A new provocative piece is unveiled by New York-Berlin trio Champyons. “Maria-Luiza” is taken from the debut album Cha Cha Cha, due March 16th, 2018, via Embassy of Music. Classic genre boundaries are overcome, as sample-driven beats meet traditional song structures. This innovative songwriting can be found on “Maria-Luiza”, where no instrument is what it seems at a first listen. The single is accompanied by a Super 8 short film, which, like the lyrics themselves, is composed of fragmented thoughts and words, visualizing the theme of a first encounter.
The three-member band and producer collective Champyons release their new single “Maria-Luiza”. After “Dusty” and “Living In The Movies”, “Maria-Luiza” is the next impression from the debut album Cha Cha Cha by the Berlin-based band, which will be released on March 16, 2018, via Embassy of Music.
“Maria-Luiza” is accompanied by an intricate music video, which, like the lyrics themselves, is composed of fragmented thoughts and words, visualizing the theme of a first encounter. “When I heard Maria-Luiza for the first time, I knew right away that I wanted to have an analog look for the video, so we decided to go for a Super 8 camera with Kodak Vision film.” Says band member Flx.
Inspired by the great collectives of the pop-art and early hip-hop era, Champyons combine R’n’B, rock and electronic elements into a collage of pop culture and musical influences. Classic genre boundaries are overcome, as sample-driven beats meet traditional song structures
This innovative songwriting can also be found on “Maria-Luiza”. No instrument is what it seems to be at a first listen. The song is a kind of caricature of a more classic rock arrangement, performed by unconventional means.
“Many of the “live” instruments, such as guitars and beats, are sampled and modulated. You could say that well over half of the “instruments” are our voices – of course, pitched, distorted, filtered. We love to build our own synthesizers, even the drums are partly composed of voices.” Explain the trio.
Champyons, consisting of Kptn (vocals/keys), Flx (bass/guitar) and Tweety (drums), first gained international attention in 2011 through the project “Skrillex Presents: Free Treats”, to which they collaborated with EDM heavyweight ZEDD. In the years that followed, the trio made their way into the international music scene, moving between Europe, New York City, and London. Producing their sound on laptops in remote locations, trains, and airplanes, the band left their rock roots behind and made the decision to move towards sample cutting, drum looping, and experimental songwriting. An important step in the creative development was the single “Roaming in Paris”, released in 2014, which combined classic storytelling à la Leonhard Cohen, with modern R’n’B elements.
After settling into Berlin’s pulsating music scene the following year, they signed a record deal with the label Embassy of Music and began working on their first long-player in 2016. For the creation process, Champyons decided to be completely independent and to produce their debut alone.
Together with the renowned producer Axel Reinemer (Rihanna, Jason Derulo, Jazzanova), the album mix was completed in mid-2017. At the same time, the trio met with the top-class contemporary artist Michael Sailstorfer, who brings iconic sculptures as a visual trademark of the band.
“Groove ridden and tastefully experimental – it’s an infectious gem to wrap your ears around.”
– Music News“New-York-via-Berlin trio return with another brilliantly epic electro-rock release”
– Mystic Sons“This fiery single inspires and is inspired by provocative visual artist and a fusion of memorable R’n’B, rock and electronic deities.”
– SSG Music“This is an ultimate earworm”
– One Stop Record Shop
