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You may need warning: You won't know the real identity of the two young men concealed behind Ødyssey. One is known as "Le Jour" (day) and the other, "La Nuit" (night). They are each in their 20s and have their own distinct yet complementary personalities and an innate sense of how two contrasting entities can combine to balance each other out. The aim is to find a middle road precisely between the indie and mainstream styles in a world that is as much about sounds as it is visual.
Before creating music, Le Jour studied filmmaking and worked as a sound engineer in the world of hip-hop, which was also the world of La Nuit for several years. After initially meeting as friends in February 2016, they rapidly decided to send each other their respective instrumentals: having always worked for other people, they both wanted to devote themselves to a more personal project. This project became Ødyssey, a name whose alternative spelling avoids confusion and asserts the uniqueness and a fondness for Scandinavian culture. Their musical influences, however, distinguish themselves by their diversity. Although La Nuit initially gravitates towards the efficacy of a hit song, Le Jour draws from what he unearths from the underground scene, live concerts or Youtube videos. The duo's influences therefore range from Flume, The Chainsmokers, Justin Caruso, Petit Biscuit, Møme and DJ Snake to Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, MØ or Charlie Puth. Although Le Jour has distanced himself from the urban scene to work more closely on a more chilled and pop sound, La Nuit cultivates his hip-hop roots.
But, in the end, the only thing that counts is "the music that transports you," comments La Nuit. One cannot help but agree when listening to the group's music, dominated by the lack of any type of geographical or musical boundaries: "Contrasting different elements and taking risks". Bearing witness to this is the soaring electro style of "Fly" with a cameo of the South African jazz singer, Amara Abonta. Using computers like an instrument, which they consider to be an extension of their personalities, Le Jour and La Nuit are always bound to them. Consequently, they never stop producing and have been known to stop right in the middle of a journey, even if it means parking the car on the hard shoulder, to develop a piece of music. This is the new DIY way of doing things. And if you had to describe Ødyssey's style in just two words, it would have to be "futuristic pop".
Doing things differently would be the guiding principle for the band. The two accomplices have their finger on the pulse and decided that Ødyssey should not only be a band, but also a concept. Fiercely protective of his artistic freedom, "La Nuit" prefers to lie low in the shadows. Only Le Jour will emerge, without too much of a show, playing with the light, simply unveiling the pair's partiality for streetwear. This is because it is the music that comes first and the idea of celebrity is not something that they are drawn to: "Individual personalities must step aside to give free rein to the audience's imagination," the duo explains with one voice. Imagination stimulated by their passion for images. Passionate about movies and "high-quality blockbusters", from Steven Spielberg to Xavier Dolan through David Fincher, the two young men of Ødyssey called on the services of a young graphic design called Rindra Andria to play the minimalist card in a dreamlike and effective way. Pastel colours, simplified lines, shaded effects, etc. "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication and we wanted our visual identity to express this. You can also listen to music with the eyes." This snapshot takes on all of its meaning on the Instagram account of the group (which avoids Facebook and Twitter) where its fans post videos filmed in urban settings, from New York to Bali, and where you can hear the songs of Ødyssey.
"We are very ambitious," state Le Jour and La Nuit. We are aiming high and want to go far, blazing a trail that is consistent and hard-hitting." Ødyssey's adventure has only just begun: The pair have about 10 tracks ready to go and that are just waiting to hatch… Why not get on board?