Vanessa and the O's
Encyclopedia
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
.
They recorded the album La Ballade d'O over the next 18 months. Quinones also went into the studio with Lou Reed
around this time and cut an Anglo/French version of "Sunday Morning" under the name 'Vanessa St James ft Lou Reed'. The album was finally finished in 2005 when Pelle Gunnerfeldt (producer of The Hives
) was brought in for additional production and 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 in May 2005.
In September 2005, the imported the debut was 'Album of the Week' in influential London 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 release the album on their own label Rushmore Recordings headed up by ex Warner Bros A&R executive and Deaf School founder member Steve Allen. By summer 2007 the album was available in France, Japan, Thailand, Portugal, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden and digitally worldwide 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 live shows in Sweden, France, Japan, Holland and the UK through 2006/2007/08.
In 2006, Vanessa was the guest vocalist on Scott Walkers album The Drift.
2007 saw The O's invited to participate in the all-star musical tribute to legendary composer Ennio Morricone
alongside Bruce Springsteen
, Metallica
, Yo Yo Ma, Quincy Jones
, Herbie Hancock
and Ennio Morricone. "We All Love Ennio Morricone" features Vanessa & The O's rendition of the Morricone/Françoise Hardy classic "Je Changerais d'Avis".
In 2008, the second in the all female French pop series, Filles Fragiles, included the new Vanessa Contenay-Quinones song, "Pres de Toi", taken from her solo side project Allez Pop!. In 2009, the Italian compilation release, Paris Fashion District Vol 2 featured new Vanessa Contenay-Quinones/Allez Pop! track "Magnifique". In 2010, Paris Fashion District Vol 3 featured "Pres de Toi" and the Supperclub series featured "Oddysee" taken from Vanessa's Allez Pop! project which also provided the track "Quand Tu Me Dis (Doop Doop)" for the French pop compilation Musique Fantastique from the Netherlands.
In 2009/2010, Vanessa and Andreas Mattsson hooked up with Robyn keyboardist Markus Jagerstedt to work on the second Vanessa & The O's album, writing and recording new songs in London and Stockholm with final mixes undertaken by Pelle Gunnerfeldt in March 2010.
Vanessa Quinones
Vanessa Contenay-Quinones is a London-based singer-songwriter....
got together with Swedes Andreas Mattson (Popsicle) and Niclas Frisk
Niclas Frisk
Niclas Frisk is a Swedish musician and the founder of Atomic Swing. He is a singer, guitarist, and composer. He started Atomic Swing after he was in Perssons Pack as the guitarist...
(Atomic Swing
Atomic Swing
Atomic Swing is a Swedish pop rock group formed in 1992. Their debut album, A Car Crash in the Blue, produced several hits in the Swedish charts. After an intense period the band split up, in 1997...
) later joining up with James Iha
James Iha
James Yoshinobu Iha b. March 26, 1968 in Chicago, Illinois) is a Japanese American rock musician. He is best known as having been a guitarist and co-founder of the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins and for his eclectic musical projects of recent years, most notably being a permanent...
(former guitarist and co-founding member of The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...
) in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
They recorded the album La Ballade d'O over the next 18 months. Quinones also went into the studio with Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
around this time and cut an Anglo/French version of "Sunday Morning" under the name 'Vanessa St James ft Lou Reed'. The album was finally finished in 2005 when Pelle Gunnerfeldt (producer of The Hives
The Hives
The Hives are a Swedish garage rock band that first garnered attention in the early 2000s as a prominent group of the garage rock revival. Their mainstream success came with the release of the "greatest hits" album Your New Favourite Band, featuring their most well-known song "Hate to Say I Told...
) was brought in for additional production and 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 in May 2005.
In September 2005, the imported the debut was 'Album of the Week' in influential London 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 release the album on their own label Rushmore Recordings headed up by ex Warner Bros A&R executive and Deaf School founder member Steve Allen. By summer 2007 the album was available in France, Japan, Thailand, Portugal, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden and digitally worldwide 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 live shows in Sweden, France, Japan, Holland and the UK through 2006/2007/08.
In 2006, Vanessa was the guest vocalist on Scott Walkers album The Drift.
2007 saw The O's invited to participate in the all-star musical tribute to legendary composer Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone, Grand Officer OMRI, , is an Italian composer and conductor, who wrote music to more than 500 motion pictures and television series, in a career lasting over 50 years. His scores have been included in over 20 award-winning films as well as several symphonic and choral pieces...
alongside Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
, Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, Yo Yo Ma, Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
, Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
and Ennio Morricone. "We All Love Ennio Morricone" features Vanessa & The O's rendition of the Morricone/Françoise Hardy classic "Je Changerais d'Avis".
In 2008, the second in the all female French pop series, Filles Fragiles, included the new Vanessa Contenay-Quinones song, "Pres de Toi", taken from her solo side project Allez Pop!. In 2009, the Italian compilation release, Paris Fashion District Vol 2 featured new Vanessa Contenay-Quinones/Allez Pop! track "Magnifique". In 2010, Paris Fashion District Vol 3 featured "Pres de Toi" and the Supperclub series featured "Oddysee" taken from Vanessa's Allez Pop! project which also provided the track "Quand Tu Me Dis (Doop Doop)" for the French pop compilation Musique Fantastique from the Netherlands.
In 2009/2010, Vanessa and Andreas Mattsson hooked up with Robyn keyboardist Markus Jagerstedt to work on the second Vanessa & The O's album, writing and recording new songs in London and Stockholm with final mixes undertaken by Pelle Gunnerfeldt in March 2010.
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)
- Filles Fragiles Vol 2 1 track (2008)
- La Ballade d'O Digital European version with 4 bonus tracks (2009)
- Paris Fashion District vol 2 2 tracks (2009)
- Supperclub - Adrenaline 1 track (2009)