Chromeo | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Chromeo performing at the North Coast Music Fest in 2015. From left: David Macklovitch, Patrick Gemayel | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Montreal,Quebec, Canada |
| Genres | |
| Discography | Chromeo discography |
| Years active | 2002 (2002)–present |
| Labels | |
| Members |
|
| Website | chromeo |
| Signature | |
 | |
Chromeo is a Canadianelectro-funk duo fromMontreal, formed in 2002 by musicians David "Dave 1" Macklovitch and Patrick "P-Thugg" Gemayel. Their sound draws fromsoul music,dance music,rock,synth-pop,disco andfunk.[4]
As of 2024, the band has released six studio albums, with three of them hitting theBillboard 200 charts.[5] In 2018, Chromeo received their firstGrammy Award nomination forBest Engineered Album, Non-Classical for their albumHead over Heels.[6]
The duo met in the mid-1990s atCollège Stanislas in Montreal. Speaking on their different ethnic backgrounds, the two jokingly describe themselves as "the only successfulArab/Jewish partnership since the dawn of human culture."[7]
Around the time when they were both 15, Macklovitch joined Gemayel's band.[8][9] During this time, Macklovitch's younger brotherA-Trak (ofDuck Sauce) started winning theDisco Mix ClubChampionships, becoming World Champion in 1997.[10] After the band, Dave 1 and P-Thugg started to producehip 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.[9] Dave 1 and P-Thugg signed as Chromeo and started creating music together.
Reviews of their 2004 debut album,She's in Control, were mostly favorable. Critics compared the sound to 1980s groupsHall & Oates,[11][12]Zapp,[13]Prince,[13]Klymaxx andSylvester.[14] "Needy Girl" became a worldwide club hit.[15] 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". The song "You're So Gangsta" was featured as the theme tune for the PC gameSpace Colony.
In 2005, Chromeo released a mix CD of funky dance tracks on Eskimo Belgium records entitledUn Joli Mix Pour Toi (French for:A Nice Mix for You). In 2006, the group was featured inDJ Mehdi's song "I Am Somebody". During early 2007, Chromeo supported indie rock groupBloc Party on their British tour.[15]
After a three-year break, they released a second album,Fancy Footwork, which also received positive reviews.[16][17] In 2008, Chromeo performed withDaryl Hall as a part of his online seriesLive from Daryl's House.[18] They also performed with Hall at the 2010Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, TN.[19] On a 2009 episode ofYo Gabba Gabba!, Chromeo appeared performing original song "Nice 'N Clean".[20]
Chromeo released their third studio album,Business Casual, on September 14, 2010.[21] As of 2023, the music video for the album's single "Night by Night" had received over 5.6 million views onYouTube.[22] The band has appeared onKCRW'sMorning Becomes Eclectic,[23] been on the cover ofFuture Magazine,[24] and sold outThe Forum in London.[25]
At the beginning of March 2011, Chromeo sent out notice that they had recorded the "world's smallest album", entitledDrive Time, which consists of 55 songs in only 183 seconds.[26] About a week later, it was revealed thatDrive Time is actually a free musicalNokia Own Voicesatellite navigation pack forOvi Maps, made for usage with Nokia's compatible cell phones.[27] A red vinyl 5" single consisting of regular,instrumental anda 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.
In September 2013, the group announced their fourth studio albumWhite Women with a trailer video featuring the track "Over Your Shoulder".[28] It was released May 9, 2014, in Ireland and May 12 elsewhere.
Chromeo performed at theCoachella Valley Music and Arts Festival[29] in April 2014.
On November 2, 2017, Chromeo announced a new album calledHead Over Heels. The first single "Juice" was released on November 7, 2017.[30] In December of 2018, Chromeo received their first Grammy nomination for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical in the 61st Grammy Awards for the album.[citation needed]
On May 4, 2020, Chromeo announced the launch of its own record label, "Juliet Records" via Facebook.[31]
On June 12, 2020, the band released "Quarantine Casanova," an EP of five new tracks written and recorded under lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic. 100% of the proceeds from digital downloads, physical sales, and merch will be donated to Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp COVID-19 Relief Fund.[32]
On June 12, 2021, thelive albumDate Night: Chromeo Live! was announced for release on June 25, alongside the release of the single "Don’t Sleep (Live in Washington D.C.)". Tracks were recorded during a 2019 North America concert tour, where Chromeo performed live with a full band for the first time.[33]
Chromeo performed at the22nd Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2023.[34]
.jpg)
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Bucky Award | Best Sweatin' to the Indies Workout Song | "Fancy Footwork" | Won[40] |
| 2008 | Woodie Award | Left Field Woodie | — | Won[41] |
| Juno Award | Dance Recording of the Year | Fancy Footwork | Nominated[42] | |
| 2011 | Business Casual | Nominated[43] | ||
| MTV Video Music Award | Best Special Effects | "Don't Turn the Lights On" | Nominated[44] | |
| 2019 | Grammy Awards | Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical | Head Over Heels | Nominated[45] |
| 2022 | Juno Awards | Producer of the Year | On My Mind" (Anomalie & Chromeo), "Tango" (Onyx Collective) | Nominated[46] |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
