Halou
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder | Rebecca Coseboom, Ryan Coseboom |
| Defunct | 2008 (initially) |
| Fate | Disbanded in 2008; reformed in 2015 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
| Products | Music albums and EPs |
| Website | www |
Halou is a dream pop ensemble originating from San Francisco, California, established in 1997 by the duo Rebecca and Ryan Coseboom. The group disbanded in 2008 but ended an 11-year break with the release of their 2019 album Brutalism For Lovers.
History
Ryan and Rebecca first crossed paths in 1992 while performing as drummer and vocalist, respectively, for the Santa Cruz-based band Anomie. This project marked a shift for Ryan from techno pop toward ambient guitar textures and guided Rebecca's vocal approach toward influences reminiscent of 4AD’s sound. Anomie found regional acclaim with their album Burgundy Girl before moving to San Francisco and eventually splitting into two separate bands. By late 1995, Ryan and Rebecca had launched "anymore," producing two CDs during its run.
Following the end of "anymore," the pair formed Halou. Ryan acknowledged inspirations such as OMD, Wire, and the Tom Tom Club. Their first full-length, We Only Love You (1998), was released through the indie label Bedazzled, succeeded by the non-album collection Sans Soucie (1999). The 2001 album Wiser was issued by Nettwerk, while Wholeness & Separation (2006) and Halou (2008) appeared on Vertebrae.
The debut album received airplay on prominent independent radio stations in cities like Seattle and Los Angeles. Media outlets took notice of the band, which also gained acclaim for their production expertise: notably, their remix of Rod Stewart's "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" topped the Billboard club chart and led to contributions on two feature film soundtracks.
In 2008, Halou ceased operations under that name. Rebecca and Ryan continued their musical journey as Stripmall Architecture, while Count focused on production work and performed with the group inu. By late 2015, Halou returned to recording, unveiling the single "Stillbreathing" on November 2, 2015.
Albums
- We Only Love You (1998)
- Wiser (2001)
- Wholeness and Separation (2006)
- Halou (2008)
- Brutalism For Lovers (2019)
- Albatross (2020)
EPs/compilations
- Wholeness EP (2003)
- Sans Soucie EP (2004)
- Albatross EP (2007)
- Sawtooth EP (2008)
- Welcome Stranger EP (2021)
- The Butcher's Bill EP (2024)