Vivien Lalu

Last updated

Vivien Lalu (born 2 December 1978 in Paris, France) is a French composer, record producer, sound designer and keyboardist who plays in the melodic / progressive metal band A-Z [1] as well as his own progressive rock project, Lalu. [2] His distinctive signature as a Keyboardist is his inventive use of keyboard layers, which frequently combine New-age music elements with retro, progressive rock textures. Rock Hard praised Lalu for his "endlessly imaginative keyboard arrangements". [3]

Contents

When it comes to Musical composition, The Prog Space highlighted Lalu's decision to move away from his early melodic prog metal sounds toward a "modernised" progressive rock style. [4] Citing Yes as a major inspiration, almost religious to him, Lalu declared while promoting his latest effort, Paint the Sky: "There is only one Yes, and no one will ever be able to replace them! But I aim to bring their kind of music to a new generation". [5]

Early life

Vivien Lalu was born on 2 December 1978 in Paris, France, to Michel Lalu, the guitarist and vocalist of French progressive rock band Polène, and Noëlle Lalu, its keyboardist. [6]

According to Lalu, his love for progressive rock may have been prenatal; it may have originated when his pregnant mother was playing Minimoog while he was in utero. He explained that his mother's Minimoog keyboard was right under his nose as a child, and that he always preferred the smooth feel of keys to the roughness of guitars. [7]

He also grew up listening to his parents' tape recordings, as well as progressive rock bands like Yes, Genesis, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and others, which fuelled his enthusiasm for this sort of music. He was similarly influenced by electronic music and video game music from the 1980s, having spent his first ten years of life in this decade. [5]

Lalu used to visit his uncle one time per month, where his cousin's synthesizer was waiting for him. He would spend all day in her room making music, coming up with melodies of his own, committing them to memory before returning the following month to refine them. He claimed that one of the first songs he ever wrote as a youngster was some sort of Irish waltz. [7]

Lalu didn't choose to become a musician at first, though. He aspired to work as a mechanic in the French Air and Space Force since he had always admired aircraft, however his eyesight and inner ear difficulties made him unsuitable for a pilot's career. He decided to pursue painting and enrolled in a school of graphic arts instead, where he initially joined his first music group, with which he played keyboards. His love for painting was subsequently neglected and totally supplanted by his love for music. [8]

Even though Lalu had started listening to Iron Maiden while he was in school, and then around the end of college, Megadeth and Sepultura, the real "shock" happened the day he received a gift from one of his high-school friends: Dream Theater's Images and Words album. He was astonished because he had never conceived that metal music with huge guitars and double bass drums, could be combined with the progressive rock sound that he loved. [6]

Career

Oniric Metal (2005)

In 2004, Lalu began recruiting musicians from various bands and establishing his own progressive metal project under the name "Lalu". His first full-length album Oniric Metal featured guitarist Joop Wolters on guitars, Ryan Van Poederooyen of The Devin Townsend Band on drums, Russel Bergquist of Annihilator on bass, and Martin LeMar of Mekong Delta on vocals. The album was released on Lion Music in 2005 and received the title of "Album of the Month" in the French edition of Rock Hard in May 2005. [9]

Metal Storm called Lalu "a promising artist who will become a leader of the Progressive French scene without any doubt". [10] ProGGnosis made a similar observation, labelling Lalu a "fresh newcomer to a scene desperate for something different". [11]

Atomic Ark (2013)

After a lengthy absence from rock and metal music production, Lalu began working on the second Lalu opus in 2012. He handled the composition and songwriting, as well as keyboards for the entire album. The main band on Atomic Ark consisted of returning vocalist Martin LeMar, bassist Michael Lepond of Symphony X, guitarist Simone Mularoni of DGM, and drummer Virgil Donati of Planet X. It also featured a number of guest musicians, including Jens Johansson of Stratovarius and Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater among others.

Sensory Records reportedly signed the album immediately upon hearing it, [12] and released it worldwide on 10 September 2013.

The media's response has been highly positive. According to Metal Injection, Atomic Ark is a "Shining example of how to do progressive music correctly". [13] PopMatters described it as "meticulous progressive craftsmanship, all finished with a virtuoso panache". [14] Rock Hard praised its technical aspects, calling it a "celebration of excellent musicianship". [3]

Artist Endorsement with Roland Corporation

In March 2014, Lalu officially became a firm endorser of Roland, declaring having used their keyboards for nearly twenty years. [15]

Atomic Tour & Live at P60 (2015)

Lalu embarked on a small spring 2014 European tour with a limited number of shows featuring Atomic Ark's line-up and adding Joop Wolters as a second guitarist. The tour ended with the live recording during the final evening at P60, [16] which was released as a digital-only album. Produced by Lalu himself, mixed and mastered by Simone Mularoni at Domination Studio, [5] Live at P60 was officially released on 29 June 2015 through Bandcamp exclusively. [17]

Celestial Spheres (2018)

In 2017, Roland asked Lalu to create a collection of ambient / cinematic sounds for the JD-XA. The company released it on their Axial platform in June 2018. [18]

Multiple-album deal with Frontiers Records

Lalu started composing the third Lalu album, Paint the Sky, in 2019. [6] Most of its music was written in 2020 while Lalu was confined as a result of French Covid-19 restrictions. Frontiers Records, impressed with the result upon hearing the album thanks to Alessandro Del Vecchio, promptly made contact with the French composer. They announced the signing of Lalu for a multiple-album deal in the following spring of 2021. [2]

Paint the Sky (2022)

It has been said that "being the son of two musicians from the 70’s, and growing up surrounded by progressive music, Lalu always wanted to craft a true-to-its-roots progressive rock album". [2]

To this end, Lalu's main lineup changed to: Damian Wilson of Headspace, Jelly Cardarelli of Adagio on drums, and Joop Wolters on guitars as well as bass this time.

Lalu took care of the music composition, while Damian Wilson handled all of the lyrics and vocal lines. [5] Jelly Cardarelli co-produced the album with Lalu, and handled the mix entirely on his own. Alessandro Del Vecchio took care of the mastering. [19]

Paint the Sky included contributions from several extra guest musicians, including Jordan Rudess and Jens Johansson, both of whom had previously performed on Atomic Ark. It also included appearances by Tony Franklin, Steve Walsh formerly of Kansas, and Simon Phillips formerly of Toto in the bonus-track version of the title track. The album was finally released by Frontiers Records on 21 January 2022, and in Japan through Marquee/Avalon. [20]

Prog (magazine) labelled Lalu's third opus as "by far and away his best work yet", and a "corker" in their issue #128. [21] Metal Injection's site editor himself called Paint the Sky a "progressive metal masterpiece". [22] Yukinori Otani of Young Guitar Magazine gave Paint the Sky a bold metaphor "What if Jesus did progressive metal?". [23]

A-Z (2022)

On the lookout for a keyboard player and composer for his new band, A-Z, Mark Zonder contacted Vivien Lalu via a common friend in the beginning of 2020. Lalu began working with Zonder to write songs based on the drum grooves supplied to him. Lalu got Joop Wolters, his long time guitar player, to join in as a guitarist and songwriter as well. In the band's introduction video, Steve Vai's bass player Philip Bynoe humorously dubbed Lalu and Wolters the "Songwriter guys". [1] The line-up was then rounded out by Ray Alder of Fates Warning, as well as Bynoe. Later in 2021, Metal Blade Records announced their signing of the band. [1] According to Mark Zonder's social media posts, the group is getting closer to a debut.

Personal life

According to the city's official publication, issue 474 of March 2019, Lalu married Greek composer Eleftheria Zavalis in Maisons-Alfort. [24] On "Paint the Sky," they composed the song "Emotionalised" together. [19]

Lalu has two children from a prior relationship: Emma and Nina, who he frequently names in album liner notes.

Lalu also has two Miniature Pinscher dogs, named Perla and Luna according to their Instagram profile. They are mentioned under the pseudonym "Laluloggies" in Paint the Sky's booklet. Their active social media presence and photographs are frequently featured in Lifo (magazine). [25]

Filmography (TV, theater)

Discography

Lalu

Guest appearances

Related Research Articles

Progressive metal is a broad fusion music genre melding heavy metal and progressive rock, combining the loud "aggression" and amplified guitar-driven sound of the former with the more experimental, cerebral or "pseudo-classical" compositions of the latter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transatlantic (band)</span> Multinational progressive rock supergroup

Transatlantic is a multinational progressive rock supergroup consisting of Neal Morse, Roine Stolt, Pete Trewavas and Mike Portnoy. They formed in 1999 as a side project to their full-time bands, but disbanded in 2002. They then reunited in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Rudess</span> American keyboardist

Jordan Rudess is an American keyboardist, composer, and software developer best known as a member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater and the progressive metal supergroup Liquid Tension Experiment.

Neo-progressive rock is a subgenre of progressive rock which developed in the UK in the early 1980s. The genre's most popular band, Marillion, achieved mainstream success in the decade. Several bands from the genre have continued to record and tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oliver Wakeman</span> English musician

Oliver Wakeman is an English musician, rock keyboardist and composer, best known as a member of Yes from 2008 to 2011, having filled the role of keyboardist previously held by his father, Rick Wakeman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shadow Gallery</span>

Shadow Gallery is an American progressive metal band formed in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania during the early 1980s. It was originally called Sorcerer. After changing their name to Shadow Gallery and recording a short 8-track demo, the band was signed to Magna Carta Records in 1991. Shadow Gallery's eponymous debut was released the following year in Japan and Europe. In mid-2005, Shadow Gallery released their fifth studio album, Room V, on the European-American independent label Inside Out.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fates Warning</span> American progressive metal band

Fates Warning is an American progressive metal band, formed in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1982 by vocalist John Arch, guitarists Jim Matheos and Victor Arduini, bassist Joe DiBiase, and drummer Steve Zimmerman. There have been numerous lineup changes over the course of their 41-year career, and Matheos is the only constant member. As of 2020, the band consists of Matheos, vocalist Ray Alder, bassist Joey Vera, drummer Bobby Jarzombek and guitarist Michael Abdow. Fates Warning also had a revolving cast of drummers and guitarists by the time Jarzombek and Abdow joined the band in 2007 and 2020 respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virgil Donati</span> Australian drummer, composer and producer (born 1958)

Virgil Donati is an Australian drummer, composer and producer. He holds the drum sticks in the traditional style and is also proficient at the keyboard. Donati formed Planet X with Derek Sherinian and was the band's principal composer on all their albums. He also performed in Melbourne with Jack Jones in a Van Halen tribute band known as Hans Valen before inviting Jones into Donati's own bands The State and Southern Sons. Donati is widely regarded as one of the most technically advanced drummers of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jørn Lande</span> Norwegian singer

Jørn Marumsrud Lande is a Norwegian hard rock and heavy metal singer. He is known for his work with the bands Ark, Beyond Twilight, Millenium, Vagabond, The Snakes, and most notably with power metal band Masterplan. He is also the most recurrent guest singer of the international supergroup Avantasia, and has worked as lead and guest singer in several projects. Currently, he is focusing his activities on his solo project Jorn. In 2014, Lande was hired by Riot Games to be the voice of the character Karthus, of the fictional heavy metal band Pentakill.

Conception is a Norwegian power/progressive metal band from Raufoss, originally active from 1989 to 1997, during which they released four studio albums. The band reunited in 2018, twenty years after originally disbanding with a new single and EP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Wakeman</span> British keyboardist and guitarist

Adam Wakeman is an English musician and the current keyboardist and rhythm guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne's band; he also played keyboards and guitar off-stage for Black Sabbath. Wakeman has also worked with Annie Lennox, Travis, the Company of Snakes, Strawbs, Will Young, Victoria Beckham, Atomic Kitten and Martin Barre.

<i>Perfect Symmetry</i> (Fates Warning album) 1989 studio album by Fates Warning

Perfect Symmetry is the fifth studio album by progressive metal band Fates Warning, released in 1989 through Metal Blade Records; a remastered edition was reissued on June 10, 2008 together with a bonus disc containing studio demos, as well as a DVD of live performances from the 1989–90 Perfect Symmetry world tour. It was with this album that the band's more modern, progressive direction was established.

While Heaven Wept was an American epic doom metal band based in Dale City, Virginia. The primary writer and overall engine of the band was mainman Tom Phillips. Their melodic, classically influenced style could be compared to bands such as Solitude Aeturnus and Solstice ; however, 2003's acclaimed Of Empires Forlorn saw the band branching out into a variety of metal and progressive styles. This trend continues on their 2009 album, Vast Oceans Lachrymose, and on their 2011 album, Fear of Infinity.

<i>Death Walks Behind You</i> 1970 studio album by Atomic Rooster

Death Walks Behind You is the second studio album by British rock band Atomic Rooster, released in September 1970. It was their first album to receive a US release, albeit in a different sleeve. It is commonly thought of as the archetypal Atomic Rooster album, recorded by the 'classic' line-up of Vincent Crane, John Du Cann and Paul Hammond. It is certainly, critically and commercially, their most successful album and often hailed as a classic of the progressive rock genre. It also produced the hit single "Tomorrow Night", which became one of the band's best-known songs. The album's cover features the William Blake monotype Nebuchadnezzar. Band photos were taken at Churchfield Road Cemetery, Acton W3, by former actor-turned photographer, Richard Lyon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Van Poederooyen</span> Musical artist

Ryan Joost Van Poederooyen, often referred to by his initials RVP, is a Canadian drummer. He gained international recognition as a member of progressive metal groups The Devin Townsend Band (2002–2007) and The Devin Townsend Project (2009-2018). He is currently a member of progressive rock band Ten Ways from Sunday. as well as the founder of metal bands God Awakens Petrified, Terror Syndrome, and Imonolith.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aeon Zen</span> British progressive rock/metal band

Aeon Zen are an English progressive metal band formed in 2008, led by founding member Rich Gray. They have been praised and heavily featured in the international music press, labelled by Classic Rock Magazine as 'a strong contender for best newcomer at the very, very least' and, additionally, as Progression Magazine’s selection for "debut album of the year".

Gary Wehrkamp is an American musician, songwriter and producer. He is most notably a member of the American progressive rock band Shadow Gallery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sky Architect</span> Dutch progressive rock band

Sky Architect is a progressive rock band based in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Their debut album, Excavations of the Mind, was released in 2010 from ProgRock Records. The drummer and backing vocalist, Christiaan Bruin, is also known for his solo project "Chris". They are currently signed to FREIA Music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leprous</span> Norwegian progressive metal band

Leprous is a Norwegian progressive metal band from Notodden, formed in 2001. The group was founded by singer and keyboardist Einar Solberg and guitarist Tor Oddmund Suhrke.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Blabbermouth (2021-07-28). "FATES WARNING Singer RAY ALDER Reunites With Band's Former Drummer MARK ZONDER In A-Z". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  2. 1 2 3 BraveWords. "Prog Metal Act LALU Signs With Frontiers; Paint The Sky Album Feat. Vocalist DAMIAN WILSON On The Way". bravewords.com. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  3. 1 2 "LALU - Atomic Ark". ROCK HARD Heavy-Metal-Magazin. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  4. ↑ Dario. "Vivien Lalu talks about the musicians who made it onto Paint the Sky - and also those who didn't!". The Progspace. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Loffredo, Fabio (2022-03-22). "LALU – Intervista al tastierista francese Vivien Lalu". TuttoRock Magazine (in Italian). Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  6. 1 2 3 "Lalu : réalités alternatives". RADIO METAL (in French). 2022-01-31. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
  7. 1 2 "「僕は正真正銘の"プログレッシヴ・ロックの子供"なんだ」－ヴィヴィアン・ラルー（LALU）インタビュー｜Marquee / Avalon｜note". note（ノート） (in Japanese). 21 January 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
  8. ↑ "(Interviews) VIVIEN LALU (16 OCTOBRE 2009) : un article à lire sur Music Waves". www.musicwaves.fr (in French). Retrieved 2022-03-26.
  9. ↑ Srl, Frontiers Music. "Frontiers Music Srl | Record Label". Frontiers Music Srl. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  10. ↑ "Lalu - Oniric Metal review". Metal Storm. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  11. ↑ "Oniric Metal - a Studio release by LALU (VIVIEN LALU) artist / band". www.proggnosis.com. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  12. ↑ "LALU: Solo Project Of Vivien Lalu Signs With Sensory; All-Star Lineup Completes New Album - Earsplit Compound". 2013-04-30. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  13. ↑ Kennelty, Greg (2013-08-12). "Album Review: LALU Atomic Ark". Metal Injection. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  14. ↑ "Vivien Lalu – 'Atomic Ark' (album stream) (PopMatters Exclusive), PopMatters". PopMatters. 2013-09-13. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  15. ↑ "LALU: French Composer Announces Roland Endorsement; New Album In The Works - Earsplit Compound". 2014-03-19. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  16. ↑ "Twee propvolle dagen progrock en metal met Headway Festival 2014". www.wingsofdeath.net (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  17. ↑ BraveWords. "LALU Feat. DAMIAN WILSON Release Lyric Video "Paint The Sky" Feat. STEVE WALSH, TONY FRANKLIN, JENS JOHANNSON, GARY WEHRKAMP". bravewords.com. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  18. ↑ "CELESTIAL SPHERES | JD-XA | Axial". axial.roland.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  19. 1 2 Lalu - Paint The Sky (in French), 21 January 2022, retrieved 2022-03-25
  20. ↑ "AVALON online. - show index page". www.marquee.co.jp. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  21. ↑ Ewingpublished, Jerry (2022-03-11). "Yes - Close To The Edge at 50 on the cover of the new issue of Prog, on sale now!". loudersound. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  22. ↑ Kennelty, Greg (2022-01-20). "LALU Streams Paint The Sky Featuring DREAM THEATER, STRATOVARIUS & THRESHOLD Members". Metal Injection. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  23. ↑ "PAINT". article.yahoo.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  24. ↑ "Magazine municipal". Maisons-Alfort (in French). Retrieved 2022-03-26.
  25. ↑ "10 νέες φωτογραφίες απ' τα τέλεια ζώα των αναγνωστών μας #348 | LiFO". www.lifo.gr (in Greek). 2020-06-26. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.