Vanessa & The O's

Vanessa and the O's formed in 2004 when Vanessa Contenay-Quinones got together with Swedes Andreas Mattson (Popsicle) and Niclas Frisk (Atomic Swing) later joining up with James Iha ( The Smashing Pumpkins) in New York. They recorded the album "La Ballade d'O" over the next 18 months or so. Vanessa also went into the studio with Lou Reed around this time to cut an Anglo/French version of "Sunday Morning" while also working on new songs with Frisk and Mattson.

They recorded the album "La Ballade d'O" over the next 18 months or so. Vanessa also went into the studio with Lou Reed around this time to cut an Anglo/French version of "Sunday Morning" while also working on new songs with Frisk and Mattson. The album was finally finished in 2005 when Pelle Gunnerfeldt (The Hives) was brought in to do final mixes also bringing in Bjorn Yttling [Peter, Bjorn & John]on keyboards as well as Per Nordmark drums. The album was released via EMI Sweden May '05 in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway. The band played their first live dates July '05 in Sweden. In the UK the album was 'Album Of The Week' in influential British record store Rough Trade who described it as "...a fantastic album of ?european cool' with breathy vocals over music which sounds like The Concretes, Stereolab or a modern take on the Velvet Underground?" In 2006 the album was released by the bands own label Rushmore Recordings in France [Pias] and Japan {StrangeDaysRecords] to great critical acclaim earning a 'Disque Du Mois' from influential rock mag 'Rock & Folk' and rave reviews from Les Incorruptibles, Magic, Rolling Stone and Figaro. Also in 2006 Vanessa was invited to guest vocal on Scott Walker 's album 'The Drift'. The O's played shows in Paris and London through 2006/7 which saw the debut album available worldwide. The O's were invited to participate in the all star musical tribute to legendary composer Ennio Morriconealongside Springsteen, Metallica and others. 'We All Love Ennio Morricone' features Vanessa's gorgeous rendition of the Francoise Hardy classic 'Je Changerais d'Avis'

Vanessa and Andreas are currently recording the second O's album in Stockholm.
Rushmore, April 2009