Johnny Hostile (Nicolas Congé) & Jehnny Beth (Camille Berthomier) first got together in Angoulême, France during 2005, and then moved to London at the end of 2006. They released their debut album, nearly all of which was recorded in their bedroom, through indie label FMM (Faculty Music Media) in April 2008, to critical acclaim. Their haunting, shadow-tinged melodies draw on a bevy of influences such as: Serge Gainsbourg, The Velvet Underground, Jean-Luc Godard, Gang of Four, John Fante, Joy Division, Jacques Brel and Johnny Cash. After their first two record deals, the band eventually had an identity crisis, “We had bad promotion, a bad record release—bad everything,” recalls Congé. And without ever really taking off, they crashed—and out of those ashes rose the band Savages, which was the brainchild of guitarist Gemma Thompson, who played with John and Jehn. Jehnny became their lead singer, and Johnny stayed on as their producer; with his darkly quiet sound as a solo artist was integral to the band’s development. Although still together, and not officially defunct as John & Jehn, both spend most of their current time on their other projects.
