Start Listening To: SCHØØL

Paris-born shoegaze collective SCHØØL are channelling teenage dreams, noisy guitars and a sharp DIY aesthetic into one of the most exciting new projects to come out of France.

Formed in late 2023, SCHØØL brings together an unlikely yet perfectly balanced lineup: Francis Mallari (Rendez-Vous), Erica Ashleson (Special Friend, Dog Park), Jack Moase (Liquid Face), and Alex Battez (Marble Arch). With roots stretching across Paris, Grenoble and Berlin, the band came together to make the kind of music they once idolised as teenagers, drawing inspiration from 90s shoegaze cult heroes like Swirlies and Drop Nineteens. Their breakout single N.S.M.L.Y.D quickly turned heads, but it was the anthemic OK <3 that set the tone for their debut album I think my life has been ok. Beyond the wall of guitars and hooks, SCHØØL embrace a strong visual identity shaped by their love of skateboarding and DIY video culture, positioning them as a band that lives and breathes every side of its art.

What was the writing and recording process like for I think my life has been ok? Any particular track that unlocked the direction of the record?

I mostly write all the demos myself at home. OK <3 is the track that gave the direction, I already wrote N.S.M.L.Y.D before but OK <3 was the "this is it".

Visually, the band already has a strong aesthetic. How important is that side of things to SCHØØL’s identity?

We grew up skateboarding, we love miniDV cameras and fisheyes, naturally we wanted that for our music videos.
I think the aesthetic in music in general is something that has always been important. We want the people to feel the way we feel with our music but also we all the different mediums we have.

What’s the dynamic like between you all in the studio?

I love it when we're all together in the studio. We all live in different cities (only Erica and I live in Paris, Jack lives in Grenoble) even countries (Alex lives in Berlin). So we're super excited to be reunited everytime! It's a sacred moment.

What do you love right now?

My dog Elton.

What do you hate right now?

The establishement.

Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you?

When the album 13 by Blur came out, there is a track that absolutely blew my mind. The track is 1992, that noisy guitar control is magical and still an inspiration to me today.

The French guitar scene is in an interesting place right now. How do you see SCHØØL fitting into it, or standing apart from it?

I agree! There are so many interesting french bands today, one of them: Bryan's Magic Tears, the song writing is so good.
I think we fit in the same scene, I even ask several times to open for them and they were down but their booker don't get it.
We're still down if you change your mind.