Music Producer
MUSIC
Shanghai (2017)
Shanghai is an album inspired by the city itself - its culture and architecture; how it is a melting pot of many things. Musically he draws on 90's sounds and the work from artists including Mark Snow, Angelo Badalamenti, Joe Hisaishi and Aphex Twin.
"This record is a mysterious ballad in the heart of 1920s Shanghai... An invitation to travel, a tribute to the refinement and in the delicacy of a fantasized and blurry period of time, which fed the imagination of the musicians, the artists and the architects of this mythical city. Young chinese singer Hama, a Shanghai native, also honors me by singing on the title 'Love Peas'. The keys of this new adventure is in your hands."
© & ℗ Invada Records / Amira 2017
Old Tapes (2016)
College - Old Tapes celebrates ten years of composition from 2006 and 2016. Most of these tracks are unreleased demo versions.
To illustrate the music video of the track " Auto Pilot ", College team up with the director Dan Bell. This collaboration, born out of the same generational anchoring, reflects the strange dream of a paradise of the consumption which collapses silently.
© & ℗ Amira 2016
Save the Day - EP (2014)
The story of the new EP is quite dark, with its roots in American psychological thrillers of the late 70s. The graphic style of the record is an obvious reference to this and, as with the previous albums, is the product of a collaboration with German designer Alexander Burkart.
College also invited the talented New York singer, Nola Wren, to delve into this fantasy world to co-create the single "Save the day"
© & ℗ Amira 2014
Heritage (2013)
When I was a child I drew a lot, feeding my imagination with cartoons and collections of illustrations borrowed from the library. Several months ago, while I was unpacking some boxes during a move, I came across one of my sketches from that time and, with it, a multitude of memories resurfaced. I realised then the fascination that works like ‘Starwatcher’ had exerted over me and how formative French Science Fiction had been in the way I compose music.
With this album, I wanted to pay tribute to those wonderful artists that include, among others, René Laloux, Jean Chalopin, Bernard Deyriès, Shuki Levy and obviously Moebius, whose recent death I learned of when I had finished writing ‘Heritage’. Having such profound admiration for the work of Jean Giraud makes the melancholic accents of the record resonate with me today in a very special way...
Since exploring the period of the Cold War with ‘Northern Council’, my work has taken on a more intimate dimension. Yet I see this record as a timeless journey; one where the melodies can ultimately reflect everyone’s story.
© & ℗ Amira 2013
Northern Council (2011)
The architecture, the surrealism, or even the spy novels are as many inspirations which made up the creative influences of the compositions by Northern Council. The exchanges between College and Alexander Burkart (The Zonders) and the sharing of their references also shaped this visual and sound universe.
It was thus evident for the record to come along exclusive illustrations (under the shape of six cards illustrated on both sides) to extend the listening through graphic reflections. 500 limited copies will be produced and this collector's edition will be available March 14th on the Valerie’s blog.
© & ℗ Amira 2011
A Real Hero - EP (2009)
Position your television antennas correctly and adjust the tracking on your BETA player, because the new EP from Valerie’s main man, College, is making its way through high-frequency airwaves and into our living rooms.
The title track ‘A Real Hero’, features the vocal duties of Electric Youth. The marriage of the soft synths and airy vocals sound like the commencement speech that these two musical entities never got to deliver at the podium. The song has a somber feeling cloaked over it yet the steady synths welcome the track with a glimpse of hope. Next is ‘Closer’, a track which if you listen closely, you can actually feel the dew forming over the freshly-cut blades of grass. Then we’re introduced to ‘Critical Mass’, a track for cruising on a motorbike through the post-apocalyptic remains of a city.
As you coast through the ruins, all that’s left are clouds of dust and a few survivors who spend their nights hovered over burning barrels in dark alleys, trying to keep warm. Following this is a little piece titled ‘The Mirage Makers’, which combines obscure sound-scapes and sludgy electronics to create visions of a space-experiment gone horribly wrong. Lastly, the EP closes with the up-tempo ‘Susan Waiting’, the lost theme song to a forgotten TV show that takes place in San Francisco’s Bay. This song plays over the opening credits, where we see Susan riding her scooter over the Golden Gate Bridge, silhouetted by the late afternoon sun as this week’s episode unfolds.
The track ‘A Real Hero' was used in the film Drive, directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and starring Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan.
© & ℗ Amira 2009 / Electric Youth Music Inc.
Secret Diary (2008)
College’s debut album, ‘Secret Diary’. A great deal of influences inspired by the creation of the Valerie's blog, this album is also the reflection of fantastic collaborations which have been born, and developed since the debut of the collective in 2007 with artists such as Electric Youth, Anoraak, Maethelvin, The Outrunners and many more.
© & ℗ Amira 2008 / Electric Youth Music Inc.
Teenage Color - EP (2008)
"A few weeks ago, I first came across College on Myspace and immediately fell in love with his beautiful dreamy french house compositions. then I found out about his blog Valerie as well as his very talented friends Anoraak and The Outrunners who are already playlisted by living french house legend Lifelike"
Discodust blog 08/09/2007
© & ℗ Amira 2008
Drive (2011)
A mysterious Hollywood stuntman and mechanic moonlights as a getaway driver and finds himself in trouble when he helps out his neighbor.
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Writers: Hossein Amini (screenplay), James Sallis (book)
Stars: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston
Music: College & Electric Youth - A Real Hero
© Bold Films 2011
Extant (2015)
An astronaut struggles to learn how she became pregnant while on a 13-month-long solo space mission. Molly finally learns the frightening truth about what happened to her son. Also, Julie's decision to erase Ethan's memory has disturbing conveniences.
Director: Dan Lerner
Creator: Mickey Fisher
Stars: Halle Berry, Pierce Gagnon, Grace Gummer
Music: College - Départ
Season 2 Episode 3
© CBS 2015
Land of the Sun (2015)
Niklas Goldbach's film explores California City - the third largest City in the state of California. One of the world's biggest failed urban planning projects, in 1965 it was thought that it would grow to rival Los Angeles. 50 years later, it is mainly a vast grid of crumbling paved roads intended to lay out residential blocks.
Director: Niklas Goldbach
Music: College - Départ
© Niklas Goldbach 2015
Raiders (2015)
A documentary of the story behind Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation (1989).
Directors: Jeremy Coon, Tim Skousen
Writers: Tim Skousen, Jeremy Coon
Stars: Chris Strompolos, Eric Zala, Jayson Lamb
Music: College - Desire
© Drafthouse Films 2015
FILM & TV CUES
Drive (2011)
A mysterious Hollywood stuntman and mechanic moonlights as a getaway driver and finds himself in trouble when he helps out his neighbor.
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Writers: Hossein Amini (screenplay), James Sallis (book)
Stars: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston
Music: College & Electric Youth - A Real Hero
© Bold Films 2011
Extant (2015)
An astronaut struggles to learn how she became pregnant while on a 13-month-long solo space mission. Molly finally learns the frightening truth about what happened to her son. Also, Julie's decision to erase Ethan's memory has disturbing conveniences.
Director: Dan Lerner
Creator: Mickey Fisher
Stars: Halle Berry, Pierce Gagnon, Grace Gummer
Music: College - Départ
Season 2 Episode 3
© CBS 2015
Land of the Sun (2015)
Niklas Goldbach's film explores California City - the third largest City in the state of California. One of the world's biggest failed urban planning projects, in 1965 it was thought that it would grow to rival Los Angeles. 50 years later, it is mainly a vast grid of crumbling paved roads intended to lay out residential blocks.
Director: Niklas Goldbach
Music: College - Départ
© Niklas Goldbach 2015
Raiders (2015)
A documentary of the story behind Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation (1989).
Directors: Jeremy Coon, Tim Skousen
Writers: Tim Skousen, Jeremy Coon
Stars: Chris Strompolos, Eric Zala, Jayson Lamb
Music: College - Desire
© Drafthouse Films 2015
Tigertail (2020)
A Taiwanese factory worker leaves his homeland to seek opportunity in America, where he struggles to find connection while balancing family and newfound responsibilities in this multi-generational drama.
Directors: Alan Yang
Writers: Alan Yang
Stars: Tzi Ma, Christine Ko, Hong-Chi Lee
Music: College feat. Hama - Love Peas
© Netflix 2020
MUSIC VIDEO
College feat. Hama - Love Peas
Official video for 'Love Peas', directed by Charles Lanceplaine, taken from College's fourth full length album 'Shanghai'. This will be released on Invada Records 28/04/2017 on all formats.
"When David called me this past summer to tell me about his new album "Shanghai", I was super excited, being a long time fan of his work, I could not resist to work again with him. We had collaborated on a music video back in 2014 for his album Heritage. When David explained his vision for his new album I was enthralled by the idea since Shanghai is the place I’ve been calling home for the past 10 years. The album being a love letter to the old Shanghai of the 30's/40's, we decided to follow the same path with the video for "Love Peas".
Charles Lanceplaine
Directed by : Charles Lanceplaine
Production house: Push Media
Producer: Kristin Skar Forseth
Director of Photography: Allen Luqing
Camera operator: Kristian Kvam Hansen
1st AD’s: Alex Greenberg & Mark Tang
Cast
Man: Joseph Zhang
Old Lady: Yan MeiLing
Young lady: Aimaly Li
College - Auto Pilot
College - Auto Pilot (Official Video)
Directed by Dan Bell
Produced by Valerie Records
“When David approached me for this project, I was thrilled. Listening to Auto-Pilot, I envisioned a distant world with 1980’s American mall aesthetics. I wanted the video to resemble a fever dream, drifting through empty corridors and spaces that have long lost their luster. The dozens of hours of footage I have collected of dead malls in America paired with the track was a perfect, harmonious fit. It was a fantastic collaboration to be a part of. We both knew exactly what we wanted with this project..” Dan Bell
College feat. Nola Wren - Save the Day
College feat. Nola Wren - Save the Day (Official Video)
Directed by Jay Buim
Starring Nina Tarr
Directory of Photography - Kyle Repka
Editors - Rachel Webster and Moss Levenson
Producer - Alexis Celic
Production Designer - Michael Altman
Hair and Makeup - Candice Forness
Assistant Camera - Rick Cook
Colourist - James Tillett
Special Thanks to Valerie Records and MPC
College - Les Automates
From the album Heritage, the music video for 'Les Automates' is a collaboration between College and Charles Lanceplaine, an independent director based in Shanghai.
Directed, filmed and edited by: Charles Lanceplaine
Produced by: Valerie Records
Producer/Fixer: Clark Wang
2nd Camera: Tutu
Stylist: Annie Kim
Talents: Ansen Wang, Elliott Zelinskas, Robert Niegel
Special thanks to: The Shelter, Chromaphase, Zik Lu and Gabriel Bancaud.
College feat. Electric Youth - She Never Came Back
From the album Secret DIary - She Never Came Back (feat. Electric Youth)
Screenplay : Frantz Lasorne & Nicolas Guyon
Camera : Nicolas Guyon
Video Editing : Frantz Lasorne
Main Actress : Charlotte Gérard
Special Thanks : Tony Daluz, Véronique Favia, Jean Charles Queffelec
COLLEGE
"It is brooding, it is beautiful and it is heart-wrenching"
- Tokion
"College est français et surtout le meilleur
héritier de l'esprit italo"
- Technikart
"Trésor caché de l'électro française"
- JD Beauvallet - Les Inrocks
College is David Grellier, a French electronic music composer, born in 1979 in Nantes. In the late '90s he acquired his first computer with which he produced several demos influenced by artists such as Jeff Mills and Aphex Twin, and labels such as Soma Records, Peacefrog and Warp. In 2007 he started Valerie, a blog that has evolved to become a record label and an expanding cultural network of international artists. 2011 saw Nicolas Winding Refn chose 'A Real Hero' by College feat. Electric Youth as the theme song for his acclaimed and award-winning film Drive, propelling College into mainstream consciousness and securing him support across publications such as Pitchfork, Consequence of Sound and The Line of Best Fit.
Photographie : Pierre Jean Asmus