Chromeo

Chromeo, an electro-funk duo, was formed in Montreal in 2002 by David “Dave 1” Macklovitch and Patrick “P-Thugg” Gemayel. The two met in the mid-1990s at Collège Stanislas in Montreal and began producing hip hop music together around the age of 15 when Macklovitch joined Gemayel’s band. Their unique blend of soul, dance, rock, synth-pop, disco, and funk quickly gained attention. Dave 1, who was a Ph.D. candidate at Columbia University and taught French at Barnard College, suspended his academic pursuits due to the band’s increasing success. This partnership is notable as they describe themselves as “the only successful Arab/Jewish partnership since the dawn of human culture.”

The duo’s debut album, “She’s in Control,” released in 2004, garnered favorable reviews, with critics comparing their sound to 1980s groups such as Hall & Oates and Prince. The track “Needy Girl” from this album became a worldwide club hit, serving as a “musical passport” for the band. In 2018, Chromeo received their first Grammy Award nomination for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for their album “Head over Heels.” As of 2024, the band has released six studio albums, with three charting on the Billboard 200. Their most recent album, “Adult Contemporary,” released in 2024, reflects a mature artistic direction and a focus on longevity in their career.

Throughout their career, Chromeo has engaged in various projects and collaborations. They released a mix CD, “Un Joli Mix Pour Toi,” in 2005 and were featured in DJ Mehdi’s song “I Am Somebody” in 2006. They supported Bloc Party on their British tour in 2007 and performed with Daryl Hall for his online series “Live from Daryl’s House” in 2008, also appearing with him at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in 2010. In 2009, they appeared on “Yo Gabba Gabba!” and in 2011, they released “Drive Time,” a musical satellite navigation pack for Nokia’s Ovi Maps. Chromeo has also performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival multiple times, including in 2014 and 2023. In 2020, they launched their own record label, Juliet Records, and released the “Quarantine Casanova” EP, with proceeds benefiting Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp COVID-19 Relief Fund. Their 2021 live album, “Date Night: Chromeo Live!”, showcased their first tour with a full band.