Chapelier Fou

Louis Warynski (born 6 January 1984),[1] better known by his stage name Chapelier Fou (Mad Hatter) is a French electronic musician from Metz. Since 2008, he has released five EPs and nine studio albums, all through the independent record label Ici, d'ailleurs...

Chapelier Fou
Diagonally tilted black-and-white photo of white male wearing a suit and hat, standing in front of a keyboard onstage, playing a violin.
Chapelier Fou performing in 2009
Background information
Birth nameLouis Warynski
Born (1984-01-06) 6 January 1984
Metz, France
GenresElectronic
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Multi-instrumentalist
Years active2008–present
LabelsIci, d'ailleurs...
Websitechapelierfoumusic.com/en

Life and career

Louis Warynski was born on 6 January 1984, in the French city of Metz. He entered the local conservatory at the age of six and went on to learn multiple instruments, including the violin and harpsichord.[2][3] After graduating from high school, Warynski obtained a master's degree in musicology.[4] He began working with electronic music, sampled lines by Lewis Carroll's Mad Hatter, and adopted the moniker as his stage name.[1]

In 2008, Chapelier Fou performed at Printemps de Bourges, in the "Electro Discoveries" section.[5] In 2009, the Nancy-based independent label Ici, d'ailleurs... released his first EP, Darling, Darling, Darling... That year, his performance at Eurockéennes de Belfort won him the Fabrice Ragris prize, awarded for young talent.[6] His next EP, titled Scandale!, was released in November 2009. In 2010, the artist appeared at Les Francofolies de La Rochelle and later travelled to Hungary to perform at Sziget Festival, in Budapest.[7] His debut full-length album, titled 613, came out in 2010.

Chapelier Fou performing in 2012

In 2011, Chapelier Fou held a series of performances at the Centre Pompidou-Metz[8] and later released the EP Al Abama.[9] In 2012, he took part in the Celtic Connections music festival in Glasgow, Scotland. The same year, he travelled to Australia and New Zealand to play at WOMAD.[1][10] His second studio album, Invisible, was released in March 2012. He promoted it with a number of shows across Europe, including at a Nuit Blanche in Paris. He returned to Australia for more performances the same year.[10]

Chapelier Fou has since published the EPs Protest (2014) and Fuses (2015) as well as the full-length albums Deltas (2014), Kalia (2016), Muance (2017), ! (2017), Méridiens (2020), and Parallèles (2020).

Between 2014 and 2019, he performed with a group of musicians, including Maxime François (viola, synthesizers), Maxime Tisserand (clarinets, electronics), and Camille Momper (cello), before returning to a solo format in 2020.

In 2021, he formed the acoustic group Ensemb7e, which included Grégory Wagenheim (piano), Nicolas Stroebel (drums), Maxime Tisserand (clarinets), Camille Momper (cello), Maxime François (viola), and Marie Lambert (violin ). In 2021, Claire Moret replaced Momper. In 2022, the group released an eponymous studio album.

Musical style

Chapelier Fou's compositions are mostly instrumental, combining acoustic instruments, including guitar and violin, with electronic instruments, synthesizers, and samplers.[9] He began by sampling classical and world music, moving on to the use of acoustic instruments.

Discography

Studio albums

  • 613 (2010)
  • Invisible (2012)
  • Deltas (2014)
  • Kalia (2016)
  • Muance (2017)
  • ! (2017)
  • Méridiens (2020)
  • Parallèles (2020)
  • Ensemb7e (2022)

EPs

  • Darling, Darling, Darling…' (2009)
  • Scandale! (2009)
  • Al Abama (2011)
  • Protest (2014)
  • Fuses (2015)

References
  1. "Chapelier Fou et Jeff Perkins" [Chapelier Fou and Jeff Perkins]. radiofrance.fr (in French). Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  2. "Chapelier Fou". lefigaro.fr (in French). Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  3. "Chapelier Fou, ce génie en a sous son grand chapeau" [Chapelier Fou, this genius has lots under his big hat]. 20minutes.fr (in French). 15 March 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  4. "Affiche printanière" [Spring poster]. humanite.fr (in French). 18 April 2008. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  5. "Printemps de Bourges (V) : Chapelier Fou, une brocante électro" [Printemps de Bourges (V): Chapelier Fou, an electro flea market]. lefigaro.fr (in French). 17 April 2008. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  6. "Chapelier fou / Darling, Darling, Darling". lexpress.fr (in French). 7 September 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  7. "Cascadeur vs Chapelier Fou, le son ou l'image ?" [Cascadeur vs Chapelier Fou, sound or image?]. telerama.fr (in French). 14 July 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  8. "Chapelier fou : iconoclaste au pays des merveilles" [Chapelier Fou: Iconoclast in Wonderland]. republicain-lorrain.fr (in French). 16 February 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  9. "Chapelier Fou, vraiment fou" [Chapelier Fou, really mad]. lesinrocks.com (in French). 3 July 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  10. "Chapelier Fou, échos en boucles" [Chapelier Fou, echoes in loops]. liberation.fr (in French). 5 October 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
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