Air

Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel, both born in 1969 in France, formed the musical duo Air in 1995. Before Air, Godin studied architecture and Dunckel studied mathematics and physics. They played together in a band named Orange. Godin initially worked alone, releasing “Modular Mix,” which gained attention and led him to ask Dunckel to collaborate. Their partnership began with creating music for the independent French label Source, which eventually requested a full album from them. This collaboration led to their critically acclaimed debut album, “Moon Safari,” released in 1998, which featured the track “Sexy Boy.” The album was an international success and established them as innovative artists within the electronic music scene. Their work blends electronic, space pop, dream pop, downtempo, and progressive rock influences, drawing inspiration from artists like Kraftwerk, Serge Gainsbourg, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Pink Floyd.

Air’s career progressed with several studio albums and significant soundtrack contributions. In 2000, they composed the original score for Sofia Coppola’s debut film, “The Virgin Suicides.” They continued to release studio albums, including “10 000 Hz Legend” (2001), “Talkie Walkie” (2004), “Pocket Symphony” (2007), and “Love 2” (2009). Their collaboration with Sofia Coppola extended to her film “Lost in Translation” (2003) with the song “Alone in Kyoto” and a track for “Marie Antoinette” (2006). They also worked with artist Charlotte Gainsbourg on her album “5:55” (2006) and released a DJ mix album, “Late Night Tales: Air” (2006). Their work “City Reading (Tre Storie Western)” (2003) involved a collaboration with Italian writer Alessandro Baricco for a live musical accompaniment to his texts, later made into a studio recording.

Air utilizes vintage synthesizers, including Moog synthesizers, the Korg MS-20, Wurlitzers, and vocoders, blending acoustic and synthetic sounds in their music. They frequently invite other musicians to perform with them, both in the studio and live. The duo’s distinct sound and collaborative efforts have secured their place in contemporary electronic music. In 2011, their video for “So Light Is Her Footfall” received the Best Music Video award at the Byron Bay International Film Festival. They continue to perform and have celebrated the 25th anniversary of “Moon Safari” with a tour, including performances at the Royal Albert Hall.