Gigi (music project)
Encyclopedia
Gigi is a Canadian music recording project, based in Vancouver
, formed in 2005 by songwriter Nick Krgovich and record producer Colin Stewart after Stewart got possession of two vintage plate reverb units and asked Krgovich to write songs— Phil Spector
-inspired 1950s and 60s-style pop music—to make use of them. With 40 musicians from indie rock bands collaborating, the group released its debut album, Maintenant, on the label Tomlab
in 2010, to mostly positive reviews.
and of No Kids
. Stewart has previously worked as record producer
and recording engineer for such groups as Black Mountain
, The Cave Singers
, and Destroyer
. Regarding the origins of the project, Krgovich said, "Colin Stewart from the Hive studios just acquired these huge vintage plate reverb units and he really wanted to use them as if he was recording The Crystals
or something, so he asked me to write some 'classic'-sounding pop songs to be recorded live off the floor, by a large group of musicians, Phil Spector
-style." In the end, 40 artists were included as collaborators, musicians such as Owen Pallett
, Mirah
, Karl Blau
, and members of Ladyhawk
and Weathered Pines.
The group was one of three to be selected to be part of the first Indie Band Residency at the Banff Centre
in 2008, an opportunity for up-and-coming bands to spend two weeks writing and recording, with access to studios as well as producers and engineers. (The other two bands were Ohbijou
and the Adam Brown.)
The debut album, Maintenant (the French word for now), recorded over the span of three years, was released in 2010.
said, "At its best, Maintenant feels both effortless and timeless—much like the classic pop from which its architects clearly draw so much inspiration." Fast Forward Weekly found the sound to be "like a sampler from a long-forgotten '50s record label, spotlighting ballads and upbeat twisters that should have been floating on AM waves for the last half-century." Chart magazine
's reviewer praised the "varied voices", which "ensure once the retro-kitsch has worn off, listeners will stick around." Critic Tom Harrison of The Province
was more mixed in his review, stating, "Krgovich and Stewart don't quite get it right as there are too many singers and players to manage, but that is part of the charm."
The Allmusic review noted that the album "succeeds in every way a project like this should: that is, it manages to fulfill a fantasy (i.e. one in which Rose Melberg
is transported back to the early '60s, where she is the lead singer in a stellar girl group) without sounding hokey or gimmicky." And in a generally favourable review, Pitchfork Media
wrote, "Gigi understand that the most important period-era sound to capture here isn't a "Be My Baby
" kick-drum boom or a Bacharachian
bossa nova swing (though both are in full effect), but rather the sound of repression—of forcing a smile while your heart sinks, of maintaining appearances while you're dying inside."
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, formed in 2005 by songwriter Nick Krgovich and record producer Colin Stewart after Stewart got possession of two vintage plate reverb units and asked Krgovich to write songs— Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
-inspired 1950s and 60s-style pop music—to make use of them. With 40 musicians from indie rock bands collaborating, the group released its debut album, Maintenant, on the label Tomlab
Tomlab
Tomlab is a German record label based in Köln. It has released works by bands such as The Books, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Deerhoof, Thee Oh Sees, Les Georges Leningrad, and acts associated with Blocks Recording Club, such as Final Fantasy, Ninja High School, and The Hank...
in 2010, to mostly positive reviews.
History
Krgovich is known for his work as a member of P:anoP:ano
P:ano was a Canadian indie pop band formed in 1999 from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The band's members consisted of Larissa Loyva, Justin Kellam, Julia Chirka, and Nick Krgovich...
and of No Kids
No Kids
No Kids is a Canadian indie pop band. Based in Vancouver, the band was formed by Justin Kellam, Julia Chirka and Nick Krgovich following the departure of Larissa Loyva from their earlier band P:ano....
. Stewart has previously worked as record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and recording engineer for such groups as Black Mountain
Black Mountain (band)
Black Mountain is a Canadian rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia. The band is composed of Stephen McBean, Amber Webber, Matt Camirand, Jeremy Schmidt and Joshua Wells.-Overview:...
, The Cave Singers
The Cave Singers
The Cave Singers is an American band from Seattle, Washington. Rising from the ashes of Pretty Girls Make Graves after its disbandment in 2007, former PGMG-member Derek Fudesco teamed up with Pete Quirk and Marty Lund and began playing in the Seattle area. Soon after the band's conception, The...
, and Destroyer
Destroyer (band)
Destroyer is a Canadian indie pop band fronted by singer-songwriter Dan Bejar.- Overview :Daniel Bejar is an independent pop singer-songwriter from Vancouver who formed Destroyer in 1995. He self-produced his first album, the lo-fi We'll Build Them a Golden Bridge, which was recorded at his in...
. Regarding the origins of the project, Krgovich said, "Colin Stewart from the Hive studios just acquired these huge vintage plate reverb units and he really wanted to use them as if he was recording The Crystals
The Crystals
The Crystals are an American vocal group based in New York, considered one of the defining acts of the girl group era of the first half of the 1960s. Their 1961–1964 chart hits, including "Uptown", "He's a Rebel", "Da Doo Ron Ron " and "Then He Kissed Me", featured three successive female lead...
or something, so he asked me to write some 'classic'-sounding pop songs to be recorded live off the floor, by a large group of musicians, Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
-style." In the end, 40 artists were included as collaborators, musicians such as Owen Pallett
Owen Pallett
Michael James Owen Pallett is a Canadian composer, violinist, keyboardist, and vocalist from Toronto, Ontario. He won the 2006 Polaris Music Prize for the album He Poos Clouds....
, Mirah
Mirah
Mirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn , is an American musician based in San Francisco California. She has released five albums under the K Records label.- Background :...
, Karl Blau
Karl Blau
Karl Blau is an indie rock and folk musician based in Anacortes, Washington, and member of the Knw-Yr-Own/K Records collective. His music is eclectic, incorporating elements of folk, dub, R&B, bossa nova, grunge, hip hop, drone, and worldbeat....
, and members of Ladyhawk
Ladyhawk (band)
Ladyhawk is a Canadian indie rock band formed on February 27, 2004 from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Their debut album, Ladyhawk was released on June 6, 2006 on Jagjaguwar Records. The lead single on the album was "Dugout", followed by "My Old Jacknife". They are signed to play at the 2008...
and Weathered Pines.
The group was one of three to be selected to be part of the first Indie Band Residency at the Banff Centre
Banff Centre
The Banff Centre, formerly known as The Banff Centre for Continuing Education, is an arts, cultural, and educational institution and conference complex located in Banff, Alberta...
in 2008, an opportunity for up-and-coming bands to spend two weeks writing and recording, with access to studios as well as producers and engineers. (The other two bands were Ohbijou
Ohbijou
-Biography:Ohbijou began as the solo project of Brantford singer-songwriter Casey Mecija . Through the process of songwriting and composition, Casey discovered a need for the musical support of her sister Jennifer Mecija , whom Casey invited to assist with her early performances...
and the Adam Brown.)
The debut album, Maintenant (the French word for now), recorded over the span of three years, was released in 2010.
Reception
In an album review, PopMattersPopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
said, "At its best, Maintenant feels both effortless and timeless—much like the classic pop from which its architects clearly draw so much inspiration." Fast Forward Weekly found the sound to be "like a sampler from a long-forgotten '50s record label, spotlighting ballads and upbeat twisters that should have been floating on AM waves for the last half-century." Chart magazine
Chart (magazine)
ChartAttack is a Canadian online music publication. Formerly a monthly print magazine called Chart, which was published from 1991 to 2009, the web version continues operation....
's reviewer praised the "varied voices", which "ensure once the retro-kitsch has worn off, listeners will stick around." Critic Tom Harrison of The Province
The Province
The Province is a daily, tabloid format newspaper published in British Columbia by Postmedia. It has been a daily newspaper since 1898.According to a recent NADbank survey, The Provinces average weekday readership was 520,100, making it British Columbia's most read newspaper...
was more mixed in his review, stating, "Krgovich and Stewart don't quite get it right as there are too many singers and players to manage, but that is part of the charm."
The Allmusic review noted that the album "succeeds in every way a project like this should: that is, it manages to fulfill a fantasy (i.e. one in which Rose Melberg
Rose Melberg
Rose Melberg is a musician and songwriter from Sacramento, California who has sung and played guitar as a member of Tiger Trap, The Softies and Go Sailor as well as on her own material. She also played drums and made some songwriting contributions with the band Gaze...
is transported back to the early '60s, where she is the lead singer in a stellar girl group) without sounding hokey or gimmicky." And in a generally favourable review, Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
wrote, "Gigi understand that the most important period-era sound to capture here isn't a "Be My Baby
Be My Baby
"Be My Baby" is a 1963 single written by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich, performed by The Ronettes and produced by Spector. When released as a single, the song reached #2 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Singles Chart and #4 on the UK's Record Retailer...
" kick-drum boom or a Bacharachian
Burt Bacharach
Burt F. Bacharach is an American pianist, composer and music producer. He is known for his popular hit songs and compositions from the mid-1950s through the 1980s, with lyrics written by Hal David. Many of their hits were produced specifically for, and performed by, Dionne Warwick...
bossa nova swing (though both are in full effect), but rather the sound of repression—of forcing a smile while your heart sinks, of maintaining appearances while you're dying inside."
Track listing
- "No, My Heart Will Go On" (w/ Chorus)
- "The Hundredth Time" (w/ Duffy Driediger and Ryan PetersRyan Peters (musician)Ryan Peters is a Canadian singer-songwriter who lived in Kelowna, British Columbia in his youth and now bases his career from Vancouver. Ryan Peters is the drummer in Ladyhawk and also contributes to the vocals and lyrics. Peters was one of the original members of the Vancouver incarnation of...
) - "Dreams of Romance" (w/ Zac Pennington)
- "Alone at the Pier" (w/ Rose MelbergRose MelbergRose Melberg is a musician and songwriter from Sacramento, California who has sung and played guitar as a member of Tiger Trap, The Softies and Go Sailor as well as on her own material. She also played drums and made some songwriting contributions with the band Gaze...
) - "Everyone Can Tell" (w/ Ryan BeattieRyan BeattieRyan Beattie is a Canadian musician best known for his work as guitarist of the indie rock band Frog Eyes. Beattie had joined the band to replace keyboardist Spencer Krug, who declined to tour with them, and has since become a full-fledged member....
) - "One Woman Show" (w/ Joey Cook)
- "I'm Not Coming Out Tonight" (w/ Marissa Johnson and Sydney Vermont)
- "Some Second Best" (w/ Chorus)
- "I Can't Bring Myself to Smile" (w/ Bobby BirdmanBobby BirdmanBobby Birdman is musician Rob Kieswetter's stage name. Kieswetter is originally from Nevada City, California, and currently lives in Los Angeles, California. He has released albums on Hush Records, Not Not Fun, Fryk Beat, States Rights Records...
and Katy Davidson) - "Strolling Past the Old Graveyard" (w/ Karl BlauKarl BlauKarl Blau is an indie rock and folk musician based in Anacortes, Washington, and member of the Knw-Yr-Own/K Records collective. His music is eclectic, incorporating elements of folk, dub, R&B, bossa nova, grunge, hip hop, drone, and worldbeat....
) - "The Marquee" (w/ Katie Eastburn)
- "Impossible Love" (w/ Chorus)
- "Won't Someone Tell Me?" (w/ MirahMirahMirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn , is an American musician based in San Francisco California. She has released five albums under the K Records label.- Background :...
) - "I'll Quit" (w/ Owen PallettOwen PallettMichael James Owen Pallett is a Canadian composer, violinist, keyboardist, and vocalist from Toronto, Ontario. He won the 2006 Polaris Music Prize for the album He Poos Clouds....
) - "'Neathe the Streetlights" (w/ Nick Krgovich)
External links
- Gigi at CBC Radio 3CBC Radio 3CBC Radio 3 is a radio station that consists of two parts devoted to Canadian arts and music: a radio service which is available on Sirius Satellite Radio and streaming audio, and several daily and weekly podcasts from the CBC Radio 3 website...