Air France (band)
| Company type | Indie pop group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2005 in Gothenburg, Sweden |
| Founder | Joel Karlsson, Henrik Markstedt |
| Headquarters | Gothenburg , Sweden |
| Products | Indie pop music, EPs, singles |
Air France was an indie pop group originating from Gothenburg, Sweden, formed by Joel Karlsson and Henrik Markstedt. The duo was signed to the Gothenburg-based label Sincerely Yours, established by the band The Tough Alliance. Their musical style has been characterized as "post-rave bliss," beach foam pop, and "Balearic disco," although Karlsson himself expressed that he did not personally identify with the Balearic genre label.
Origins
Founded in 2005 in Gothenburg, Air France began as a collaboration between friends Joel Karlsson and Henrik Markstedt. Drawing inspiration from dance music and artists such as Saint Etienne, their initial track "Behind Cabin Curtains" was unfortunately lost due to a hard drive failure. In 2006, the group expanded by adding Elisabet Sjögren as a female vocalist, moving beyond their original duo format. While they initially declared an intention not to perform live, this stance was later reconsidered.
On Trade Winds
Air France joined forces with Sincerely Yours founder Eric Berglund to release their debut EP, On Trade Winds, in December 2006. The record garnered moderate attention within the music community. In April 2007, they issued a cover of Au Revoir Simone's "Afraid You Told Someone About Us," followed by the single "Hold On to Me, Baby" later that year.
No Way Down
Their sophomore EP, No Way Down, arrived in June 2008 and received positive acclaim. Pitchfork awarded it an 8.6 rating, designating it as Best New Music and placing it 14th on their list of the top 50 albums of 2008. Originally released in Sweden, the EP was subsequently introduced to the UK market alongside On Trade Winds through Something in Construction.
Later releases and disbandment
In 2009, Air France put out the single "GBG Belongs to Us," which was promoted via a dedicated website that was eventually taken offline due to unpaid hosting costs. That same year, they secured a publishing contract with XL Recordings and planned to release a debut album in 2010; however, dissatisfaction with the material led to shelving those plans. August 2011 saw the release of "It Feels Good to Be Around You."
In March 2012, the band publicly announced their dissolution, citing difficulties in creating music they felt met their standards and choosing to end the project despite the emotional challenges involved.
To commemorate two years since their breakup, New Zealand indie pop ensemble Yumi Zouma covered "It Feels Good to Be Around You," featuring vocal contributions from both Karlsson and Markstedt.
Discography
- EPs
- On Trade Winds (2006)
- No Way Down (2008)
- Singles
- "Afraid You Told Someone About Us" (2007)
- "Hold On to Me, Baby" (2007)
- "GBG Belongs to Us" (2009)
- "It Feels Good to Be Around You" (2011)
- Remixes
- Saint Etienne – "Spring" (remixed by Air France)
- Friendly Fires – "Skeleton Boy" (Air France remix)
- Taken by Trees – "Taken by Sweetness" (Air France remix)