In 5 years, as part of the departmental Cybertremplin, 24 groups have been identified by the “contemporary music” mission of ADEM 06 and 9 have been awarded by internet users.
Dandy Ska, Identify, Medusa, French in 2002, Sinké Zakéou, Mensayak, 222, Nu Direction, Christobald Gang in 2003, Mensayak, Khundalini, Mastaya, Explicit, Les Dupont in 2004, Supercolors, Farniente, Mandrac, Maniacx, Musard in 2005, Blofeld, Moonpix Recorder, Sashird Lao, Groove Konnexion, and Soulbreakerz in 2006.
For the winners, the Cybertremplin provided an opportunity to perform under professional conditions during the Conseil Général’s Summer Evenings. Thus, 10 municipalities (Bonson, Coaraze, Colomars, Gattières, Grasse, Pégomas, Peymeinade, Puget-Théniers, St Etienne de Tinée, St Martin du Var) hosted more than 15 concerts ranging from ska to electro through neo-metal and trip-hop.
Moreover, some were also able, depending on opportunities and new projects developed, to be scheduled as part of large-scale operations by the Conseil général like “06-06-06” or “06 en scène”.
After selecting 95 artists or groups registered, finally 5 finalists will try to win the jackpot of this 2007 Cybertremplin equipped with a fabulous lineup.
2007 FINALISTS
CHINASKI: Their group name is the alter ego of Charles Bukowski. By appropriating the pen name of this exceptional writer, the members watch over the acerbic legacy of the most brilliant drunkard in American literature. The Bukowski triangle “sex, boozing, and writing” then becomes “sex, alcohol, and rock’n’roll”. Under the guidance of Jean-Louis Rougier, these five “ordinary madmen” from Nice navigate through rock, trip hop, and French chanson influences. They serve up texts mixing pessimism and irony, lucidity and “disillusionment”. They talk about male-female relationships, solitude, alcohol… Things that make up the universe of urban youths who might have grown up between Brassens and the Stranglers. Urban youths who would be more Iggy than Pop.
IN EXTENSO: The In Extenso project was born in Mathieu Geghre’s F1 kitchen-bathroom; joined later by Franck Lobielti (bass) then Philippe Chirico (drums)… Alternating overdriven guitars borrowed from the Pixies during their lunch break, a piano left by Erik Satie and Tom Waits, vintage keyboards that could have been misplaced by Beck or Radiohead… All a delightful chaos at the service of an elegant and demanding writing, evoking Dominique A, Mendelson or Jean Louis Murat.
In a trio formation both incisive and refined, In extenso unveils on stage a multifaceted French chanson; clearly assuming its Anglo-Saxon influences in terms of energy and melodies, on texts that are alternatively tense or radiant.
EN VRAC: En vrac formed in 2004 with 5 musicians:
2 accordions, 1 acoustic guitar, a flute, a violin, a piano, 1 darbouka, 1 drum set, and 1 sax.
A sixth musician has recently joined the troupe on tenor sax.
This group performs French chanson with texts, sometimes committed and sometimes light but always energetic.
The set is based on composition and sometimes, at the end of the concert, a few covers of traditional tunes like tarantellas, bella ciao…
Influenced by Eastern European music, musette, and Middle Eastern music, EN VRAC delivers at each performance a blend in their style that gets the audience dancing and hopping in a festive atmosphere.
After many concerts in universities, café concerts, associative bars, and the streets…
En vrac is now tackling bigger dates by opening for les ogres de barback at the Lino Ventura theater last December.
MANDRAC: Primary, free, straightforward, and sharp, MANDRAC is a half-acoustic, half-electronic trio. Their music, a sum of various influences, leads us into a very personal universe. Their compositions combine atmospheres of drum’n’bass, rock, funk, trip hop, ambient…
These three musicians, Didier (bass/vocals), Laurent (drums), Cyril (samples/synthesis) have played in various bands (Alien Nation, Yellowbrown, Rubbish Heap, Hector’s Circus, Substance…) before creating MANDRAC in September 2001. Until today, they have recorded 2 demos and their first LP “QWARTZ”.
At the beginning of 2005, the first feedback on QWARTZ arrives, they are excellent (webzine, fanzine, magazines, radios…), the machine is launched. During the year, they participate in 3 compilations: Sk8 and Graphics (Yocar editions, international distribution), Cyrano De Bergerac (original composition on the theme of Cyrano, for the centenary of Edmond Rostand’s death) and the compilation made by the PACA region and the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs (DRAC).
