BiografieLALU is a new heavy progressive music project initiated by Vivien Lalu during the Autumn 2003. Mostly known for his works as composer for Hubi Meisel on the EmOcean record released in 2004 and for his Shadrane´s Neurastasia (other super-project to come). Viv decided to gather a killer line up for the first LALU record named Oniric Metal. Joop Wolters on guitar, the mighty Ryan Van Poederooyen (drummer from The Devin Towsend Band) on drums, Martin LeMar on vocals and Russell Bergquist (ex-Annihilator) on bass.



Vivien wrote a short biography for those who would like to take the time to dive into his fantasy world :)



"I was born in Paris, France on December 02, 1978. My parents were playing in a french progressive band called Polène. They won many rock contests and their music was inspired by YES and KANSAS, but unfortunately they had to give-up with their first contract because I was born and my mother (keyboards) had to take charge of me. My father (guitar & lead vocals) did not want to continue without her and - in some kind of way - did sacrifice his dream for me.



I had a happy childhood... I started out playing synth late, and never had the opportunity to study at the conservatory. As far I can remember, I started music around age 10, when I discovered a little keyboard in my cousin’s room. Each time that I visited my uncle, I couldn’t resist going into the room and playing key…



At Christmas, when I was 12, I got my first keyboard from my parents. It was a Yamaha PSR-28 arranger, a very old little synth but it was the beginning of something for me. My first intention (like when I was playing at my uncle) was to compose music of my own. I loved to record it on tape and share it with friends. But the sound was too crappy, so I was not really enthusiastic with making music. The «passion» came far later…



At the end of my junior high-school times, I had a guitarist friend I used to play some drums with and even pans (ha ha ha) !!! I always loved to hit some drums. (even if I was and am still a crappy drummer). I was not interested into keyboards playing at this time... I started a “very little bit” of guitar, being a mere fan of Megadeth and Sepultura, also I have to mention that my first drum tryouts were on Metallica.



Later on, during my high-school studies, one of my best friends used to draw mangas. I was really excited to compose music for his stories, so the real passion for keyboards started here. We’d been dreaming of making an anime-movie at this time. I made many openers and background music (BGM’s) for this purpose, but we unfortunately never got the chance to make this happen.



At this time I got my keyboard
PSR-620, of course another crappy arranger, but way better than the old one. Still at high-school, another friend asked me if I would like to join his “cover” band as a keyboards guy. I said YES, and we got the first gig pretty quickly! After a short time, we started to compose material of our own, and the band got the name: TIME FOR A CHANGE



It was a dark-metal/black-metal project but I left the band quickly. I got my first Dream Theater CD the masterpiece Images and Words for my birthday, and it totally changed my conception of music. To my great surprise, I never thought to mix metal with the kind of music my dad played… Progressive Rock, with these dreamy keyboards and stuff…WOAW!



I left the band with one of the guitar players, as we wanted to play ALL the heavy-progressive stuff we couldn’t play in the doom/metal band (some of our ideas sounding too happy probably). That’s how we ended founding SAD WARDEN, my first progressive band ever! I remember that I also took some piano-lessons with an amazing musician called Emmanuel David (student of Thelonius Monk).



The truth is that I was not serious enough to practice the instrument and at this time I realized that I was more a composer than a true “live-musician”. I know I should work a bit more to become a “keyboard wizard” but I simply don´t have enough time for this (nor motivation) for it ! I just can’t stop composing & practising my own shit. Hey! In this golden age, I got the machine of my dreams, the indispensable Roland Xp-80 workstation and now I can’t live without it!



After some disappointments, and unsuccessful trials with our first singer, Sad Warden got a real drummer, so goodbye to Misses drum machine and a new singer Gilles Petersen/ANKH joined us. The band changed its name to MIND’S ORCHARD, and that was a very cool period filled with loads of rehearsals. At the same time, I was partly studying and working as webmaster.

At this point, I stopped to go to work just to make music at home, and to miss my work got me into troubles. Soon I´ve been forced to leave my job (you can easily imagine the situation), to make something serious out of my art because I realized that I was addicted to music only

I recorded a demo with some of my songs, also I did a 3 tracks self-titled demo with Mind’s Orchard. Everything during the summer of 2001.

Unfortunally, Mind’s Orchard only lasted for a while. Most of the guys lost interest, and time was missing etc... All in all, it became an occasion for me to make something personal, a serious “life” project. That’s how I ended up founding SHADRANE in late 2001.



In the meanwhile I met Hubi Meisel on Internet, and composed two albums for him . I composed all the music while Hubi Meisel wrote the concept and his vocalines/lyrics.

Now, as the production of Shadrane still takes a lot of my time (especially because of the lack of budget and the number of guests to record), I took the time to work out Oniric Metal and record some original ideas I had, never released for Hubi Meisel, as well as some new songs composed during the winter of 2003/2004.



Guess you will be able to discover it soon thanks to Lion Music. In a way, this album was made for some of my friends, who were SO eager to get more music before Shadrane is there ;)



OK enough now… I like to leave some dark things about me, my life and my projects, in case you have stuff to ask me the day you will meet me, ha ha ha! Today I am determined to release my records. It will give a sense to my biggest dream, making music! Because that’s just what I am. Still a child making music..."



Viv


Quelle: http://lalusworld.com/lalu_main.htmlDiscografie2005 - Oniric Metal
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