Samsung Monocle
Show time
In the third instalment of our series profiling innovative creators, we meet Tim Carel and Pierre Blondiaux of Chambord, an electronic music duo based in Paris. Inspired by the performance, durability and style of the flexible features on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 and Z Fold4, we join the pair on their US tour.
1.
Chambord traces the journey from in-studio creation to live performance, demonstrating the role that technology plays in making things happen.
Coming together
Monocle: Can you describe Chambord’s process for making music?
Tim Carel: Making music today is way simpler than before. With a midi keyboard, you can play piano, drums, saxophone, bass, violin – even a didgeridoo if you want.
Of course, a midi keyboard won’t have the sensitive touch of a real drummer or sax player. But you have millions of possibilities in your hands to shape your track and then [once a composition is complete] we can work with a musician who can give our ideas that extra something.
M: How does it feel to play in front of thousands of people?
Pierre Blondiaux:It’s an amazing feeling. We’ve been doing this job for 12 years now, so we have experienced a lot of times when we were playing in front of only a few people. Now we’re lucky enough that people are coming out just to see our music.
It has always been our dream to travel and play around the world but the goal is not to do it [seven days a week] because we also want to stay focused on our productions and on our label.
Crate digging in Hollywood: Tim Carel (pictured on left) and Pierre Blondiaux on the search for new vinyl delights at The Record Parlour in Los Angeles
2.
In fast-paced environments, creators need tools that they can rely on. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 is a durable, multitasking companion that adapts to different briefs.
A world of possibility
It is busy being a member of Chambord. A typical day can see Tim Carel and Pierre Blondiaux recovering from jet lag in a foreign country and using the hours before a show to catch up on work – whether that’s tinkering with tracks, responding to emails or tending to any of the various responsibilities that come with running your own record label.
Chambord wouldn’t have it any other way. Wherever they are in the world, the duo stay productive with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4. The large immersive screen allows them to juggle multiple jobs that can be ticked off with the S Pen stylus, while the flip-and-fold mechanism lets them to close the book on their responsibilities when stage time beckons.
New world order: The Chambord duo keep organised as they travel the globe
Flip out: The Galaxy Z Flip4 is the phone that claps back
Establishing a connection: Tim Carel (pictured on left) and Pierre Blondiaux keep connected with their growing fanbase
The write stuff: The S Pen stylus makes it easy to take notes on the Galaxy Z Fold4
Hit the decks: The Parisian duo take on DJ duties at Safra Presents Chambord, a night at Members in Los Angeles
3.
As artists, Carel and Blondiaux refuse to be boxed in. This approach shines through in their music and can be expressively caught by the Galaxy Z Flip4’s FlexCam experience.
Creativity without borders
M: How would you describe Chambord’s style of music?
PB:It’s difficult to place a genre on our music because there are too many sub-genres. Our music floats between genres because we like to try different things. When you listen to [our tracks] La Cumbia or Pyramid & Sky, you can’t put them in the same category.
We call our music “deep house” but, if we must check off all of the sub-genres, we are in between organic house, melodic techno and some touches of our music can be found in indie dance or even afro house.
M: How does mobile technology play a positive role in your working life?
TC: My phone is one of the most important tools for communication. When you go back and forth with agencies, engineers, artists and more, it is so much easier to gather everything on the same platform. Creating original content is key – for us, it’s one of the most challenging aspects [of our work], because we don’t naturally have the habits and skills. But today, thanks to new applications, we can make monthly recaps on Instagram and create our content for the label as well.
Nobody ever changed anything by sticking to the rulebook. Those who truly innovate do so by embracing different ways of seeing things: they are driven by a desire to connect the dots between seemingly disparate elements, generating whole new possibilities in the process. This worldview, of challenging conventional norms in favour of fresh modes of self-expression, is one shared by Samsung. The brand believes that life is better when we open our minds, hearts and ears to the world around us. With that in mind, we invite you to open up to a new generation of smartphones: the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 and Z Fold4.
