Yelle

France’s latest upstart upsets the pomme-cart

Yelle, aka Julie Budet, hails from the French Techtonik scene (or brand, depending on how you view it – the term Techtonik has been trademarked). Techtonik, a meld of Belgium and Dutch cultures, started in 2000 as a scene rather than a musical style at the Metropolis club in Paris – which has been hosting Tecktonik Killer nights ever since. Neon clothing and cyberpunk influences (not to mention too many decades listening to bad techno) created a sub-culture that was to be a precursor to the London Nu Rave scene. With London mining Eighties rave music, France had opted for Nineties techno/electro. If you feel like having a go at a bit of Techtonik dancing, you’d best head to the Pompidou Centre where dance-offs are the norm on the streets outside. If you’d prefer to learn the dance in your garage, look no further than Jey-Jey on YouTube – with millions of hits – to guide you through the process.

While Uffie was busy hanging out with Justice and Ed Banger, Yelle was making a name for herself with a song dissing a singer with Paris-based hip-hop group TTC (Cuizineir), entitled ‘Short Dick Cuizi’. She also appeared on the track ‘Talk To The Hand’ by Fatal Bazooka (who is sort of a French Ali G – mimicking wannabe rappers from Marseilles as opposed to Staines from what I can make out). Since then it’s been busy for Yelle: her debut album, Pop Up, was released last year; Moschino chose her music for its spring 2008 fashion campaign; and she is currently supported Mika on his Dodgy Holiday European tour.

Stand out tracks include Yelle’s reworking of Eighties French hit ‘A Cause Des Garcons’, which was picked up by Electronic Arts in the Need For Speed: Pro Street videogame.

Yelle supports Mika on 26th February at Brixton Academy in London and can be caught at the Coachella Festival on the 26th April.

http://www.yelle.fr/

http://www.myspace.com/iloveyelle

Yelle - ‘Je Veux Te Voir’ (Features Nokia Express Handset)

Yelle - ‘A Cause Des Garcon’