Air

Biography

Air is a French music duo from Versailles, consisting of Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel. Their debut album, Moon Safari×Moon Safari16 January 1998 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1La Femme d’argent7:102Sexy Boy4:583All I Need4:284Kelly, Watch the Stars!3:465Talisman4:176Remember2:347You Make It Easy4:028Ce matin-là3:399New Star in the Sky (Chanson pour Solal)5:4110Le Voyage de Pénélope3:12, including the track "Sexy Boy×Sexy Boy1997 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Sexy Boy (radio edit)3:542New Star in the Sky (Chanson pour Solal)5:41", was released in 1998. Its follow-up, The Virgin Suicides, was the score to Sofia Coppola's first film The Virgin Suicides. The band has since released the albums 10 000 Hz Legend×10 000 Hz Legend23 May 2001 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks1Electronic Performers5:352How Does It Make You Feel?4:383Radio #14:234The Vagabond5:385Radian7:386Lucky and Unhappy4:317Sex Born Poison6:198People in the City4:579Wonder Milky Bitch5:5010Don’t Be Light6:1911Caramel Prisoner4:5912The Way You Look Tonight3:44, Talkie Walkie×Talkie Walkie21 January 2004 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks1Venus4:052Cherry Blossom Girl3:403Run4:124Universal Traveler4:225Mike Mills4:276Surfing on a Rocket3:437Another Day3:218Alpha Beta Gaga4:409Biological6:0510Alone in Kyoto4:51, Pocket Symphony×Pocket SymphonyDecember 2006 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks1Space Maker4:032Once Upon a Time5:023One Hell of a Party4:024Napalm Love3:275Mayfair Song4:196Left Bank4:077Photograph3:518Mer du Japon3:059Lost Message3:3210Somewhere Between Waking and Sleeping3:3611Redhead Girl4:3312Night Sight4:21, Love 2×Love 25 October 2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Do the Joy3:032Love2:433So Light Is Her Footfall3:144Be a Bee3:465Missing the Light of the Day4:266Tropical Disease6:497Heaven’s Light3:538Night Hunter4:149Sing Sang Sung3:0810Eat My Beat2:4611You Can Tell It to Everybody4:1112African Velvet3:49, Le voyage dans la lune×Le Voyage dans la Lune3 February 2012 · Album · SoundtrackSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Astronomic Club3:132Seven Stars4:233Retour sur Terre0:334Parade2:335Moon Fever3:346Sonic Armada5:057Who Am I Now?3:018Décollage1:389Cosmic Trip4:1010Homme Lune0:1811Lava2:53Disc 21Le Voyage dans la lune (version originale couleur restaurée)15:38 and Music for Museum. The band is influenced by a variety of musical styles and artists.

Formation

Nicolas Godin studied architecture at the École nationale supérieure d'architecture de Versailles, and Jean-Benoît Dunckel studied mathematics, before forming a band in 1995. Before founding Air, Dunckel and Godin played together in the band Orange with others such as Alex Gopher, Xavier Jamaux and Jean de Reydellet. The former two subsequently contributed to remixes of tracks recorded by Air.
Initially Godin worked alone, recording a demo with members of Funkadelic as his backing band before releasing his first entirely solo effort, "Modular Mix", which featured production by Étienne de Crécy.

First Works

After making several remixes for other acts in the early 1990s, Air recorded their first EP, Premiers Symptômes×Premiers Symptômes29 July 1997 · EP · CompilationSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Modulor Mix6:012Casanova 705:553Les Professionnels4:324J’ai dormi sous l’eau5:445Le soleil est près de moi4:53, in 1997. The band would sign to Virgin Records and Astralwerks following the EP's success. The band's debut full-length album, Moon Safari×Moon Safari16 January 1998 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1La Femme d’argent7:102Sexy Boy4:583All I Need4:284Kelly, Watch the Stars!3:465Talisman4:176Remember2:347You Make It Easy4:028Ce matin-là3:399New Star in the Sky (Chanson pour Solal)5:4110Le Voyage de Pénélope3:12, was released on 16 January, 1998. Air would find major international success with their song "Sexy Boy×Sexy Boy1997 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Sexy Boy (radio edit)3:542New Star in the Sky (Chanson pour Solal)5:41", which was released as the album's lead single. The album would produce two more chart topping singles "Kelly Watch The Stars×Kelly Watch the StarsMarch 1998 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1Kelly Watch the Stars (edit)3:39A2Sexy Boy (Sex Kino mix)6:33B1Kelly Watch the Stars (extended version)8:12B2Remember (D. Whitaker version)2:21" and "All I Need×All I NeedNovember 1998 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1All I Need (edit)4:022Kelly, Watch the Stars! (Moog Cookbook remix)5:413Kelly, Watch the Stars! (American Girls remix by Phoenix)5:13". As of February 2012, the album had sold 386,000 copies in the United States. Following the album's international success, the band would pursue a world tour, which was documented in their film Air: Eating, Sleeping, Waiting and Playing, directed by Mike Mills.
In 2000, Air composed the original score for Sofia Coppola's debut film The Virgin Suicides. Shortly after the release, the band would go on to produce their second studio album, 10 000 Hz Legend×10 000 Hz Legend23 May 2001 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks1Electronic Performers5:352How Does It Make You Feel?4:383Radio #14:234The Vagabond5:385Radian7:386Lucky and Unhappy4:317Sex Born Poison6:198People in the City4:579Wonder Milky Bitch5:5010Don’t Be Light6:1911Caramel Prisoner4:5912The Way You Look Tonight3:44, which released on 28 May, 2001. The album features American musician Beck as well as suGar Yoshinaga of Japanese band Buffalo Daughter. Produced by Tony Hoffer, the album went on to receive polarizing reviews from both critics and fans. The album spawned four singles, of which the majority of them failed to chart internationally. According to a 2012 Soundscan, 10,000 Hz Legend sold 600,000 copies worldwide. In 2002, the duo released remixes of the album under a release titled Everybody Hertz×Everybody Hertz18 February 2002 · Album · RemixSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Don’t Be Light (edit)3:182Don’t Be Light (Mr Oizo remix)4:173How Does It Make You Feel? (Adrian Sherwood version)4:414Don’t Be Light (Neptunes remix)4:115People in the City (Modjo version)4:506Don’t Be Light (The Hacker remix)6:257How Does It Make You Feel? (edit)3:388Don’t Be Light (Malibu remix)5:219People in the City (Jack Lahana remix)5:0810The Way You Look Tonight3:4811Flowerhead5:37, which featured the bonus song "The Way You Look Tonight". In 2003, the duo worked with Italian writer Alessandro Baricco, on the album City Reading (Tre Storie Western)×City Reading (Tre Storie Western)29 March 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 19 tracks1Bird (Bird)7:202La puttana di Closingtown (Prologo per la puttana di Closingtown)2:403La puttana di Closingtown (Se vuoi capire la loro storia)1:054La puttana di Closingtown (Pat Cobhan ride)4:145La puttana di Closingtown (Fanny scivola con le labbra)2:016La puttana di Closingtown (Pat Cobhan alza gli occhi)1:247La puttana di Closingtown (Young)2:368La puttana di Closingtown (’Affanculo)4:139La puttana di Closingtown (Quell’uomo bara, dice)1:3810La puttana di Closingtown (Finale)1:3511Caccia all’uomo (Prologo)3:2012Caccia all’uomo (Il primo giorno)3:4013Caccia all’uomo (Il secondo giorno)4:5714Caccia all’uomo (Il terzo giorno)5:3415Caccia all’uomo (L’urlo)1:1616Caccia all’uomo (Mondo sparito)0:5517Caccia all’uomo (Il quarto giorno)4:2118Caccia all’uomo (Macchie di sangue)1:1319Caccia all’uomo (Musica)3:08. The album started as an idea for a collaboration with Baricco, who is known for his unusual characterizations and lyrical, poetic style. Baricco contacted Air in summer 2002 with the idea to marry narration of texts from his book City with live original musical accompaniment. The performance premiered live in November 2002 at Rome's Teatro Valle and was deemed such a success that both parties resolved to make a full studio recording. In 2003, the duo worked with film director Sofia Coppola on her film Lost In Translation, where the duo provided the song "Alone In Kyoto".

Later Years

On 26 January 2004, the duo released their third studio album Talkie Walkie×Talkie Walkie21 January 2004 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks1Venus4:052Cherry Blossom Girl3:403Run4:124Universal Traveler4:225Mike Mills4:276Surfing on a Rocket3:437Another Day3:218Alpha Beta Gaga4:409Biological6:0510Alone in Kyoto4:51. Produced by Nigel Godrich, the album spawned three singles: "Cherry Blossom Girl×Cherry Blossom Girl2003 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Cherry Blossom Girl (radio mix)3:422Cherry Blossom Girl (Hope Sandoval version)2:56", "Surfing On a Rocket×Surfing on a Rocket13 April 2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1Surfing on a Rocket3:42A2Surfing on a Rocket (To the Smiling Sun remix)6:31B1Surfing on a Rocket (remixed by Juan MacLean)7:01B2Surfing on a Rocket (Tel Aviv Rocket Surfing remake)5:21", which peaked at number 31 in the Billboard Top 40, and "Alpha Beta Gaga×Alpha Beta Gaga2 August 2004 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Alpha Beta Gaga (edit)3:042Alpha Beta Gaga (Mark Ronson remix edit)4:393Alpha Beta Gaga (Mark Ronson dub)5:114Alpha Beta Gaga (Jackson remix)4:20". Shortly after, the band went on to pursue solo projects and work with other artists. In September 2006, the duo worked with British actress Charlotte Gainsbourg on her second studio album 5:55. Dunckel released his solo album Darkel that same year. The duo was a feature on the DJ Mix series Late Night Tales, and released their set Late Night Tales: Air. The soundtrack to Coppola's October 2006 film Marie Antoinette features Air's "Il Secondo Giorno". Air would work with producer Nigel Godrich, as well as feature Jarvis Cocker and Neil Hannon on their 2007 album Pocket Symphony×Pocket SymphonyDecember 2006 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks1Space Maker4:032Once Upon a Time5:023One Hell of a Party4:024Napalm Love3:275Mayfair Song4:196Left Bank4:077Photograph3:518Mer du Japon3:059Lost Message3:3210Somewhere Between Waking and Sleeping3:3611Redhead Girl4:3312Night Sight4:21.
In 2009, the duo released their self-produced fifth studio album Love 2×Love 25 October 2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Do the Joy3:032Love2:433So Light Is Her Footfall3:144Be a Bee3:465Missing the Light of the Day4:266Tropical Disease6:497Heaven’s Light3:538Night Hunter4:149Sing Sang Sung3:0810Eat My Beat2:4611You Can Tell It to Everybody4:1112African Velvet3:49. In 2012, Air released their second film score, and sixth studio album, Le voyage dans la Lune×Le Voyage dans la Lune3 February 2012 · Album · SoundtrackSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Astronomic Club3:132Seven Stars4:233Retour sur Terre0:334Parade2:335Moon Fever3:346Sonic Armada5:057Who Am I Now?3:018Décollage1:389Cosmic Trip4:1010Homme Lune0:1811Lava2:53Disc 21Le Voyage dans la lune (version originale couleur restaurée)15:38. Air would further work on an ambient based soundtrack for the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille with their 2014 release Music for Museum. In 2016, the compilation album Twentyears×Twentyears10 June 2016 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 31 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11La Femme d’argent7:122Cherry Blossom Girl3:403Kelly Watch the Stars3:464Playground Love3:325Sexy Boy4:596Venus4:047All I Need4:288Alpha Beta Gaga (single edit)3:029Moon Fever3:3410Don’t Be Light6:1911How Does It Make You Feel4:3912Once Upon a Time5:0313Alone in Kyoto4:5014Talisman4:1615Run4:1516Le soleil est près de moi4:5217Land Me4:35Disc 21Planet Vega5:242Flowerhead5:383Crickets3:334The Duelist4:415High Point4:036Au fond du rêve doré2:027Danger Zone3:588Indian Summer6:049The Way You Look Tonight3:4810Roger Song2:4611J’ai dormi sous l’eau (BBC session 1998)4:1112Remember (David Whitaker version)2:2513Trente millions d’amis (live KCRW 98)4:3514Adis Abebah2:55 was released, with the band pursuing a world tour which ended in 2018. Shortly after, the band went on to pursue solo projects with various releases. In 2020, Nicholas Godin released his second studio album Concrete and Glass. In 2023, the band pursued the Moon Safari tour, which was completed in 2025. In 2026 the band reissued a rare and limited clear vinyl 2LP version of Love 2, the is the first time in 15 years that the record will be available.

Influences and musical style

Air is associated with a variety of musical styles: electronica, space pop, dream pop, progressive rock, downtempo, chillout, trip hop, ambient, electronic pop and space rock. Dunckel grew up listening to both classical and electronic music, especially Kraftwerk, as well as the 1960s and 1970s music of Serge Gainsbourg. He later took an interest in what he called the "English dark rock" of Siouxsie and the Banshees and Joy Division, while being a fan of David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Lou Reed. Brian Eno and Cluster were two of the electronic acts who inspired him the most. He cites among his favorite artists: Maurice Ravel for classical music, François de Roubaix for music soundtracks and Siouxsie and the Banshees for pop music. Dunckel shared with Godin a special liking for the music of Michel Legrand, Philip Glass and Grace Jones. During his childhood, Godin was fascinated by the Beatles before later discovering the soul of Sly and the Family Stone, and film soundtracks like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly by Ennio Morricone. The duo were influenced by progressive rock pioneers Pink Floyd.
Air uses many of its studio instruments (including Moog synthesizers, the Korg MS-20, Wurlitzers and vocoders) on stage. The band performs tracks from their albums live as extended or altered versions. Air often collaborates (both in the studio and live) with artists like Beth Hirsch (Moon Safari), Françoise Hardy ("Jeanne"), Jean-Jacques Perrey ("Cosmic Bird"), Gordon Tracks ("Playground Love×Playground Love17 January 2000 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksAPlayground Love3:30B1Playground Love (Nosferatu remix by Flower Pistols)3:26B2Highschool Prom (Playground Love – Rob remix)2:26" and "Easy Going Woman" – Gordon Tracks is a pseudonym of the French singer Thomas Mars from Phoenix), Beck (10 000 Hz Legend) and Jean-Michel Jarre ("Close Your Eyes" from Jarre's Electronica 1: The Time Machine). They also invited Dave Palmer on their 2004 tour and drummer Earl Harvin, Vincent Taurelle and Steve Jones on their 2007 tour.

AIR as an acronym

The band has given conflicting information about whether Air is an acronym. In a clip aired in 2022, Godin told the BBC, "AIR is an acronym. I don't know if you have the same word in English, but it's, uh, 'amour, imagination, and rêve'." Dunckel apparently said the same thing, as the interview cuts to a separately filmed portion where Dunckel says "...which means 'love, imagination, and dreaming'."
However, in a 1998 interview for Australian magazine Rave, Godin reportedly denied the claim, saying "No. Someone made that up, but it was a really nice thing to do. I wish I could have that idea."

Air: Eating, Sleeping, Waiting and Playing (1999)

In 1999, American film and music video director, writer, and graphic designer Mike Mills released a 75-minute black-and-white documentary titled Air: Eating, Sleeping, Waiting and Playing. The film, shot during Air's 1998 tour, captures band members Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel during stops in New York, London, and Paris. As suggested by the title, the documentary's tone and form focus on the drudgery and banality of real-life touring for music artists.
Mills had previously collaborated with Air on their music videos.
The documentary was distributed by Source - une division de Virgin disques as a Stereo DVD. The documentary is also included in Criterion's Blu-Ray and 4K release I’ll Remind You of Everything: The Films of Mike Mills.