Interview by Laurelene Chambovet
Photography by Ambroise Tezenas
“Techno men are our friends, the nerds are our friends, the suburb’s bad boys that burn cars are our friends, and heavy metal fans are our friends. The only thing that matters for us is to be friendly and polite.”
Paris, Pigalle, Friday night, 7p.m. I am sitting down in a studio. “One” is on my right, “Two” is on my left. One (Frederic Beucher) and Two (Severin Tezanas du Montcel) met three years ago and since then they’ve made music, sort of love pop songs with an electronic twist. They are obviously influenced by ’60s pop bands like The Kinks, The Beach Boys and The Beatles. They’re also self-proclaimed fans of more current pop from AIR and Phoenix, to DFA, Mr Oizo, LCD Soundsystem and Who Made Who.
One-Two sing in English and dress as English boys, but they have the French touch for sure. They’ve played in Paris, Manchester, London and Berlin and every time more girls fall in love. One-Two’s debut album, Love Again, was released this June on Gentle Farmer Records.
Who would you say are the world’s two best pop groups?
One: The Beatles.
Two: The Beatles.
Who are the top two beautiful women ever?
One: Francoise d’Orleac. She is amazing. Especially in the Roman Polanski movie Cul-de-sac.
Two: Kim Wilde.
What are your two favorite nightclubs or parties in the world?
One: Chips with Everything in Manchester. That’s were we met El Troupe. They came to dance with us! We hope that we will do a video clip with them soon!
Two: Our own house parties in the studio in Navarin, Paris, with four friends, maximum.
What are your two favorite films with the word conjugal [in French, conjugal is when two people are together, usually in some sort of romantic, sexual or other relathionship]?
One: Scènes de la Vie Conjugale directed by Ingmar Bergman.
Two: Domicile Conjugual or Bed and Board in English, directed by Francois Truffaut.
Who would you like to collaborate with?
One: M.I.A.
Two: Quentin Dupieux, aka Mr Oizo.
What are your favorite drugs?
One & Two: Love & Happiness!
What are your two favorite catchphrases?
One: Power pop up to the top.
Two: One for the money, Two for the show.
What are your top two predilection themes?
One: Love.
Two: Love again.
What are your two favorite hobbies?
One: Golf.
Two: Sleeping.
Give us your top two shame/glory moments.
One: We were in Paris at a Parisien club, and the gig was going well. The girls were screaming, friends were there, it was great. Then people asked us for more, but we had nothing else prepared to sing.
Two: Fred scared someone in the street by wearing a hoodie.
For and against.
One: Against: Valentine’s day.
Two: For: English lyrics and for French singers.
Your two trademarks?
One: White shoes. You can do anything but don’t step on my…
Two: The most important is the cardigan, thick wool only.
Give us your top two shag techniques.
One: The Latino Smile.
Two: The French Baguette.
What are your two 2006 expectations?
One: The release of our record!
Two: The revenge of melodic pop.
Who are the people you like to dance with?
One: Radioclit: www.radioclit.com. Fans of Euro crunk. Crazy dudes.
Two: As we said before, El Troupe. www.eltroupe.com.
Any last messages to people that are reading the magazine?
One: Be nice to your parents.
Two: Fuck the ’90s.
