by: Moh Azima Tenderoni, directed by: Surface2Air
Bonafied Lovin, directed by: Nina Nourizadeh Fancy Footwork, directed by: Ben Levine
Momma's Boy, directed by: Stephane Manel Night by Night, directed by: Surface2Air
Don't Turn the Lights On, directed by: Keith Schofield
Hot Mess, directed by: Surface2Air When the Night Falls, directed by: DANIELS
I Could Be Wrong, directed by: N/A Jealous, directed by: Ryan Hope
Remixes 2004: Cut Copy: "Future"
2004: Sebastien Tellier: "Ketchup vs. Genocide" 2006: Lenny Kravitz: "Breathe"
2007: Feist: "Sea Lion Woman" 2008: Treasure Fingers: "Cross the Dancefloor"
2008: Surkin: "Chrome Knight" 2008: Vampire Weekend: "The Kids Don't Stand
a Chance" 2009: Tiga: "What You Need"
2010: Aeroplane: "Superstar" 2011: Mayer Hawthorne: "A Long Time"
2013: Boys Noize: "What You Want" Awards and nominations
2007 Bucky Awards - Best Sweatin' to the Indies Workout Song - "Fancy Footwork"
2008 Left Field Woodie – 2008 MTV Video Music Awards Nominee
2008 Juno Awards Nominee for "Dance Recording of the Year" - "Fancy Footwork"
2011 MTV Video Music Awards Nominee for "Best Special Effects"
2011 Juno Awards Nominee for "Dance Recording of the Year" - "Business Casual"
Appearances Their song "Hot Mess" in the Forza Horizon
soundtrack.
Their songs "Jealous" and "Come Alive" in the Forza Horizon 2 soundtrack.
On October 17, 2007, they performed "Fancy Footwork" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
On June 17, 2008, they made a second appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and performed "Fancy
Footwork" again.
On November 8, 2008, they appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, performing an unplugged
version of "Momma's Boy" with an eight-piece string section.
In February 2009, they appeared on Yo Gabba Gabba with an original song about washing
hands.
On September 20, 2010 they appeared on Late Show with David Letterman performing "Night
By Night."
On February 21, 2011 they appeared on Conan, performing "Hot Mess."
On March 27, 2011 they performed "Hot Mess" live at the 2011 Juno Awards.
On November 9, 2011 they performed "When The Night Falls" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
On July 7, 2012 the duo was the live Grand Closing Event of the Festival International
de Jazz de Montréal and performed a mix of songs from Fancy Footwork and Business Casual.
On October 29, 2013 they performed "Sexy Socialite" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
On April 22, 2014 they made a third appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, performing "Jealous"
and "Come Alive".
On June 7, 2014, appearing at the Parklife Weekender, they performed songs including
"Jealous", "Come Alive", "Tenderoni", "Hot Mess" and "Bonafide Lovin'"
Use in popular culture Over the years, Chromeo's music has featured
in a number of video games, starting with Space Colony in 2003, which used the group's
"So Gangsta" single as its main theme song.
In 2007, the group's "Fancy Footwork" appeared in Need For Speed: Pro Street.
The Yuksek remix of "Bonified Lovin'" was then used in FIFA 09 and "Don't Turn the Lights
On" was featured in FIFA 11, exposing the band to a new group of listeners.
In 2011, "Don't Turn the Lights On" was again featured in Dirt 3.
In 2012, "Hot Mess" was featured in Forza Horizon.
Footnotes Citations
References
External links Official website
Chromeo on Facebook Chromeo on Twitter
Chromeo on YouTube Chromeo on Myspace