Troublemakers

by MacKenzie WilsonComing from the land of fine wine and romance is the electronica trio Troublemakers, and like their French counterparts such as AIR and Dimitri From Paris, this eclectic group of musicians composes a selective sound when it comes to defining dance music. DJ Oil, Fred Berthet, and Arnaud Taillefer first met at the Friche-Belle in Marseille in 1998, and quickly the three got along, thanks to their appreciation for '60s and '70s jazz and funk and film scores. This in turn created the basis of jungle, hip-hop, and house elements to fuse together for the Troublemakers. Each musician has individual experiences as well: DJ Oil, a mainstay within the jungle scene in Marseille, has been perfecting his funkadelic grooves since the early '90s and has held a residency at the famed Radio Grenouille since 1996. Taillefer preferred photography, graphic design, and movie soundtracks, aside from tackling music full-time, and Berthet, who is a Parisian DJ, issued several releases during the '90s while working with worldbeat music. Together the Troublemakers mold a unique vibe and maintain a loyal fan base around Europe. In early 2001, their debut Doubts & Convictions was released on Guidance.