Olivier Libaux

Olivier Libaux2019-10-23T15:33:58+00:00

Project Description

Olivier Libaux is a French songwriter and musician whose investment in music spans worldwide. Heavily influenced by English television and radio, Libaux developed a stronger connection to English art and culture than he did French. As a child, only at the age of six, he dove into classic rock and roll and music movements such as punk and New Wave before becoming a musician himself later in life, with the start of his band Nouvelle Vague, who celebrate their 15th anniversary this year. Over time, he traversed through the evolutions of pop music, indie, 1950’s jazz, and Bossanova. Amidst this journey of sound exploration, he started his professional career as a musician in 1989 when his first band, Les Objets, (a French Pop band singing in French, influenced by The Smiths and The Pale Fountains) signed to Columbia Records.

RELEASES

Olivier Libaux EP artwork
The Lost EP
Music for Music Lovers
Download on iTunes

“Rather than simply emulating the songs, he has produced something which renders the versions meaningful.” – Liam Anthony, Essentially Pop

The Lost EP, from French musician and producer Olivier Libaux (Nouvelle Vague), is the second volume of songs released under Libaux’s project, Uncovered Queens Of The Stone Age. The EP shifts through the hidden patterns of sound and mood from original Queens Of The Stone Age songs and flips the perspective, creating new vantage points and environments that come into their own. Featuring vocalist Charlotte Savay on the EP, the songs bend and shift like contorted rays of light hitting a broken mirror from all angles, casting a matrix of varying atmospheres. The Lost EP available on Libaux’s label, Music For Music Lovers, features Queens of the Stone Age’s hit single, “Sick Sick Sick.”

Sick Sick Sick (Single)
Music for Music Lovers
Download on iTunes

“This version is a glamourous offering that wouldn’t sound out of place on St. Vincent’s ‘Masseduction’ record.” – Liam Anthony, Essentially Pop

“Sick Sick Sick”, the Queens of the Stone Age single recreated by French musician and producer Olivier Libaux and vocalist Charlotte Savay, creates an irresistible maze of sound inspired by the dreamy, yet eerie imagery of a David Lynch movie. Libaux crafts his songs from his Uncovered Queens of The Stone Age project to shift from a man’s interpretation to a woman’s interpretation as Charlotte Savay’s fluttering voice dances about with brimming female energy. While the original version is speed-intensive and full of passion and madness, Libaux became interested in shifting the mood, envisioning a mysterious nightclub where a woman (Charlotte Savary) wanders around in a hypnotic haze as her voice projects forward, guiding her towards the dreamy, dancefloor beat.

Bio

Olivier Libaux is a French songwriter and musician whose investment in music spans worldwide. Heavily influenced by English television and radio, Libaux developed a stronger connection to English art and culture than he did French. As a child, only at the age of six, he dove into classic rock and roll and music movements such as punk and New Wave before becoming a musician himself later in life, with the start of his band Nouvelle Vague, who celebrate their 15th anniversary this year. Over time, he traversed through the evolutions of pop music, indie, 1950’s jazz, and Bossanova. Amidst this journey of sound exploration, he started his professional career as a musician in 1989 when his first band, Les Objets, (a French Pop band singing in French, influenced by The Smiths and The Pale Fountains) signed to Columbia Records.

Together they released two albums titled La Normalité (1991) and Qui Est Qui? (1994). Les Objets released two music videos directed by Michel Gondry who then went on to receive a Best Original Screenplay Academy Award for his screenplay writing in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. 

The band went their separate ways in 1995, and Libaux moved onto becoming a session recording and live musician, playing with Katerine, Helena Noguerra, Alex Gopher, and Carla Bruni, who all recorded together on various albums. He released his first solo album in 2003 on Naive Records called L’Héroine Au Bain, a fairytale/musical/pop opera consisting of three different acts. During the same period, Libaux formed Nouvelle Vague with Marc Collin to release their first EP.  The two then produced the band’s first album (released in 2004 on Peacefrog Records), which turned into a huge success. Nouvelle Vague’s first album was released in the USA by Luaka Bop (David Byrne) shortly after its European release. The group’s second album, Bande A Part, was released in 2006 (distributed by PIAS in Europe/V2 in the US), and again, the band collected huge success.

Libaux released his second solo album, Imbecile, in 2007 on Discograph records, which was a musical play featuring four performers (Katerine, Helena Noguerra, Barbara Carlotti & JP Nataf). This album included live shows in the mix of a play (theatre) and live songs all performed by the crew. This album was a success in France, and some songs including “Le Petit Succès” (featuring Barbara Carlotti) became well-known abroad. 

In 2009, Nouvelle Vague released their third studio album, simply called 3, featuring some of their heroes of the New Wave era including Martin Gore (Depeche Mode), Terry Hall (The Specials), Barry Adamson (Magazine), and Ian Mc Culloch (Echo and The Bunnymen).  Since their last collaboration, 2016’s I Could Be Happy, and a book/CD for juniors (published by Actes Sud) titled “La Guitare Dans La Vitrine”, Nouvelle Vague released their fourth album dedicated to the French New Wave scene, Couleurs Sur Paris, on Barclay/Universal. The record featured many French artists such as Vanessa Paradis, Etienne Daho, Charlie Winston, and more.

In 2013, Libaux decided to shift focus back to his love for American rock and indie music and delved into his project, Uncovered Queens Of The Stone Age album, which was released on his own label, Music For Music Lovers. This album featured Inara George, Emiliana Torrini, Alela Diane, Skye/Morcheeba, Katharine Whalen (Squirrel Nut Zippers), Susan Dillane (Death In Vegas), Clare Manchon (Clare And The Reasons), Rosemary Standley (Moriarty), Ambrosia Parsley (Shivaree), Youn Sun Nah, and Gaby Moreno. The project was dedicated entirely to Queens of The Stone Age music, as Libaux aimed to give them a fresh meaning and existence, further breathing new life from his various musical influences and background of experience into each song. 

The year 2019 marks the 30 year anniversary for Olivier Libaux as a professional musician and the 15th anniversary of Nouvelle Vague. Nouvelle Vague celebrated with two releases of rare tracks and a world tour while Libaux released a second EP in tribute to Queens of The Stone Age. The EP titled The Lost EP features vocalist Charlotte Savary on each of the songs.

“Uncovered Queens of the Stone Age” flips that manly air on its head with a dozen versions of the band’s songs sung by women.”

Eric. R Danton, The Wall Street Journal

“The erstwhile Nouvelle Vague mastermind’s solo effort finds the Frenchman covering QOTSA songs with the help of an impressive array of guest singers.”

David Marchese, SPIN Magazine

“Rather than simply emulating the songs, he has produced something which renders the versions meaningful.”

Liam Anthony, Essentially Pop

The Lost EP sees Libaux in fine form.”

Peter Mann, mxdwn

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