* En anglais uniquement
Los Angeles pop duo
Pepper Rabbit -- consisting of multi-instrumentalists
Xander Singh and
Luc Laurent -- fashion lush, playful soundscapes out of a rich variety of musical sources, from horns and strings to vintage analog synthesizers. Named for one of
Singh's short-lived pets,
Pepper Rabbit were formed after
Xander spent several years pursuing a solo career, releasing an album, Whik, in 2006. During a visit to Boston,
Singh was introduced to
Luc Laurent via a mutual friend, and they discovered they were musically simpatico.
Singh went to New Orleans to record an album, and
Laurent tagged along to help out in the studio; before long, what began as a solo project evolved into the first
Pepper Rabbit album, 2010's
Beauregard. The album received enthusiastic reviews, and after
Laurent settled in Los Angeles after completing school in Boston,
Pepper Rabbit began playing frequently along the West Coast and periodically touring the rest of the country, both as a headliner and opening for
Ra Ra Riot,
Givers,
Passion Pit, and
Miniature Tigers. (On the road,
Pepper Rabbit were sometimes joined by a third multi-instrumentalist, Jonathan Allen, who helped the duo re-create its studio sound on-stage.) In 2011, during downtime from the road,
Pepper Rabbit issued an EP, Rose Mary Stretch, and in August of the same year, they released their second full-length project,
Red Velvet Snow Ball. Recorded at a studio in Washington with additional work done in
Singh's home studio,
Red Velvet Snow Ball was released through the Brooklyn-based indie label Kanine Records. ~ Mark Deming