Uniform Motion : Illustrated Indie Folk

Uniform Motion Logo

Heavy Boots

It is with heavy boots that we bring you some important news.

After ten years of navigating in the shadows of the music industry, we have decided to discontinue project Uniform Motion.

Uniform motion describes an object that is moving in a specific direction at a constant speed and that's what we've been doing for the past decade. It's been pretty much non-stop composing, drawing, recording, coding, mixing, mastering, distributing, promoting, social networking, crowdfunding, rehearsing, booking, touring, and so on...

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It's been a very interesting ride and a lot of fun driving along the backroads of the music business, meeting some amazing people on the way, in places like France, Spain, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands; communicating via the internet with some wonderful folk from all the over the world. We've recorded and released 5 proper studio albums, 1 covers album, and a live album. We’ve played over 130 shows and documented a lot of our humble experiments along the way.

If you’re reading this message, chances are you probably supported us in some way during our adventures. We are infinitely grateful for the support we have received over the years. Some of you bought every record we made. Some of you commented on our silly posts on Facebook. Others sent us pictures, or sound samples that we could use in our videos or songs. A few people helped us organise shows or helped us fine tune our songs before releasing them. Lots of you spread the word and told your friends or family about us. Some of you wrote to us to let us know that our work had touched you in some way. Thank you! You’re all amazing and we would love to be able to keep this up for another 10 years but it’s important to know when to quit something you love. And now seems like the right time.

Thanks again for all your support,
A bientôt,
Uniform Motion

Biography

Uniform Motion was an illustrated indie-folk/post-pop band combining music with drawings, composed of Renaud Forestié (illustrations), Olivier Piotte (drums/keys), Andy Richards (guitars/vocals), Patrice Thomas (Keyboards/Guitars) and Fred Pesce (Bass).

It all started with a 4-String guitar. Andy starts recording a bunch of songs at CDM Studio in Toulouse and meets Renaud.

The project is launched as a web series on www.uniform-motion-pictures.com. Andy and Renaud decide to combine comics and music and release a new song, accompanied by a video of live performance of the music and drawings being live sketched on to a videoscreen, along with an interactive comic strip every two weeks. The French magazine Les Inrockuptibles picks up on what Uniform Motion is doing and the band wins the CQFD Remix ’08 contest, resulting in them playing their first shows at La Maroquinerie and Apple Expo in Paris before appearing on iTélé, a national news channel.

Uniform Motion’s first album, Pictures, is released. The band makes it to the regional finals of the Printemps de Bourges contest. Andy and Renaud also go on their first tour, to Germany, during which they experiment with blank CD packaging on which Renaud draws custom pictures at the merch table.

Uniform Motion launches a new website in preparation for their new album, Life, which comes with poster packs (one illustration per song) and a Flash based Virtual Concert. Some international press outlets get wind of Uniform Motion’s endeavours with articles appearing in Canada, US, UK and Germany (drawn.ca, The Stranger, College Music Journal) The band also gets some airplay on NME Radio, BBC 6music, byte.fm, et and receives some positive reviews of the new album. Uniform Motion reaches the finals of the CQFD contest organised by Les Inrockuptibles. Olivier Piotte joins the band on drums.

Uniform Motion turns to crowdfunding for their 3rd album. After recording the new album, the band puts 2 songs and a promotional video game on their website and asks their fans to pre-order the album in order to raise money to pay for CD manufacturing and mastering fees. The game includes two little characters that jump up and down and the user has to catch little objects while they listen to the song. A month later, there’s enough cash to pay for the first batch of CD’s. The band’s social network presence starts to pay off as well. A facebook fan comments on their page and asks about a Vinyl release. The band immediately improvises a vinyl crowdfunding campaign, and two months later, 67 fans receive their copy of the album. Uniform Motion continues to document their experiments on their blog and in September 2012, one of their articles about digital music causes a bit of a stir in the music-tech world (Digital Music News, Hypebot, Musically) and the tech world (Gizmodo, Techdirt). Even more traditional outlets like the Guardian, Der Spiegel, Forbes, BBC Radio and MTV end up mentioning Uniform Motion and their article. Uniform Motion makes it the Printemps de Bourges finals for the second time and wins a grant from the local government.

Uniform Motion carries on experimenting with projects like its collaboration video where fans are asked to take a photo or make a short video with a cut-out Knight (the character from their 3rd album) The band launches onecitypersecond.com, a gigfunding site, which takes them to Sweden, Spain and Germany, tests Google+ Hangout based concerts and starts providing tutorials for their songs so fans can learn how to play them more easily. Last but not least, Uniform Motion offers their fans the possibility of donating sounds for their 4th album. Uniform Motion reaches the finals of the France O Folies contest organised by the Francofolies festival and national TV channel, France O and appears on national TV in the France ô Folies à Toulouse » programme. Opening slot with We Have Band and a TEDx showcase in Paris.

Uniform Motion releases their 4th album, THE MAGIC EMPIRE and a covers album ALTERED COVERS Opening slot with Plants and Animals, and a solo show in Barcelona.

Uniform Motion tours France as a 4 piece, with the addition of Patrice Thomas on Keyboards and Guitars. Release of LIVE AT THE PACE LIBRARY, a live album, more than a dozen shows across France. Andy opens for Cats on Trees at Le Trianon

Uniform Motion tours Spain as a 5 piece, with the addition of Fred Pesce on Bass and starts work on their 5th studio album. Two sold out shows at Theatre Roquelaine in Toulouse. Andy opens for Jay-Jay Johanson in Toulouse.

Uniform Motion releases 5, their 5th studio album and tour Germany for the third time

The project officially ends 18th March 2017, exactly 10 years after it began.

Andy and Renaud in Paris in 2008 A custom cover made for a fan at the end of a concert The One Frame Per Second vinyl Andy, Olivier and Renaud in Chemnitz, Germany Andy and Renaud in the South East of France, in 2014 Olivier and Patrice in 2015

Discography

Pictures (2009) started as a bedroom project. The vocals and a battered old 4-string guitar were initially recorded using a cheap Chinese made microphone. Those demos were taken to the next level thanks to the help of Marc Dubézy at CDM Studio in Toulouse. It became a much more ambitious record with several musical collaborations and was recorded and mixed over a fairly long period of time. It was released as CD/DVD/Comicbook.

Life (2010) was a more humble endeavor, recorded and mixed at home over a fairly short period of time. The drums were all programmed using software, and even the mastering was a homemade job. 100% DIY! Even the CD packaging was DIY.

One Frame Per Second (2011) was recorded in Paris, in the basement of a school, by 2 trainee sound engineers. We only had 3 days to record it so we had to ensure it was well rehearsed. Olivier played all the drums and the Mellotron was featured for the first time in our music. The album was mixed and mastered at home. It was also our first record to be released on vinyl.

The Magic Empire (2013) was recorded at the new CDM Studio (replacing the one that burned to the ground in 2009) by Marc Dubézy and then mixed at home, and mastered by TW Walsh. The only Uniform Motion album to include a hidden track!

Altered covers (2013) was Olivier’s idea. It was meant to keep us on our toes during the summer holidays but ended up being mixed on a laptop horizontally due to two herniated discs! The drums were recorded in Olivier’s new rehearsal space in his attic. The rest was recorded at Andy’s place.

5 (2016) was our first album as a 5-piece. The drums and bass were recorded at Olivier’s place and the guitars, vocals and keyboards were done at Andy’s place. We decided to outsource the mastering to Laurent Marc in Toulouse.

Pictures album cover
Life album cover
One Frame Per Second album cover
The Magic Empire album cover
Altered Covers album cover
Five album cover
Five album cover
Olivier rocking out Renaud on stage in the Bikini, in Toulouse, France, in 2009 Andy playing the last song of the show Andy alone on stage Andy, Olivier, Fred, Patrice and Renaud live in Donostia, Spain, in 2015 Wayne's World Wayne's World party time excellent

Concerts

We played our first proper show at Apple Expo in 2008, quickly followed by an opening slot at La Maroquinerie in Paris, with Islands and Alphabeat.

Over the years, we got to play with so many wonderful bands including Jay-Jay Johanson, Cats on Trees, We Have Band, The Hungry Kids of Hungary, Entertainment for the Braindead and Plants and Animals, with several tours outside of France including Germany and Spain.

Touring isn’t always easy but we always had a great time on tour and are really grateful to have been able to play in so many different places.

#1Apple Expo, Paris20 September 2008 - 16:00P #2La Maroquinerie, Paris, FR06 October 2008 - 20:00 #3The Petit London10 October 2008 - 20:00 #4Le Saint des Seins, Toulouse, FR 19 November 2008 - 21:00 #5Le Samsara, Toulouse, FR 21 November 2008 - 20:00 #6Cri de la Mouette, Toulouse, FR 24 March 2009 - 21:00 #7La Maison du Savoir, St-Laurent de Neste, FR 24 April 2009 - 21:00 #8Le Bikini, Toulouse, FR 29 May 2009 - 21:00 #9Au Petit Ekithé, Toulouse, FR 21 June 2009 - 21:00 #10La Chapelle, Toulouse, FR 29 June 2009 - 21:00 #11Le Cri de la Mouette, Toulouse, FR 07 October 2009 - 21:00 #12Ä, Berlin, DE 04 November 2009 - 21:00 #13Hafen 2, Offenbach, DE 05 November 2009 - 21:00 #14Aaltra, Chemnitz, DE 06 November 2009 - 21:00 #15Ilses Erika, Leipzig, DE 07 November 2009 - 21:00 #16Johann Rose, Berlin, DE 09 November 2009 - 21:00 #17Les Docks, Cahors, FR 11 December 2009 - 21:00 #18La Chapelle, Toulouse, FR 14 December 2009 - 21:00 #19Release Party @ Le Sakamanga, Toulouse, FR 19 February 2010 - 21:00 #20Maison des Jeunes, Castelfranc, FR 20 February 2010 - 21:00 #21Semaine du Rock @ Mister Big Stuff, Toulouse, FR 22 March 2010 - 21:00 #22Le Rex, Toulouse, FR 09 April 2010 - 21:00 #23Cri de la Mouette, Toulouse, FR (w/Recife + The Tanks) 06 June 2010 - 21:00 #24Festival Juin Jardins, Cahors, FR 11 June 2010 - 16:00 #25Private Show @CDM STUDIO, Toulouse, FR 09 July 2010 - 21:00 #26Flèche D'Or, Paris, FR 17 July 2010 - 21:00 #27Le Zèbre de Belleville, Paris, FR (w/ Agora Fidelio, Cats on Trees) 29 October 2010 - 21:00 #28Le Bikini, Toulouse, FR 11 November 2010 - 21:00 #29La Fnac, Labège, FR 26 March 2011 - 16:00 #30Saint des Seins, Toulouse, Fr (w/ Dunst!) 11 April 2011 - 21:00 #31Connexion Café, Toulouse, FR 21 April 2011 - 21:00 #32Festival Kioskamusik, Cugnaux, FR 27 August 2011 - 21:00 #33La Fnac, Labège, FR 09 October 2011 - 16:00 #34L'International, Paris, FR 16 October 2011 - 21:00 #35Lo Bolegason, Castres, FR 02 December 2011 - 21:00 #36Housegig, Gothenburg, SE (w/ Burzinski) 04 February 2012 - 22:00 #37Connexion Café, Toulouse, FR (w/Jono McCleery) 14 February 2012 - 21:00 #38El Chicho, Bordeaux, FR 13 April 2012 - 21:00 #39Connexion Café, Toulouse, FR (w/ Angil) 25 April 2012 - 21:00 #40Connexion Café, Toulouse, FR 09 May 2012 - 21:00 #41La Lata de Bombillas, Saragossa, ES 11 May 2012 - 21:00 #42Teatro de las Armas, Saragossa, ES 12 May 2012 - 12:00 #43Toulouse is Burning, Le Bikini, Toulouse, FR 16 May 2012 - 21:00 #44Art'Cade, Sainte Croix Volvestre, FR 19 May 2012 - 21:00 #45Dikkenek Café, Lyon, FR 30 May 2012 - 21:00 #46Hafen2, Offenbach, DE 31 May 2012 - 21:00 #47Essential Existence Gallery, Leipzig, DE 01 June 2012 - 21:00 #48Aaltra Vox Festival, Chemnitz, DE 02 June 2012 - 21:00 #49Stille Post Klub, Görlitz, DE 03 June 2012 - 21:00 #50Morph Club, Bamberg, DE 04 June 2012 - 21:00 #51Housegig, Berlin, DE 05 June 2012 - 21:00 #52Ä, Berlin, DE 06 June 2012 - 21:00 #53Swamp Club, Freiburg, DE 07 June 2012 - 21:00 #54Gaîté Lyrique, Paris, FR 12 September 2012 - 20:00 #55Le CAP, Toulouse, FR (w/ We Have Band) 20 October 2012 - 21:00 #56Théâtre de la Commanderie, Vaour, FR10 November 2012 - 21:00 #57ENAC, Toulouse, FR29 November 2012 - 21:00 #58Bolegason, Castres, FR (w/ Revolver)01 December 2012 - 21:00 #59Le Sonambule, Gignac (34) France16 February 2013 - 20:00 #60Médiathèque de Pacé, Pacé, FR23 March 2013 - 20:00 #61 Maison du Savoir, St-Laurent de Nestes, FR28 March 2013 - 20:00 #62Médiathèque de Pau, Pau, FR 29 March 2013 - 20:00 #63Escale du Livre, Bordeaux, FR04 April 2013 - 21:00 #64Bus Palladium, Paris, FR19 April 2013 - 21:00 #65Record Store Day Showcase, Fabrique des Balades Sonores, Paris, FR20 April 2013 - 19:00 #66Connexion Live (w/ Plants and Animals) - Toulouse, FR29 April 2013 - 20:00 #67Connexion Live - Release Party - Toulouse, FR18 June 2013 - 20:00 #68La Maison du Savoir, St-Laurent de Neste, FR28 June 2013 - 21:00 #69Private Show, Somewhere! 07 August 2013 - 21:00 #70Bouche à Oreille, Simorre, FR22 February 2014 - 20:00 #71Le Remue-Méninges, St-Etienne, FR08 April 2014 - 20:00 #72Kraspek Mysic, Lyon, FR09 April 2014 - 20:00 #73Espace Babylone, Briançon, FR10 April 2014 - 20:00 #74Médiathèque de Monaco, Monaco 11 April 2014 - 19:00 #75Festival Echappée Bulle, Rillieux-La-Pape, FR12 April 2014 - 16:00 #76La Tannerie, Bourg en Bresse, FR13 April 2014 - 17:30 #77Le Claranda, Serres (11), FR10 May 2014 - 21:00 #78Le Souleilla, Clermont (09), FR24 May 2014 - 20:00 #79L'Alternateur, Niort, FR30 May 2014 - 20:00 #80Le Karma, Angoulême, FR31 May 2014 - 20:00 #81Le Canoë Renversant, Bourg le Comte, FR13 June 2014 - 20:00 #82iBoat, Bordeaux, FR08 July 2014 - 20:00 #83Le Metronum, Toulouse, FR02 November 2014 - 14:00 #84Le Trianon, Paris, FR (Solo - Supporting Cats on Trees)07 November 2014 - 19:00 #85Private House Show, Amsterdam, NL 10 February 2015 - 19:30 #86Private Show, Ekito, Grand Builder Opening, Toulouse13 February 2015 - 19:30 #87Casa Del Loco, Zaragoza, Spain12 March 2015 - 23:00 #88Avalon Cafe, Zamora, Spain13 March 2015 - 20:00 #89Paperezko Kontzertuak, Donostia, Spain15 March 2015 - 13:00 #90Private Show, Amsterdam, Netherlands19 May 2015 - 20:00 #91Utopia, Toulouse, France (Solo show supporting Jay Jay Johanson)23 June 2015 - 20:00 #92Théâtre Roquelaine, Toulouse, France10 July 2015 - 20:30 #93Théâtre Roquelaine, Toulouse, France11 July 2015 - 20:30 #94ADHF, Toulouse, FR29 January 2016 - 18:30 #95Private Solo Show, Toulouse 30 April 2016 - 20:05 #96Ofenbar, Berlin, DE w/ Entertainment for the Braindead (solo)17 May 2016 - 20:00 #97Trois Baudets, Paris, FR24 May 2016 - 20:00 #98La Dynamo, Toulouse, FR (Release Party)25 May 2016 - 20:00 #99Showcase, Balades Sonores, Paris, FR16 June 2016 - 19:30 #100Le Canoë Renversant, Bourg-Le-Comte, France30 September 2016 - 20:00 #101Die Kassette, Düsseldorf, Germany01 October 2016 - 20:00 #102 Chez Patrice, Hamburg, Germany 02 October 2016 - 20:00 #103Noch Besser Leben, Leipzig, Germany05 October 2016 - 20:00 #104Kulturzentrum Franzis, Wetzlar, Germany06 October 2016 - 20:00 #105Atomino, Chemnitz, Germany07 October 2016 - 20:00 #106Swamp Club, Freiburg, Germany08 October 2016 - 20:00 #107L'Ogre Rouge, Vénérand, France09 October 2016 - 18:00

Illustrations

Illustrations were a big part of project Uniform Motion. We were one of the first bands to incorporate an illustrator as a fulltime member of the band.

At our live shows, people would sit quietly, often mesmerized by the intricate lines being drawn in front of their eyes. Many would queue up after our gigs to get a customized CD or vinyl with a hand-drawn illustration on it.

The Little Knight and the Princess, the Forty-Foot Man and the Magpie from The Magic Empire were all characters designed specially for each album. Sound Engineers would always mention our stageplots because of how cool they looked.

So although we were most definitely not the best band in the world, we were most probably the band with the best live illustrations and the most awesome stageplot!

One of the many, many illustrations Renaud drew live on stage over the years Renaud used to draw custom covers for everyone at the end of each gig
An illustration for Rollover, a song on the band's second album, Life
The stage plot sent to all venues
The magpie, the hero of The Magic Empire
Renaud drawing live on stage
An illustration for Stormeye, a song from Life
The first thing people saw when going to a UM concert

There's more

You’ll find a few dozen videos on our YouTube channel, including live performances, tutorials to learn how to play some of our songs and official video clips. We were pretty active on Facebook over the years and left a retrospective ‘song a day’ for you to scroll through. We’ll most probably be popping in from time to time to read comments. We still have some merch left, including T-Shirts, CD’s and Vinyl that you can purchase on our Bandcamp Store. The many wonderful illustrations (posters, album covers, etc…) and band photos can be found here.

Videos
Facebook
Store
Photos and illustrations