Au Revoir Simone

{{Short description|American indie pop band}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2017}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Au Revoir Simone | image = Au Revoir Simone, Paris (Pont des Arts), 2012.JPG | landscape = yes | caption = Au Revoir Simone in Paris (2012) | origin = Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | genre = {{hlist|Indie pop|dream pop|synth-pop}} | years_active = 2003–present | label = {{hlist|Our Secret|Moshi Moshi|Rallye Label|Instant}} | website = {{URL|aurevoirsimone.com}} | current_members = * Heather D'Angelo * Erika Forster * Annie Hart | past_members = * Sung Bin Park }}

'''Au Revoir Simone''' is an American indie pop band from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York, formed in 2003. The group is composed of Erika Forster (vocals/keyboard), Annie Hart (vocals/keyboard/bass) and Heather D'Angelo (vocals/drum machine/keyboard).

The band's name comes from a line Pee-wee Herman says to a minor character (named Simone) in Tim Burton's 1985 film ''Pee-wee's Big Adventure''.<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/au-revoir-simone-mn0000331137/biography|title=Au Revoir Simone | Biography & History|website=AllMusic}}</ref> The group's musical inspirations were compared by the band's European label, Moshi Moshi Records, to "a dutifully mined musical thrift store"; these diverse influences include Modest Mouse, Stereolab, the Mountain Goats, Louis Prima, Pavement, the Beach Boys, Björk, Broadcast, Belle & Sebastian, David Bowie, Bee Gees and Billie Holiday.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.moshimoshimusic.com/artists/au-revoir-simone |title=Au revoir Simone |publisher=Moshimoshimusic.com |access-date=February 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103202144/http://www.moshimoshimusic.com/artists/au-revoir-simone |archive-date=January 3, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History== thumb|left|Au Revoir Simone performing in 2008. Au Revoir Simone formed in late 2003 when Forster (formerly of Dirty on Purpose) and Hart met on a train ride home to New York from Vermont and decided to form an all-keyboard band.<ref name="AllMusic"/> They were soon joined at practices by D'Angelo and a fourth member, Sung Bin Park (keyboard/vocals).<ref name="AllMusic"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pandora.com/au-revoir-simone |title=Au Revoir Simone - Listen to Free Music by Au Revoir Simone on Pandora Internet Radio |access-date=July 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610061816/https://www.pandora.com/au-revoir-simone |archive-date=June 10, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In December 2004, Park left the band.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thedelimagazine.com/aurevoirsimone/index.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060910023533/http://thedelimagazine.com/aurevoirsimone/index.htm|url-status=dead|title=The Deli Magazine review|archive-date=September 10, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.moshimoshimusic.com/artists/au-revoir-simone|title=Au Revoir Simone|publisher=Moshimoshmusic.com|access-date=February 15, 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103202144/http://www.moshimoshimusic.com/artists/au-revoir-simone|archive-date=January 3, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Their debut album, ''Verses of Comfort, Assurance & Salvation'', was released on March 23, 2005 on the band's own Our Secret Record Company label; it was subsequently issued in Europe on October 31 by Moshi Moshi Records, and later by the Rallye Label in Japan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Au-Revoir-Simone-Verses-Of-Comfort-Assurance-Salvation/release/5609775|title=Au Revoir Simone - Verses Of Comfort, Assurance & Salvation|website=Discogs|date=November 8, 2023 }}</ref> ''Pitchfork'' reviewer Brian Howe said that the album's "synth-pop is always simple, elegant, and ethereal".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/9182-verses-of-comfort-assurance-salvation/|title=Au Revoir Simone: Verses of Comfort, Assurance & Salvation|website=Pitchfork}}</ref> The band described the album as akin to "exploring a secret garden at night with a flashlight".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-bird-of-music-mw0000580590|title=The Bird of Music - Au Revoir Simone | Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref>

In summer 2006, the trio toured the US, Canada and Europe with We Are Scientists.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.papermag.com/bonjour-au-revoir-simone-1425229603.html|title=Bonjour Au Revoir Simone|date=July 27, 2006|website=PAPER}}</ref>

On March 5, 2007, they released their second album, ''The Bird of Music'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Au-Revoir-Simone-The-Bird-Of-Music/release/913275|title=Au Revoir Simone - The Bird Of Music|website=Discogs|date=March 5, 2007 }}</ref> promoted by a US tour with Peter Bjorn and John and Voxtrot from April through June.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thefader.com/2007/04/09/au-revoir-simone-release-lp-tour |title=Au Revoir Simone Release LP, Tour | the FADER |access-date=July 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226130408/http://www.thefader.com/2007/04/09/au-revoir-simone-release-lp-tour |archive-date=December 26, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> British ''Vogue'' said of the album, “Eschewing the typical guitar-heavy band set-up for old-school synthesizers and vintage drum machines, [Au Revoir Simone] create dreamy synth-pop. Their soft ethereal vocals laid over spare homemade drumbeats are reminiscent of Air and Stereolab".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aurevoirsimone.com/au_revoir_simone_bird_of_music_release-2.pdf|title=AU REVOIR SIMONE THE BIRD OF MUSIC|publisher=Aurevoirsimone.com|access-date=February 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212054640/http://www.aurevoirsimone.com/au_revoir_simone_bird_of_music_release-2.pdf|archive-date=February 12, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Spin'' said, "Powered by vintage keyboards, a lockstep beat-box, and gorgeous, wide-eyed warbling, the Simones create make-out music for your inner android".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2007/06/au-revoir-simone-bird-music-our-secret-record-company/|title=Au Revoir Simone, 'The Bird of Music' (Our Secret Record Company)|date=June 5, 2007|website=Spin}}</ref>

On May 21, 2007, they played a concert at Fondation Cartier in Paris for David Lynch's retrospective exhibition. The stage they performed on was a recreation of the set from his film ''Eraserhead''.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopmusic/5393124/David-Lynchs-darlings-Au-Revoir-Simone.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | title=David Lynch's darlings - Au Revoir Simone | date=May 27, 2009}}</ref> Au Revoir Simone played at both the Treasure Island Music Festival and Monolith Festival in September 2007. In October 2007, they contributed a T-shirt design to raise money for Transportation Alternatives.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.yellowbirdproject.com/2007/10/22/new-t-shirt-design-from-au-revoir-simone/ |title=New t shirt |publisher=blog.yellowbirdproject.com |date=2007 |access-date=2020-03-29}}</ref>

In March 2008, the band appeared on ''eTown'', a Boulder, Colorado-based radio program co-hosted by Nick Forster, father of band member Erika Forster.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.etown.org/artists/au-revoir-simone/|title=Au Revoir Simone - eTown|work=eTown|access-date=November 19, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref>

In November 2008, vocals by Au Revoir Simone were used in both the original and the Aeroplane remix of Friendly Fires track "Paris".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Friendly-Fires-Paris/release/1542702|title=Friendly Fires - Paris|website=Discogs|date=November 10, 2008 }}</ref>

Their third album, ''Still Night, Still Light'', was produced by Thom Monahan and released on May 19, 2009.<ref name="AllMusic"/> ''Pitchfork'' called it "feather-light electropop that's not to be taken lightly".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13000-still-night-still-light/|title=Au Revoir Simone Still Night, Still Light|publisher=Pitchfork.com|access-date=February 15, 2015}}</ref>

In July 2009, they performed at that year's Lovebox Festival in Victoria Park, London. At the end of 2009, the group embarked on their own headlining tour of Japan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://spinearth.tv/report/smiles-a-ball-of-string-and-sweet-talk-with-au-revoir-simone |title=SPIN Earth : Asia : Smiles, A Ball of String and Sweet Talk with Au Revoir Simone by justinosaka |access-date=February 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515181747/http://spinearth.tv/report/smiles-a-ball-of-string-and-sweet-talk-with-au-revoir-simone |archive-date=May 15, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2010, they created one of the first interactive music videos for their song "Knight of Wands". In true coloring book style, the video allows viewers to become a part of the creative process.<ref>{{cite web|last=Au Revoir Simone|title=The Knight of Wands|url=http://www.theknightofwands.com/|work=Interactive Music Video|access-date=March 29, 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110329114010/http://www.theknightofwands.com/| archive-date= March 29, 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref>

After a long hiatus, Au Revoir Simone reunited to release their fourth album, ''Move in Spectrums'' on September 24, 2013 on Richard Gottehrer's revived Instant Records label.<ref name="AllMusic"/> AllMusic said it was "maybe their best record yet" and "certainly their most sophisticated and most arranged work".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/move-in-spectrums-mw0002558738|title=Move in Spectrums - Au Revoir Simone | Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref>

On June 23, 2015, they released the "Red Rabbit" digital single on Instant Records.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://instantrecordsinc.com/news_item&NewsID=3765647631301|title=Instant Records : NEW SINGLE "RED RABBIT" BY AU REVOIR SIMONE|website=Instant Records}}</ref>

==Other projects== In early 2015, Forster formed Summer Moon with Lewis Lazar, Tennessee Thomas (the Like) and Nikolai Fraiture (the Strokes).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/summer-moon-mem/|title=Summer Moon (mems The Strokes, Au Revoir Simone, The Like), playing shows w/ GOASTT, Father John Misty ++ SXSW|website=BrooklynVegan|date=February 26, 2015 }}</ref>

In 2016, Forster and Thomas formed Nice as Fuck with Jenny Lewis (from Rilo Kiley), and released their first album on June 24.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.spin.com/2016/07/review-nice-as-fuck-nice-as-fuck/|magazine=Spin|title=Review: On 'Nice as F**k,' Jenny Lewis' New Band Is Just Okay as F**k|first=Dan|last=Weiss|date=July 6, 2016|access-date=August 7, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/64629-jenny-lewis-forms-new-band-naf-nice-as-fuck-with-au-revoir-simones-erika-forster-and-the-likes-tennessee-thomas/|title=Jenny Lewis Forms New Band NAF (Nice As Fuck) With Au Revoir Simone's Erika Forster and the Like's Tennessee Thomas|website=Pitchfork|date=April 6, 2016}}</ref>

In 2017, Hart released a solo album entitled ''Impossible Accomplice''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/annie-hart-solo-record|title=Annie Hart Has Come to Grips With Being Happy|work=Vogue|first=John|last=Ortved|date=August 1, 2017|access-date=December 14, 2022|language=en}}</ref>

==In popular culture== "Sad Song" was used in the 2007 German blockbuster movie ''Rabbit Without Ears'' and later on the soundtrack of the 2011 movie ''From Prada to Nada''. Also in 2007, their song "Stay Golden" appeared in the French film ''Anna M.''. "The Lucky One" and "Don't See the Sorrow" were heard in the 2008 Japanese film ''Kimi no Tomodachi'' (English: ''Your Friends''). In 2009, "Another Likely Story" was used on the 100th episode ("What a Difference a Day Makes") of ''Grey's Anatomy''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1263293/|title="Grey's Anatomy" What a Difference a Day Makes (TV Episode 2009)|date=January 21, 2013|work=IMDb|access-date=February 15, 2015}}</ref>

"Stay Golden" and "Red Rabbit" were featured in HBO's 2012 Marilyn Monroe documentary ''Love, Marilyn'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2077747/soundtrack|title=Love, Marilyn (2012) - IMDb|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref> while "Crazy" was used in the 2014 film ''Vampire Academy'' and its soundtrack.

Au Revoir Simone was among the bands performing at the Roadhouse in the 2017 revival of David Lynch's ''Twin Peaks''; they played "Lark" in the fourth episode and "A Violent Yet Flammable World" in the ninth, both from their 2007 album ''The Bird of Music''.

In 2021, the band appeared on the Storyboard podcast with author Tamara Winfrey Harris.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lithub.com/announcing-season-4-of-the-storybound-podcast/ |title= Announcing Season 4 of the Storybound Podcast |date= June 4, 2021 |accessdate= June 10, 2021}}</ref>

In 2023, the band's song "All or Nothing" appeared in the Roku show ''Slip'' (S1E2).{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

==Discography==

===Studio albums=== *''Verses of Comfort, Assurance & Salvation'' (2005, Our Secret Record Company North America, Moshi Moshi Records Europe, Rallye Label Japan) *''The Bird of Music'' (2007, Our Secret Record Company North America, Moshi Moshi Records Europe, Rallye Label Japan) *''Still Night, Still Light'' (2009, Our Secret Record Company North America) *''Move in Spectrums'' (2013, Instant Records North America, Moshi Moshi Records Europe)

===Singles and EPs=== *"Hurricanes" CD single (2005, Rallye Label Japan) *"Through the Backyards" 7" single (2006, Moshi Moshi Records UK) *"Fallen Snow" 7" single (2007, Moshi Moshi Records UK) *"Sad Song" 7" single (2007, Moshi Moshi Records UK) *"Summer Lines" 7" single (2008, Elefant Records Spain) *"Shadows" 7" single (2009, Moshi Moshi Records UK) *''Tour Remixes'' CD EP (2009, Rallye Label Japan) *"Shadows (The Teenagers Remix)" digital single (2009, RCRD LBL) *"Organized Scenery" digital single (2010, self-released) *"Tell Me" 7" single (2010, Keys of Life Finland) *"Crazy" 7" single (2013, Moshi Moshi Records UK) *"Somebody Who" digital single (2013, Moshi Moshi Records France) *"Red Rabbit" digital single (2015, Instant Records)

===Remix albums=== *''Reverse Migration'' (2008, Our Secret Record Company North America) *''Night Light'' (2010, Moshi Moshi Records Europe) *''Spectrums'' (2014, Moshi Moshi Records Europe)

===Guest appearances=== *Vocals on "Star Guitar" on ''The One'' album by Shinichi Osawa (2007, RZN)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.shinichi-osawa.com/works/the-one|title=The One|website=Shinichi-osawa.com|date=September 26, 2007}}</ref> *Vocals on "Paris" (Aeroplane Remix) by Friendly Fires (2008, XL Recordings) *"Paganini Rocks" 12" EP by Robortom Featuring Au Revoir Simone (2010, Sunday Best Recordings) *"Who Am I Now" on the ''Le voyage dans la lune'' album by Air (2012, EMI) *"Rise Early Morning" digital single by Nervo Featuring Au Revoir Simone (2014, Ultra Records) *Les Chansons de l'innocence by French singer Etienne Daho on the almost namesake album Les Chansons de l'innocence retrouvée (2014, Universal Music Group)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Au Revoir Simone}} * [http://aurevoirsimone.com/ Official website] * [https://theyshootmusic.com/?artist=Au%20Revoir%20Simone (Outdoor) recording sessions with They Shoot Music Dont They] * ''L.A. Record'' [http://larecord.com/interviews/2009/06/11/au-revoir-simone-interview-her-synth-is-a-chimpanzee/ interview (June 2009)] {{Authority control}}

Category:2003 establishments in New York City Category:American all-female bands Category:American dream pop musical groups Category:American women in electronic music Category:Electronic music groups from New York (state) Category:Indie rock musical groups from New York (state) Category:Moshi Moshi Records artists Category:Musical groups from Brooklyn