|
|
||||||||||||
| Performance Christian Garcia, Christophe Jaquet and Stephane Vecchione (Velma) challenge the codes of the artistic genres in their quest for new forms of performance. Therefore, Velma developped musical theatre which positively irritated the common reception of the audience and its expectations towards an evening at the theatre. Emerged from rock and electronic music clubs where Velma still surprises the audience, Christian Garcia, Christophe Jaquet and Stephane Vecchione have been creating musical performances since 1999. They have developped a unique style of projecting music into the very heart of the dramatical set up. Velma offers music a new space, a space in which music is not at the service of the story, simple effect or decoration but where everything serves music. To open up towards theatre the three artists have worked together with dancers, actors, performers and VJs. Their first concert-performances Cyclique I&II (1999, 2000) and Applique (2000) surprised and fascinated the audience of that time. Velma has continued its research of the musicality within theatre and has developped Rondo in 2002. Rondo is based on the musical form of the rondo and unfolds its scenic dimension Ð just as if Velma made music visual. Rondo has toured around Europe and found great response from the audience. Velma Superstar (2005) went even further by playing with the ingredients of show business and entertainment and by simulating success. Their artistic search made them work with non professionals to create a choir which is casted anew in every city Velma Superstar is performed. This choir is not a normal choir, it becomes a musical and dramatical element of the show and leads into a transdisciplinary experience for the participants as well as the audience. Velma here is the cruel experience of the present, of the musicality of this huge, breathing organism, the strings of the instruments, the movement of the bodies, the eyes, the voices, the silence. In their lates show Requiem Velma is focussing on an eternal human obsession: death. Velma has created a requiem which is, like the ancient masses, primarily about survival. Again, Velma starts off from a musical form, the requiem. This form has been regularised by the Vatican in the early 20th century to prevent any digression. However, it is precisely formal digression Velma cares about.Velma hasnÕt composed a requiem for somebody or something in particular. ThereÕs no explicit message to be expected either. Maybe, creating a ceremony reflects a certain dolour for societal institutions theatre seems to be a last manifestation of. With Requiem, Velma again mixes up the genres and creates a timeless musical ceremony. |
||||||||||||
|
Music
A self produced album (Rythmique) was quickly followed by appearances on various compilations. These first foundations gave Velma the opportunity to give several gigs in Switzerland and in Europe. In summer 1999, the band signed on the Californian label Emperor Norton Records for the release of Cyclique, which came out in October 1999. Cyclique was released in Europe through the labels Noise Product and Namskeio Records. In March 2000, Parole, a 12-inch record presenting the latest recordings of the band was released on Stetic Records. Parole was reissued in CD format on M Narsitik Records under the name Panoramique. This release features remixes from Ma cherie for painting (Germany), Kohn (Belgium), Alog (Norway) Bruce Gilbert (UK), Pluramon (Germany), Jan Jelinek (Germany) Terre Thaemlitz (Japan) and Liryc (Switzerland). Recorded in the South of France in June 2002 and produced by London-based Mark Van Hoen (Locust, Seefeel, Mojave 3, Scala, Annie Williams, Sing-Sing), Ludwig, VelmaÕs third album is the long-awaited follow-up to Cyclique. This collaboration allowed the band to tune its sound towards a more ÒpopÓ feeling. Ludwig was released in Switzerland in October 2002 (M Narsitik), in Italy in June 2003 (White and Black) and finally throughout the rest of Europe during the Fall of 2003, with a license deal with Belgian label Zealrecords. LudwigÕs announcement was closely followed by the release of a split single with New YorkÕs hip hop band Dalek. This vinyl 12-inch is published by M Narsitik Records and hit the stands in the end of 2002. In 2003 appeared a single vinyl on French label Lykill: A different atmosphere. In October 2005 the fourth album of the trio La pointe Farinet 2'949m. was released on two different labels: on French Monopsone and on Swiss Gentlemen. Also produced by Mark Van Hoe this one is haunted by heavy and dirty and hip hop loops. La pointe Farinet, 2'949 m. contains some intense moments such as Metropolis (a cover of Motorhead) and Voices of the Ether another collaboration with Dalek. |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||