Who We Are: Neige, Winterhalter and Another World
If you've ever drifted off to Souvenirs d'un autre monde or felt a song swing from a scream to a whisper and back, you already know us. Here's who we are, and where our dreamy sound comes from.
Where are we from?
We come from Bagnols-sur-Cèze in the south of France. Neige (Stéphane Paut) started Alcest in 2000 as his solo project, and he writes the songs.
Who is in the band?
- Neige: vocals, guitars, keyboards and bass, founder and songwriter
- Winterhalter: drums since 2009, also known from Les Discrets
On stage we're joined by Zero on guitar and Indria Saray on bass.
Where does the name come from?
Not from Greek myth, whatever you may have read. Neige took it from Alceste, a character in Molière's play The Misanthrope. He liked how ethereal it sounded and dropped the second "e" to set the band apart from the play.
What do we sound like?
We're credited with pioneering blackgaze: the rush of black metal guitars and screams, mixed with the soft haze of shoegaze. Our 2005 EP Le Secret is where that blend really took shape.
What is the music about?
Our songs grow from Neige's childhood memories of a faraway "Fairy Land", another world he felt connected to. That is why our album covers look like scenes from a dream.
Wear the dream
Our designs come on tees, hoodies, sweatshirts and kids' sizes. Whether you found us in 2007 or last week, there's a design here for you.