On April Fools’ Day 2014, Caravan Palace made their debut in america with a standalone gig on the Paradise Rock Membership in Boston. Pleasure crammed the air as singer Zoé Colotis addressed the gang: “We simply arrived immediately. It’s our first gig within the US. So completely happy to face round with you guys. Let’s have some enjoyable collectively!”

The next night time, on the Greatest Purchase Theater in New York Metropolis, the band broke their custom of not enjoying unreleased songs dwell, presenting the colourful monitor “Lone Digger” to an enthusiastic viewers. This efficiency would show transformative for each the track and the band, marking the start of a major shift of their trajectory.

The album <|°_°|> (generally referred to as Robotic Face or just Robotic) grew to become a pivotal level in Caravan Palace’s discography. The titular “robotic” emerged as their mascot, influencing cowl artwork for future releases and solidifying the band’s quirky branding. It encapsulated the essence of Caravan Palace completely.

Initially fashioned in 2005, Caravan Palace included Charles Delaporte (bass, programming), Hugues Payen (violin, programming), and Arnaud Vial (guitar, programming). Zoé Colotis joined in 2006, adopted by Antoine Toustou (electronics, trombone) and Camille Chapelière (sax/clarinet) in 2007, who initially supported dwell performances earlier than contributing to songwriting. Paul-Marie Barbier (keys and vibraphone) formally joined in 2012. Whereas the lineup advanced, Chapelière remained a touring member till 2017, regardless of not having songwriting credit on this album.

Caravan Palace grew to become synonymous with the electro swing motion that emerged within the Nineties. This style married the jazz influences of artists like Django Reinhardt and Lionel Hampton with the digital beats paying homage to acts like Daft Punk and Justice. Their type fashioned a singular bridge between retro and modern aesthetics.

Hailing from Paris, Caravan Palace usually discovered themselves alongside artists like Austria’s Parov Stelar and Eire’s Kormac, pioneers in mixing dwell instrumentation with techno beats. Whereas these acts skilled occasional viral moments, they struggled to achieve a wider viewers past area of interest on-line circles.

Regardless of reaching success in France, the place their 2008 debut album peaked at #11, the band acknowledged the necessity to evolve after touring for his or her 2012 album Panic. They aimed for delicate shifts that may invigorate their sound whereas staying true to their roots.

Reflecting on the album’s growth, Vial famous, “On the time, it felt dangerous for our fanbase. We had been straying from swing and largely shifting away from the gypsy jazz that originally outlined us. There have been intense debates among the many composers.”

Whereas “Lone Digger” appeared destined for achievement when it premiered dwell in 2014, the event of <|°_°|> required substantial time—proper right down to deciding on the album title. That yr, throughout a bunch chat, Toustou inserted a couple of emojis. Supervisor Olivier Linglet seen a robotic within the combine, main the group to finalize the title solely after confirming that streaming companies may accommodate it.

Their 2014 US tour confronted quite a few challenges, as chronicled on their YouTube channel, however the band took a break after to deal with the album. In June 2015, they launched “Comics” as a teaser single, showcasing a mix of rising synth traces and surprising instrumental shifts. Delaporte and Vial usually cite it as a favourite, initially impressed by the stop-time method from Fifties R&B, which they later tailored to include a rap rhythm.

The track’s eerie undertones endured, notably with its memorable refrain line, which gained viral traction on TikTok by way of animated expressions that resonated with listeners, respiration new life into the tracks from <|°_°|>.

“Mighty,” the album opener, begins with a playful exploration of what constitutes a “leaping temper.” Initially envisioned as an acoustic piece, the band rapidly pivoted to make it a club-ready anthem by collaborating with JFTH, who used a Yamaha TX81Z synthesizer to ship punchy soundscapes. An prolonged model was later launched as a single in 2016.

Throughout a 2016 present on the Home of Blues in Chicago, “Comics” electrified the viewers. The band’s setlist constantly options hits like “Brotherswing,” whereas tracks from <|°_°|> have turn into mainstays. By 2025, “Comics” had even ascended to the function of encore opener in some performances, with “Mighty” positioned simply earlier than the finale.

Animator Alkifeather’s 2016 video for “Aftermath” gained fast reputation, highlighting the track’s distinctive stop-start dynamics. The vocal samples lent a darker tone, a route not favored by the band however indicative of evolving developments.

Launched as a single in 2016, “Wonderland” captivated listeners with its thrilling horn stabs and intelligent samples. Its playful lyrics explored a whimsical narrative, in the end changing into one other visible hallmark of the period with successful animation racking up over 90 million views by 2025.

The colourful animation, reflecting themes of self-empowerment, delighted the band. “The colourful side and eclectic references resonated with our type,” Colotis remarked, admiring the visible mixing of disparate parts. She famous that the closing verse was added to distance the track from typical violent rap narratives.

The album’s energetic “Tattoos” leaned into traditional Caravan Palace sounds, because of Toustou’s insistence on delivering true lindy hop vitality. The again half of the album options the atmospheric “Midnight” with saxophone accents and evolving tempo shifts, showcasing the band’s vary.

“Russian,” a standout monitor, initially appeared too pop-oriented for the band. Nonetheless, Payen infused it with distinctive sounds and piano components, merging totally different types right into a cohesive swing-pop anthem.

“Wonda” engages listeners with its funky groves, embodying Caravan Palace’s penchant for hybridizing genres, culminating with vibraphone-led outro that enhances the album’s experimental spirit.

“Human Leather-based Sneakers for Crocodile Dandies” presents an intriguing mix of loops and ambient soundscapes, showcasing sonic creativity that left an impression on the band.

Closing the album, “Lay Down,” crafted by Payen, strikes an emotional chord. The manufacturing underwent appreciable adjustments, with the band deciding to maintain the unique vocal contributions as a result of their authenticity.

On October 16, 2015, <|°_°|> debuted, charting impressively worldwide, particularly within the US the place it remained on the Billboard Prime Dance Albums chart for 65 weeks. Although its success was gradual, the band skilled the sting of preliminary rejection from some long-time followers clinging to their early gypsy swing roots.

Monitor by monitor, they grew a brand new, youthful, worldwide viewers by means of word-of-mouth, one thing that stunned even their label, Le Plan Recordings. The web and social media opened new avenues for fan engagement and creativity by means of cosplay and viral developments.

The album’s success is intently tied to “Lone Digger,” which was launched as a single in September 2015 however not accompanied by a video till November. The animated clip grew to become an on the spot sensation, although the band’s supervisor famous that not all movies aligned with their authentic imaginative and prescient.

Colotis mirrored on her disappointment with the video’s interpretation, explaining its backstory rooted in her expertise at a widely known strip membership in Los Angeles. The ultimate product’s surprising themes resonated with audiences globally.

Tragically, the video’s launch coincided with a tragic occasion in Paris, main the band to pause promotional actions. The music video nonetheless garnered over one million views by yr’s finish.

Within the following years, Caravan Palace continued to thrive, exploring covers and releasing a spread of latest materials, whereas <|°_°|> remained a cornerstone of their identification. The breakout success of “Lone Digger” reworked their careers, resulting in vital accolades and provoking an enormous quantity of fan artwork.

Wanting again, Delaporte noticed the significance of their inventive dangers. “Taking dangers is crucial,” he remarked. Colotis echoed this sentiment, imagining a world the place creativity embraces risk-taking as a norm.

The pivotal second was when Caravan Palace broke their “no previews” rule, performing “Lone Digger” dwell earlier than its launch. The day might have been April Fools’ Day, however there was nothing silly about their meteoric rise.