Young French rockers out to conquer America

A (Alexandre): Rock is based on sweat, spontaneity and energy. Sorry, but rock and roll was born in the United States.

Q: Has singing in English hurt your chances of success in France? Is this why you are going to America?

A: (Alexandre): In France, we have these rules that radio programming must be at least 40 percent French language. French labels tend to sign bands that are given airtime. They tell us 'you sing in English, sorry we cannot sign you'...So now we are signed on a U.S. label with a large budget, we are moving to New York for a few months and touring America.

A: (Berekachvili): Yes these rules, that's why we try to work as much as possible with people in the U.S. It's a shame. There are excellent bands in France but because they sing in English, they cannot get the recognition they deserve.

Q: The last time music put France on the international map was electronic music, the French Touch in the 1990s with Daft Punk or Air. French rock never made it beyond domestic borders. Do you feel you are pioneers ?

A: (Alexandre): It's a very good feeling to think we may be starting a trend. It has never happened to French rock before. It is very exciting to think we could be some sort of flagship for French music abroad though it's beyond our control.

Q: What does the U.S market represent for you?

A: (Alexandre): For Neimo, signing with a U.S label is a turning point. Our first album sold 4,500 copies, now we will have the financial means to launch our second album. It's both exciting and scary. The U.S is a huge market. We toured a lot in Britain but America is different, more exotic. It may be a cliche but we have this feeling that anything can happen there.

A: (Berekachvili): The U.S is a tough market but it's best to take that risk now. My dream has always been to play in Madison Square Garden. There is never a dull moment when on tour in America. In Washington, somebody got shot nearby while we were doing our sound-check and in L.A. we saw a corpse on the streets as we were packing our guitars after a gig.