French Band Plasticines Out To Conquer US
Jul. 29 2009, Published 4:07 a.m. ET
Supercool French girl group The Plasticines are already bona fide pop stars in their homeland, and on August 4th they’ll officially release their American debut, About Love, in record stores.
The album is their first sung in English and was produced by Butch Walker, who has worked with female hitmakers like Katy Perry, Pink and Avril Lavigne. The Plasticines loved the experience of writing and recording the album in America. “It was amazing,” frontgal Katty Besnard tells RadarOnline.com. “We were in a big house in Malibu, and it was so nice waking up every day with an amazing view of the ocean, then we’d just go downstairs and record.”
With a love of 60s girl groups and French singers like Serge Gainsbourg, along with New York rock staples old and new including The Ramones, Blondie and The Strokes, the Plasticines influences shine through on their youthfully energetic new album, which also includes a cover of “You’re No Good,” Linda Ronstadt’s 70s mega-hit.
“Since our last album we just grew up so this album reflects where we are now,” says Katty of their first album, which was in French. “With the first one we didn’t know what we wanted and with the second album we knew.”
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The Plasticines formed in high school and lifted their name from the trippy lyrics in the Beatles’ “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.” Within a couple years they released their first album, LP1, on which every song clocked in at under three minutes, and were part of the hyped Les Bébés Rockers scene—which was basically baby rock bands comprised of privileged French teenagers. “It’s amazing to be in a band with your best friends,” says Katty of their six-year friendship. “We’re just four best friends having fun on stage and doing what we like.”
It was that fun and girlie vibe that landed the girls their U.S. record deal with Nylon Records, making them the first act on the label. Of course their innately chic French style didn’t hurt either. The girls mix in vintage finds with Top Shop steals and definitely have fun with their fashion. “Music and fashion have always been linked and it’s important to look good on stage,” says Katty. “Even with David Bowie, and the character Ziggy Stardust, the look was quite important too.”