It’s hard to pin down Faux Real. The Franco-American duo, comprised of brothers Elliott and Virgile Arndt, has been steadily broadening the scope of their project.
Their high-octane DIY performances, involving matching cut-up boiler suits lined with fringe, barefoot dance routines, and crowd-splitting high-kicks, are taking on a more established and ever more unhinged form — think Iggy Pop meets campy Eurodance boyband. Humble beginnings between Paris and London birthed their first self-titled EP in 2020. Dubbed “Anti-Rock” by early onlookers, Faux Real’s music showcased a keen ear for hooks and anthemic songwriting. The ensuing pandemic had the pair looking inwards and digging their way into a glossier pop sound.
Exploring themes of pastiche, hustle culture, anxiety and authenticity with an often brutalist sound – and en franglais (s’il vous plaît!) – the band of brothers cite a broad range of references from Talking Heads to Björk, from the outsider ballads of Tommy Mandel to fellow Franco-American bard Joe Dassin, from 90s Eurodance to Prefab Sprout, the California-drenched synth bangers of Mylene Farmer to experimental pop futurists Art Of Noise or industrial dance duo Chris & Cosey.
At the core of Faux Ever, Faux Real interrogate what constitutes ‘real’ art, and seek a home within their practice. They have built an entire philosophical framework, acting as a duo of alternative jesters infiltrating the pop space. Toeing the line between undeniable pop potential and an off-kilter flair lies at the core of everything they do. That said, no one really knows what is real and what is faux, and that’s the magic of it all.
