Malajube
Encyclopedia
Malajube is a francophone
indie rock
band based in Montreal
. The band has three albums out on Dare to Care Records
.
. Critics welcomed the disc with positive reviews, which allowed the group to become instantly famous in the Quebec music scene
. Several of its songs, such as "Le Métronome" and "La Valérie", were prominent mainstays on several Quebec radio stations. For the production of the album, the group turned to Martin Pelland from fellow Montreal band The Dears
.
In the months that followed the release of their first album, Malajube launched a tour across Quebec, participating in several major festivals, such as Les FrancoFolies de Montréal
.
In February 2006, the quartet released its second album, Trompe-l'œil
, which also received a warm welcome on the part of Quebec media. Collaborations with singer Pierre Lapointe
, Québécois rap group Loco Locass
, and the use of a wide variety of instruments has contributed to the album's success in addition to audio engineer
/record producer
Ryan Battistuzzi's (We Are Wolves
, Death from Above 1979
, Blessed by a Broken Heart
) production work. Trompe-l'œil also began to attract attention in English Canada
in July, when it was shortlisted for the 2006 Polaris Music Prize
, and in the United States
in October, when it was a featured review on Pitchfork Media
. In 2006, they won three Félix Award
s at the 28th edition of the Gala de l'ADISQ
: two for Trompe-l'œil, "Best alternative album" and "Best cover art" while they were proclaimed "Revelation of the year 2006". The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
has described them as one of very few Quebec musical groups who have achieved success in English Canada despite not performing in English, something the band states they have no interest in doing. Nom d'un chien.
On October 17, 2006, Malajube released their CD Trompe-l'œil in the U.S. They also participated in the CMJ
Music Marathon in New York City
on November 2, 2006. In 2007 they did tour the USA, opening for Snowden
, passing through Austin
's South by Southwest
festival.
On May 4, 2007, Trompe-l'œil was released in Europe
and in Japan
on the German label City Slang. A Take-Away Show acoustic video session shot by Vincent Moon
.
The band's song "Montreal -40°C" was featured in a Rogers Wireless
commercial, and another song, "Ton plat favori", was in a Zellers
commercial. "Pâte filo" was also featured in a commercial for Radio Shack
in the United States. Regarding the French lyrics, Augustin said in an interview: "I am sure the language, even if we say 'yeah., people from the states are interested in French music We are exportable,' which is something I hear a lot, it would still be difficult to understand that. We have a chance with Malajube, because people get the music. Even if it is in French and people don't get the lyrics, the music does the work. It talks to people." When asked if Malajube find it odd to play a show to an English speaking crowd and have people singing along who have no idea what they’re singing, Cournoyer said: "Yes, it’s very funny. But wherever we go, there always seems to be a couple of Quebecers in the crowd, who teach other people."
In spring of 2009, with the release of Labyrinthes, Malajube was featured as the X3 Artist of the month by Aux.tv
, CBC Radio 3
and Exclaim!
for March 2009. They also toured the US again passing by the Festival International de Louisiane. in Lafayette
and were once again shortlisted for the 2009 Polaris Music Prize
. They also returned to New York in the fall for the CMJ
Music Marathon.
In 2010 Malajube went to Vancouver
to play at the 2010 Winter Olympics
and created the soundtrack for the film The Trotsky
.
In February 2010, the National Film Board of Canada
's French Program produced an interactive video for the unreleased song "Contrôle", called "100 mots pour la folie". The interactive experience is an invitation to explore our perceptions of mental illness through a visit of NFB archives extracts linked to words associated to mental illness and insanity the users type in to build their own music video of the band piece.
In January 2011, Malajube was nominated for The 10th Annual Independent Music Awards in the EP category for Contrôle.
On January 20, 2011, the band released an official announcement that their fourth album, La Caverne, will be released on April 19. A track from the album, "Synesthésie", was released on the band's website on February 12, 2011.
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band based in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. The band has three albums out on Dare to Care Records
Dare to Care Records
Dare to Care Records is a Canadian independent record label. Based in Montreal, the label was founded by Éli Bissonnette and Hugo Mudie. The label maintains two separate imprints, Dare to Care for anglophone and francophone artists promoted across Canada and internationally, and Grosse Boîte for...
.
History
Formed by a group of friends in Montreal, the band made itself known in 2004 with the release of its first album, Le Compte completLe Compte complet
Le Compte complet is the debut album by Canadian indie rock band Malajube, released in 2004.-Track listing:# "L'Introduction" – 0:24# "La Maladie" – 1:31# "Le Robot sexy" – 2:43# "Le Métronome" – 2:43# "L'Amour sous l'eau" – 0:36...
. Critics welcomed the disc with positive reviews, which allowed the group to become instantly famous in the Quebec music scene
Music of Quebec
Being a modern cosmopolitan society, today, all types of music can be found in the Canadian province of Quebec. What is specific to Quebec though are traditional songs, a unique variety of Celtic music, legions of excellent jazz musicians, a culture of classical music, and a love of foreign rhythms...
. Several of its songs, such as "Le Métronome" and "La Valérie", were prominent mainstays on several Quebec radio stations. For the production of the album, the group turned to Martin Pelland from fellow Montreal band The Dears
The Dears
-History:The band formed in 1995 and released their first album, End of a Hollywood Bedtime Story, in 2000. Their orchestral, dark pop sound and dramatic live shows cemented The Dears at the foundation of the then-emerging Canadian indie renaissance...
.
In the months that followed the release of their first album, Malajube launched a tour across Quebec, participating in several major festivals, such as Les FrancoFolies de Montréal
Les FrancoFolies de Montréal
Les FrancoFolies de Montréal is a large annual music and performance festival held in Downtown Montreal, Quebec, featuring over 1,000 French-language performers from all over the world, as well as attracting over 500,000 visitors....
.
In February 2006, the quartet released its second album, Trompe-l'œil
Trompe-l'oeil (album)
Trompe-l'œil is the second album by indie rock band Malajube, released in 2006 on Dare to Care Records. The album is inspired in part by medical themes; in the album's liner notes, each song is given a subtitle relating to some aspect of physical or mental health.-Guest musicians:The song "Montréal...
, which also received a warm welcome on the part of Quebec media. Collaborations with singer Pierre Lapointe
Pierre Lapointe
Pierre Lapointe is a Canadian singer. He has won many prizes since his debut, including six Félix in 2005 and at least one in 2006. He is well known for his voice and his obscure, esoteric lyrics, which tend to be melancholic. Another distinctive characteristic of his lyrics is their literary style...
, Québécois rap group Loco Locass
Loco Locass
Loco Locass are a hip hop group from Quebec formed in 1995. The group often defends the role of the French language in Canada, and champions Quebec sovereignty.Loco Locass' lyrics often deal with the role of the French language, and Quebec's role in Canada...
, and the use of a wide variety of instruments has contributed to the album's success in addition to audio engineer
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
/record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Ryan Battistuzzi's (We Are Wolves
We Are Wolves
We Are Wolves are a Quebec indie rock band, based in Montreal, consisting of vocalist and bassist Alexander Ortiz, keyboardist/backing vocalist Vincent Levesque and drummer/vocalist Antonin Marquis. The band released their debut album, Non-Stop Je Te Plie en Deux with Fat Possum Records, in 2005...
, Death from Above 1979
Death from Above 1979
Death from Above 1979 are a Toronto-based Canadian dance-punk/noise rock duo. Their album, You're a Woman, I'm a Machine, was released in late 2004. The band broke up in 2006, but announced a reunion in 2011.-History:...
, Blessed by a Broken Heart
Blessed by a Broken Heart
Blessed by a Broken Heart, stylized as BBABH, is a post-hardcore and glam metal band, originally from Montreal, Quebec, Canada that was formed in 2003. They are currently signed to Tooth & Nail records.-History:...
) production work. Trompe-l'œil also began to attract attention in English Canada
English Canada
English Canada is a term used to describe one of the following:# English-speaking Canadians, as opposed to French-speaking Canadians. It is employed when comparing English- and French-language literature, media, or art...
in July, when it was shortlisted for the 2006 Polaris Music Prize
2006 Polaris Music Prize
The inaugural edition of the Canadian Polaris Music Prize presented on September 18, 2006, at Toronto's Phoenix Concert Theatre. The winning album was Final Fantasy's He Poos Clouds.-Nominees:...
, and in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in October, when it was a featured review on Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
. In 2006, they won three Félix Award
Félix Award
The Félix Award is a music award, given on an annual basis to artists in the Canadian province of Quebec.The first Félix awards were presented on September 23, 1979, by the Association du disque, de l'industrie du spectacle québécois...
s at the 28th edition of the Gala de l'ADISQ
ADISQ
The ADISQ is a nonprofit organization with the mission to help the music industry in Quebec. It was created in 1978....
: two for Trompe-l'œil, "Best alternative album" and "Best cover art" while they were proclaimed "Revelation of the year 2006". The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
has described them as one of very few Quebec musical groups who have achieved success in English Canada despite not performing in English, something the band states they have no interest in doing. Nom d'un chien.
On October 17, 2006, Malajube released their CD Trompe-l'œil in the U.S. They also participated in the CMJ
College Music Journal
College Music Journal, commonly known as CMJ, is a music events/publishing company which hosts an annual festival in New York City, the CMJ Music Marathon, as well as a weekly magazine of and for the music industry and college radio stations in the United States and Canada. It publishes top 30...
Music Marathon in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on November 2, 2006. In 2007 they did tour the USA, opening for Snowden
Snowden (band)
Snowden is the moniker of musician and songwriter Jordan Jeffares. The name is inspired by Snowden, a fictional character from the novel Catch-22 by Joseph Heller.- History :...
, passing through Austin
Austin
Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas.Austin may also refer to:-In the United States:*Austin, Arkansas*Austin, Colorado*Austin, Chicago, Illinois*Austin, Indiana*Austin, Minnesota*Austin, Nevada*Austin, Oregon...
's South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
festival.
On May 4, 2007, Trompe-l'œil was released in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
on the German label City Slang. A Take-Away Show acoustic video session shot by Vincent Moon
Vincent Moon
Vincent Moon is an independent filmmaker from Paris mainly known for his field work music videos of indie rock related musicians as well as some notable mainstream artists like Tom Jones, R.E.M. or Arcade Fire. Besides making music videos he also makes experimental films and documentaries...
.
The band's song "Montreal -40°C" was featured in a Rogers Wireless
Rogers Wireless
Rogers Wireless is a wireless telecommunications provider offering mobile phone and data services throughout Canada using Global System for Mobile Communications and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System technology. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rogers Communications...
commercial, and another song, "Ton plat favori", was in a Zellers
Zellers
Zellers Inc. is Canada's second-largest chain of mass merchandise discount stores, with locations in communities across Canada. A subsidiary of the Hudson's Bay Company , it has 273 locations across the country....
commercial. "Pâte filo" was also featured in a commercial for Radio Shack
Radio shack
Radio shack is a slang term for a room or structure for housing radio equipment.-History:In the early days of radio, equipment was experimental and home-built. The first radio transmitters used a noisy spark to generate radio waves and were often housed in a garage or shed. When radio was first...
in the United States. Regarding the French lyrics, Augustin said in an interview: "I am sure the language, even if we say 'yeah., people from the states are interested in French music We are exportable,' which is something I hear a lot, it would still be difficult to understand that. We have a chance with Malajube, because people get the music. Even if it is in French and people don't get the lyrics, the music does the work. It talks to people." When asked if Malajube find it odd to play a show to an English speaking crowd and have people singing along who have no idea what they’re singing, Cournoyer said: "Yes, it’s very funny. But wherever we go, there always seems to be a couple of Quebecers in the crowd, who teach other people."
In spring of 2009, with the release of Labyrinthes, Malajube was featured as the X3 Artist of the month by Aux.tv
Aux.tv
Aux is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel and corresponding website owned and operated by Glassbox Television...
, CBC Radio 3
CBC Radio 3
CBC Radio 3 is a radio station that consists of two parts devoted to Canadian arts and music: a radio service which is available on Sirius Satellite Radio and streaming audio, and several daily and weekly podcasts from the CBC Radio 3 website...
and Exclaim!
Exclaim!
Exclaim! is a monthly Canadian music magazine that features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with special focus on Canadian and cutting-edge artists...
for March 2009. They also toured the US again passing by the Festival International de Louisiane. in Lafayette
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
and were once again shortlisted for the 2009 Polaris Music Prize
2009 Polaris Music Prize
The 2009 edition of the Canadian Polaris Music Prize was presented on September 21, 2009 in Toronto at the Masonic Temple and broadcast live online for the first time in its short history...
. They also returned to New York in the fall for the CMJ
College Music Journal
College Music Journal, commonly known as CMJ, is a music events/publishing company which hosts an annual festival in New York City, the CMJ Music Marathon, as well as a weekly magazine of and for the music industry and college radio stations in the United States and Canada. It publishes top 30...
Music Marathon.
In 2010 Malajube went to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
to play at the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
and created the soundtrack for the film The Trotsky
The Trotsky
The Trotsky is a 2009 Canadian comedy film directed by Jacob Tierney.-Plot:Montreal West high school student Leon Bronstein believes that he is the reborn incarnation of Marxist/Bolshevik leader Leon Trotsky. Shortly after he starts to work in his family's clothing factory, he attempts to unionize...
.
In February 2010, the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
's French Program produced an interactive video for the unreleased song "Contrôle", called "100 mots pour la folie". The interactive experience is an invitation to explore our perceptions of mental illness through a visit of NFB archives extracts linked to words associated to mental illness and insanity the users type in to build their own music video of the band piece.
In January 2011, Malajube was nominated for The 10th Annual Independent Music Awards in the EP category for Contrôle.
On January 20, 2011, the band released an official announcement that their fourth album, La Caverne, will be released on April 19. A track from the album, "Synesthésie", was released on the band's website on February 12, 2011.
Band members
- Julien Mineau (lyricsLyricsLyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, and guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) - Francis Mineau (drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
) - Mathieu Cournoyer (bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) - Thomas Augustin (keyboardsMusical keyboardA musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a musical instrument, particularly the piano. Keyboards typically contain keys for playing the twelve notes of the Western musical scale, with a combination of larger, longer keys and smaller, shorter keys that repeats at the...
, vocals)
Former members
- Rémi Nadeau-Aubin (guitar, 2002–2004)
- Renaud Bastien (guitar/keyboards, 2006–2007)
Discography
- Le Compte completLe Compte completLe Compte complet is the debut album by Canadian indie rock band Malajube, released in 2004.-Track listing:# "L'Introduction" – 0:24# "La Maladie" – 1:31# "Le Robot sexy" – 2:43# "Le Métronome" – 2:43# "L'Amour sous l'eau" – 0:36...
, 2004 - Trompe-l'œilTrompe-l'oeil (album)Trompe-l'œil is the second album by indie rock band Malajube, released in 2006 on Dare to Care Records. The album is inspired in part by medical themes; in the album's liner notes, each song is given a subtitle relating to some aspect of physical or mental health.-Guest musicians:The song "Montréal...
, 2006 - Labyrinthes, 2009
- Contrôle, EP 2010
- La caverne, 2011