If you live in the 17th District of Paris, the chances are you’ll know a musical pioneer or two. The area is the epicentre for the French house family tree. Acts like Modjo, Supermen Lovers and Buffalo Bunch are always popping round to each other’s studios for a nice cup of tea; whilst labels like Crydamoure and We Rock are a mere onion’s throw away.

“Everybody knows everybody else in this city,” yawns the hirsute half of Aloud, Cyril Bodin. “I think I met [fellow Aloud cohort] Greg in about 1996. I was a friend of Romain from Modjo. He then introduced me to another Romain, Romain Seo from the Buffalo Bunch, who it turned out was Greg’s best friend. Romain, the second one, and Greg were working on a project that they need a vocalist for, so the first Romain, the one from Modjo, recommended me. It’s quite complicated.”

“Yes. And soo boring, Cyril!” chastises the band’s composer/ producer Gregory Louis, before adding helpfully, “But I used to be in a rock band with Romain called Freefall.”

After meeting, hitting it off and realising they shared not only the same friends but also a vision, the pair formed Aloud in 2000. Greg also formed his own label We Rock with Romain and within months, the remix offers came flooding in: they’d soon overhauled micro-club classics like Modjo ‘What I Mean’, IIO’s ‘Rapture’ and WFB feat Mani Hoffman ‘The Thing’.

Born and bred in the city, both boys were raised in musical families. Gregory has been studying the piano since the tender age of five. “My Grandfather loved music,” he smiles fondly. “We’ve even used one of his old synths on the album in his memory.”

“Ah, but my mother was a model and my stepfather was an artist,” declares Cyril. “They took me to my first concert when I was three and I saw Bob Dylan! There was always music on when I was growing up – anything from the Rolling Stones to Pattie Smith. And I must have started singing along to Thriller when I was about 10 years old. By the time I was 17 I was DJing in over 50 clubs throughout Paris playing hip hop. I loved going out in Paris: I love the concrete.”

“There’s also this family atmosphere between all the producers in this city,” says Greg. “Yeah, we argue, but it’s because we’re all very honest. If we think something sounds shit, we’ll say so, but equally we always share ideas, new sounds, techniques – that sort of thing. We’re always hanging out with each other.”

Big Record Collections

“Our sound is all about mixtures,” suggests Cyril. “And the name Aloud just seemed to sum it up. I bring the rock elements with my vocals and Greg’s all about the more groovey electronic side of things.”

“He’s really into acts like Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and Faith No More,” pipes up Greg. “Yeah, but I’m also really influenced by people like David Bowie, Prince and the Eurythmics,” Cyril adds.

“For me it’s got to be Stevie Wonder,” Greg concludes after much pondering. “Apparently when my mum was pregnant with me she played Songs in the Key of Life non-stop so I’m hooked. We always make proper songs with a verse and chorus and never sample anything – you just don’t need to. Everything you hear is composed by us.”

“Oh, I forgot to say that – even though it’s predictable – we’ve got to mention the Beatles,” interrupts Cyril. “I love their music and they were a massive influence on me.” “Yeah me too,” Greg agrees. “But the problem is we’ve got such massive record collections, if you asked us to pick our favourites they’d probably change week in week out,” he reasons.

“Steven Tyler from Aerosmith,” smiles Cyril. “That’s my last one I promise!”