DVNO | |
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Also known as | Mehdi Pinson |
Origin | France |
Genres | Disco house, electroclash |
Years active | 1998–present |
Labels | Ed Banger |
Website | dvno |
DVNO, also known as Mehdi Pinson, is a French musician, multi-instrumentist, singer, composer, producer, entertainer and DJ. A self-described rowdy crooner, he is best known for his vocals on his previous band Scenario Rock's indie dance hit "Skitzo Dancer".
He later became a household name amongst Ed Banger Records fans with his guest appearance on the song "DVNO" with fellow countrymen Justice (off their critically acclaimed debut album †). As for his name, DVNO stands for Divino which is a sarcastic reference to discotheques and modern social standards in entertainment.
In the early 1990s DVNO was spinning in numerous hip hop dance battles and block parties, while playing in a hardcore punk rock band who would often perform with the likes of NRA, NOFX and Millencolin. Sharing the same interest for skateboarding and turntablism with childhood friend DJ Pone, the two youths formed the music collective Scenario Rock, which was much more hip hop and electronic music oriented in the beginning.
In 1998 with the help of DJ Faster Jay, A&R Bertil David and music mogul Phillipe Ascoli, the band released their first single on the compilation Source Rocks with some of the french music avant-garde along with Phoenix and Sebastien Tellier.
Scenario Rock was then signed to Vorston and Limantell / BMG and later released their debut album Endless Season, which was recorded and produced in Los Angeles by David Corcos. The album features numerous musicians such as Koool G. Murder on bass (Eels, Everlast, Beck) and Alfredo Ortiz (Beastie Boys) on drums. A bunch of major label issues meant that Endless Season only came out in 2004 (due to Sony's completed acquisition of BMG and its label closure). The follow-up album Histrionics was similarly delayed and finally released in February 2008. Not long after, the band and its original line-up split up to get rid of the major label issues.
After over a decade touring worldwide, tearing up dance floors and exploring the indie/dance world with one eye on '70s and '80s soft rock and the other held firmly on electronic music for inspiration. DVNO still follows his path returning to his ongoing obsessions with DJing, songwriting and producing music, recording new material and crafting musical oddities for his upcoming album.