About Air
With six studio albums under their belts since their debut album in 1997, French duo Air have has risen to heights of success. Air is comprised of Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel. In 2006 Dunckel released a solo album as well. Surprisingly Godin studied architecture, and Dunckel studied Mathematics before they formed their band.
The name, AIR is an acronym in reverse, (or a backronym as it is more commonly known). Initially AIR did not stand for anything. The words defining the band’s name, Amour, Imagination, Rêve, (Love, Imagination, Dream), were decided upon after the band had chosen the name.
In addition to the six studio albums Air have also released four other albums, including one which is a collaboration with Italian writer Alessandro Barrico. Air was originally approached by Barrico who had the idea of enhancing a reading of his book ‘City’ with live music. When City Reading was performed in Teatro Valle in Rome, it became an instant success. Subsequent to this, Barrico and Air decided to create a full recording (since only portions of the City were narrated during the performance).
Air have also recorded a DJ Mix album. Although the album was originally intended for release in October 2005, it was to be September of 2006 before it was finally released. The album was created for Azuli Records’ series entitled ‘Late Night Tales’.Air have also composed music for director Sofia Coppola, including music for “The Virgin Suicides”, Coppola’s debut film. To date Air are still going strong, and have gathered a loyal fan base who are drawn to the band’s contemporary styling of the electronica music genre.