Photo: Still
As the end of the year approaches, you're probably starting to wrack up the names that are going to blow up in 2016. Well, we have one, short and sweet word for you: Beau.
Watch Beau perform 'Karma' in Gigwise presents The Office Sessions below
Beau are made up of 21-year-old Heather Boo and 20-year-old Emma Jenney of New York, having recently signed to French label Kitsune. Their single 'Karma' caught our attention, so we invited them to perform a stripped back version of it in the office.
The elegance of this beautiful song really shone through acoustically, and their stage presence hinted at what a great live prospect they’d be with their full band.
Watch Beau perform 'Karma' in the Gigwise Office Sessions below
We catch up with Heather and Emma for a quick chat on the couch shortly after their set. The New York duo are in familiar territory, though having recorded their soon-to-be-released debut album here in Shoreditch.
“We recorded with Alan O Connell in his studio in Shoreditch, and we also recorded in the Fish Factory in Willesden. It took 40 days and 40 nights. When we went to sleep at night we would pop over to Italy in our dreams.” says Heather. This lack of escape from the studio meant they were still bright eyed and enthusiastic asking about nearby restaurants highlighting a particular enthusiasm for Indian food.
The duo, who are childhood friends and still best friends, have been fortunate to let their music take them around America and Europe. “We recorded Karma in Nashville at this place called Fry Pharmacy actually," smiles Emma. "We met the producer the producer and he takes us to this place in Nashville. The walls were boarded up , there were no windows , it looked like a crack den. Then he takes us in and it’s this beautiful tiled floor, vintage equipment that actually worked. It’s owned by this amazing bass player guy who toured with Led Zeppelin on bass I think one time . He had so much history."
Their irrepressible love of music isn’t just restricted to touring and recording. New York has been essential part of their development too. Emma continues: "I learned to play from this guy on McDougal street in Greenwich village and he taught me a lot of what I know. His name is mitch, he’s a neighbour. He’d play guitar and we’d just play on his stoop for hours."
This love of music was all encompassing. “I don’t even remember school because that was our main focus. Barely made it through high school.” adds Heather, who went to a liberal arts school in Greenwhich village where she says you can take an existentialism class at 17. and she would definitely send her kids there.
Now graduated from secondary school with a brilliant new band, they're in some very influential friendship circles as they cite Ratking and New York Buzz band Sunflower Bean as friends. What seems certain is New York's new music scene is flourishing and Beau are going to be a very important part of it. We’re excited for their future.
Beau release their debut album, That Thing Reality, on 11 March 2016.
Their upcoming European tour dates are as follows. For tickets and information, visit here.
Beau will play:
7 November - Nouvelle Prague at Staropramen Brewery, Prague
9 November - The Waiting Room, London
12 November - Auster Club, Berlin
13 November - Heaven Royal Theatre at The Hague, Holland
14 November - Festival Des les Inrocks at La Boule Noire, Paris
17 November - 106 Club, Rouen (w/ Flo Morrissey)
18 November - La Péniche, Lille (w/ Flo Morrissey)
