Vanessa and the O's

Vanessa and the O's formed in 2003/2004 when Vanessa Contenay-Quinones got together with Swedes Andreas Mattson (Popsicle) and Niclas Frisk (Atomic Swing) later joining up with James Iha (former guitarist and co-founding member of The Smashing Pumpkins) in New York in 2003.

They recorded the album "La Ballade d'O" over the next 18 months or so. Quinones also went into the studio with Lou Reed around this time and cut an Anglo/French version of "Sunday Morning" while also working on new songs with Frisk and Mattson. The album was finally finished in 2005 when Pelle Gunnerfeldt (of The Hives) was brought in to play bass and take of final mixes, bringing in Per Nordmark on drums and Bjorn Ytlling (of Peter Bjorn & John) for additional keyboards. The self financed album was licensed initially to Virgin/EMI Sweden May 25th 2005.

In September the imported album was 'Album of the Week' in influential British record store Rough Trade who described it as "...a fantastic album of ‘european cool’ with breathy vocals over music which sounds like The Concretes, Stereolab or a modern take on the Velvet Underground…" In 2006 the band decided to forgo the major label route and release the album on their own label Rushmore Recordings headed up by ex major A&R and Deaf School founder member Steve Allen. By summer 2007 the physical album was available in France, Japan, Thailand, Portugal, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden earning great critical acclaim with a 'Disque Du Mois' from influential French rock mag 'Rock & Folk' saying "Incontournable!...un album estival, lumineux, en teintes blanches, jaunes et pourpres...c'est un miracle..Vanessa a la classe total!" (Nicolas Ungermuth)and rave reviews from the other leading french music writers on Les Inrockuptibles, Magic, Rolling Stone and Figaro. The O's played shows in Paris and London through 2006/2007 with appearances at Londons legendary Dublin Castle and Liverpool Carling Academy September '07. The album has been available worldwide digitally since 2005.

2007 saw The O's invited to participate in the all star musical tribute to legendary composer Ennio Morricone alongside Bruce Springsteen, Metallica, YoYoMa, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock and Morricone. 'We All Love Ennio Morricone' features Vanessa's rendition of the Francoise Hardy classic 'Je Changerais d'Avis'.

In 2006 Vanessa was guest vocalist on Scott Walkers album The Drift, appearing as the voice of Clara.

October 2008 sees the release of the second album in the female French pop artiste series 'Filles Fragiles' which will include a new composition by Vanessa. The song 'Pres de Toi' will appear on 'Filles Fragiles 2' released by Dutch indie Sonic Scenery through EDM.

Discography

* "Plus Rien" (EP, 2003)
* "La Ballade d' O" (2005)
* "La Ballade d'O" Japanese version with 4 extra tracks (2006)
* "We All Love Ennio Morricone" (various artists, 2007)

External links

* [http://www.vanessaandtheos.com Vanessa and the O's official homepage] [http://www.myspace.com/vanessaandtheos] [http://www.myspace.com/fillesfragiles]