Chelou new video She Rock, I Roll album out April 26th
08 March 2019
Newsdesk
Continuing his a long line of animated videos Chelou releases the film for new single She Rock, I Roll online today.
A comic strip take on both the western and the buddy movie, ‘She Rock, I Roll’ is a moody trip hop cut wrapped up in film-noire aesthetic. One of the tracks on his album produced by DJ / producer Maya Jane Coles ‘She Rocks I Roll’ evolved into a song from an unorthodox start.
“I wanted something that grooved on the record and spent more time singing noises and reversing them than writing lyrics. It all came from the guitar lick that I loved and just looped over and over. Then Maya produced around it and the beat fitted perfectly and took it to a place where it didn’t need any more words"say Chelou.
CHELOU - DEBUT ALBUM OUT 26th APRIL
An intoxicating set of folk-blues, beats and Chelou’s hauntingly vocal, ‘Out of Sight’ is released on April 26th on Chelou’s own label Concrete Dog via AWAL.
If the Chelou sound is a blissful brand of melancholy it’s rooted as much in the 21st century. Dance music was a staple when he was younger with its electronics and ballad-esque vocals having it’s own impact on this musical output.
Fittingly producer / DJ Maya Jane Coles has been a key mentor – Chelou featured on two of her tracks ‘Believe’ and ‘Darkside’ and she was the main collaborator in shaping and making Out Of Sight along with Cam Blackwood (George Ezra, London Grammar, Florence & The Machine) and LOXE.
With Chelou’s initial releases picking up consistent support from Annie Mac, Tom Ravenscroft, Lauren Laverne and Huw Stephens, it was ‘Halfway To Nowhere’ that proved the breakthrough track clocking up 4m plays on Spotify and over 5.5m on YouTube to date. Chelou wrapped up 2018 with the single release of Out Of Sight - on his own label Concrete Dog) alongside his most recent show, supporting Charlotte Gainsbourg.
Chelou translates to ‘shady’ or ‘hidden’ in French and the man born Adam Gray has “spent a long time not revealing much, but it wasn’t exactly intentional,” he says. “I originally wanted to be a songwriter and not a stage performer, or even a singer. I began to create a world outside of my everyday existence, starting with the name Chelou, and once it all started happening, it fit my natural personality.” This extends to his videos, all of which have been animations to date.
Having reached a good place, Chelou is no longer out of sight, but here and now, with an album that has made the wait all worthwhile.
Chelou will be touring across Europe during April with a headlining show at London’s Jazz Café on May 3rd and an appearance at Love Saves The Day later that month.
