Sébastien Tellier

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Sébastien Tellier


Img_capt = Sébastien Tellier at Printemps de Bourges 2008
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name =
Born = 1975
Died =
Origin = France
Instrument =
Genre =
Occupation = Musician
Years_active = 2001-"present"
Label = Record Makers
URL = [http://www.sebastientellier.com/ Official website]

Sébastien Tellier (born 1975 in Paris) is a French singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is currently signed to Record Makers, a French independent record label. He sings in English, French and Italian.

Biography

Tellier's first album, "L'incroyable Vérité" (The Incredible Truth), was released in 2001. Tellier went on tour with Air in support of the album and was joined on stage by world-renowned theremin player Pamelia Kurstin. "L'incroyable Vérité" is a pop album featuring styles from lo-fi electronica to bizarre cabaret tunes. Its sleeve featured Tellier in full evening dress on the front, while the back of jacket had a shot of him cavorting in a playboy's pool. He instructed listeners only to listen to the album by candle light. The track, "Fantino", was chosen by Sofia Coppola for the soundtrack to her 2003 film "Lost in Translation".

Tellier followed "L'incroyable Vérité" with his second studio album "Politics" (2005), which, like his third album "Sexuality" (2008), took a single term as both its title and theme. The album dealt with ways of power and governance. The most prominent song on "Politics" was "La Ritournelle", a string-led tune, which featured Nigerian drummer, Tony Allen, drummer and musical director of Fela Kuti's band Africa 70 from 1968 to 1979.

Since the release of "Politics", Tellier has also recorded an acoustic album of his more popular songs, "Sessions" (2006), which topped the French iTunes Store chart; this was repackaged for the British market as "Universe" (2006), to include both highlights from the French CD, as well as compositions from Tellier's score for the film "Narco".

In 2007, Tellier contributed songs to and collaborated with Mr. Oizo for the soundtrack of Oizo's feature film directorial debut, "Steak".

His third studio album "Sexuality" (an 11-track meditation on love-making) was produced by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo of Daft Punk.

In 2008, Tellier's Label "Record Makers" collaborated with retailer American Apparel for an exclusive three month pre-release of Tellier's album Sexuality. Limited edition versions of the Sexuality CD, LP and Dvine 7” and 12” single will be sold in all North American American Apparel stores and on the companies website at www.americanapparel.net beginning July 22nd, 2008.

Eurovision Song Contest 2008

On 7 March 2008, it was announced by Bruno Berberes, head of EBU delegation in France, that Tellier would represent France in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. It was held in Belgrade on 24 May 2008, with Tellier's song "Divine". This was the first time in the history of the contest that the nominated French entry was to be performed largely in English, [cite news | last = Viniker | first = Barry | title = France: Sébastien Tellier to Eurovision | publisher = ESCToday.com | date = 2008-03-07 | url = http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/10783 | accessdate = 2008-04-16 ] which caused controversy, [cite news | title = Eurovision song sparks French row | publisher = BBC News Online | date = 2008-04-16 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7350193.stm | accessdate = 2008-04-16 ] leading to Tellier pledging to increase the amount of French in the song prior to the competition itself. [cite news | title = Tellier surrenders to French Eurovision demands | publisher = guardian.co.uk | date = 2008-04-18 | url = http://music.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2274806,00.html | accessdate = 2008-04-18 ] In total, the entry received 47 points, the same points as Sweden, but due to the fact that the swedish entry where given 12 points from Malta, Sweden ended up as 18 and Tellier and France 19 ^th of 25 competitors.

Discography

*"L'incroyable Vérité" (2001), Record Makers
*"Politics" (2004), Record Makers
*"Sessions" (2006), Record Makers, a collection of previous songs recorded with new arrangements
*"Universe" (2006), compilation album, featuring tracks from Sessions and Narco albums
*"Sexuality" (2008),Record Makers

References

External links

* [http://www.sebastientellier.com/ Official website]
*MySpace|telliersebastien
*imdb name|1564718
* [http://www.luckynumbermusic.com UK Record Label]
* [http://www.myspace.com/sebastientellierfans Unofficial MySpace fansite]
* [http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=125&csid2=946&fid1=33290 Sebastien Tellier at exclaim]

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