Comprised of Charles Delaporte (bass, programming), Arnaud Vial (guitar, programming), Hugues Payen (violin, programming), Colotis Zoé (vocals), Toustou (electronics, trombone), and Chapi (clarinet), Caravan Palace is chiefly influenced by Django Reinhardt but also cites Vitalic, Cab Calloway, Justice, Lionel Hampton and Daft Punk as influences.
The band originally came together when Arnaud, Charles and Hugues were hired to score music for some rediscovered silent pornographic films (!) from the early 20th century. After playing the end result to some friendly listeners, the feedback persuaded them to drop their individual projects and come up with a repertory of their own.
After rounding out the band with Toustou, Chapi and the alluring vocals of Colotis they made their debut on the French independent label Wagram Music and promoted the release with the single "Jolie Coquine.” After a year of intense touring of clubs, theatres and festivals in support of it they reached as high as #11 on the French albums chart and are now the 4th best selling artist of 2009 in the country.
Buy the debut CD: Caravan Palace
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central
