Jean-Yves Leloup and Eric Pajot,who form the French DJ-duo Radiomentale,have always been intrigued by remixes. While Leloup is a sound artist and music journalist based in Paris,Pajot is a visual artist and DJ,and since they first got together in 1992,theyve been working towards giving their music new dimensions with every project. They started their career with radio shows,providing music and sound installations for art exhibitions,playing DJ sets at many events,and even creating the sound design for the 2011 French sci-fi film Carre Blanc. Currently,the duo is in India with an audio-visual concept that they pioneered in France in 2000,which when we heard about,it blew our minds. Speaking to us from Bangalore,where they performed yesterday,Leloup tells us about cinemix a type of audio-visual concert where they screen a classic,silent film (usually by DW Griffith,FW Murnau,Buster Keaton or Dziga Vertov) and rework the background score live,in front of an audience. The screenings are mostly followed by a light DJ set,which the audience can unwind to. For a DJ coming from the electronic scene,the culture of remixes is common. After playing for many years at parties and for brands,we thought moving to cinema would be the next step. Thats how the idea of cinemix was born, says Leloup. Their first screening was at a theatre in Paris about 10 years ago,where they screened a Vertov film,and played around with the audio and sound. The response was fantastic. People came to us and said that theyd perceived the movie in a whole new light. We try to provide a new dialogue to these films by adding contemporary and ambient sounds, says Leloup. Their works are readily available on vimeo and soundcloud,and we decided to watch a three-minute clip of Keatons The General,redone. The trick is to find the right connection,and provide a timeless sound. These are vintage films,and we try to lend a new perspective to a viewing of the film by using both classical and experimental sounds depending on the mood of the scene, he says. The General,which is known for its train sequences and dead-pan comic timing,was deconstructed of its tone,using mechanical urban sounds during the action sequence and the spanish guitar,during the slower moments. The duo are looking forward to their performance in Delhi next weekend,this being their first visit to India. They havent yet worked on an Indian film,but the idea excites Leloup. Indian films are so colourful,but I dont think there are too many silent films,right? he asks. He says that they are up for the challenge,nonetheless. We use all kinds of music sources,including jazz and funk sounds,everyday human voices and radio chatter. The idea is to make the whole experience immersive, says Leloup. Radiomentale has released two albums so far,I Could Never Make That Music Again and I-Land. Their music is rife with techno beats,trippy sounds and voices in French. Their soundtracks (some 24-minutes long) are an equal measure of ascending and descending music. For their performance in Delhi,they are going to follow the screening with a more contemporary,upbeat DJ set. We know India really likes to party, says Leloup. About their future plans,he says,In France,we take our vacations very seriously. Our future projects include holidaying through the summer for now. Mixing is in our blood but now,its time for our annual break. Radiomentale is performing at Warehouse Cafe,Connaught Place on June 26 at 7 pm,where they will screen Buster Keatons The General. Entry free. Contact: 43500217
