Skip the Use is a French band with electro funk, rock and punk influences founded in 2008 with musicians from Ronchin, near Lille and made up of Mat Bastard (vocals), Yan Stefani (guitar), Nelson Martins (bass) and Enzo Gabert (drums). The band is signed with Polydor and has distribution arrangement with Universal Music.

Skip the Use
Skip the Use in concert on the Kerouac stage during the 2014 Vieilles Charrues festival.
Skip the Use in concert on the Kerouac stage during the 2014 Vieilles Charrues festival.
Background information
OriginRonchin, Hauts-de-France, France
GenresRock, punk rock, electro
Years active2008–2016, 2018–present
LabelsPolydor
Universal Music Group
MembersMat Bastard
Yan Stefani
Nelson Martins
Enzo Gabert
Past membersJay Gimenez
Lio Raepsaet
Manamax Catteloin
Websiteskiptheuse.fr

Career

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The five members used to play in punk band Carving. They released their debut eponymous album Skip the Use produced by CALYSTA and NPE. The latter also organized their French tour and other tours in countries such as Canada, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania for the promotion of their album recorded in YellowSub studios with Yves Jaget and Manu Guiot member of NPE, and released 5 October 2009. They also took part in a string of music festivals allowing them to gain fame.

In early 2011, they launched a well-followed blog and a single "Give Me Your Life" accompanied by a music video and in October of same year the EP Sound from the Shadow on Polydor with 5 tracks made available on digital download although limited edition CD was made of the EP but available only at live concerts of the band.

In January 2012, they were nominated for 'best live group or artist revelation of the year' at Victoires de la musique. "Ghost" launched at French TV entertainment show Taratata accompanied by a choir. This was a prerelease for their album Can Be Late released on 6 February 2012. A limited edition also offered an 8-track of live renditions during a concert at Paris' Moulin Rouge La Machine venue on 27 October 2011.

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  • The music of "Give Me", a Skip the Use track was used in promoting Noel dernier cri for Canal +[1]
  • The same song "Give Me" also became the tune for June TV's show Bienvenue dans la Ruche[2]

Members

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  • Mat Bastard - vocals, guitar, keyboards, programming
  • Yan Stefani - guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Nelson Martins - bass, backing vocals
  • Enzo Gabert - drums

Former Members

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  • Jay Gimenez - bass, backing vocals
  • Lio Raepsaet - keyboards, synthesizers, samples, laptop computer, saxophone, backing vocals
  • Manamax Catteloin - drums

Discography

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Albums

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Studio

Title Details Peak chart positions Certification Notes
BEL
(Wa)

[3]
FRA
[4]
Skip the Use
  • Released: 5 October 2009
  • Label: CALYSTA music / NPE
  • Format: CD
Can Be Late
  • Released: 6 February 2012
  • Label: Polydor
  • Format: CD
80 35 With limited edition bonus,
a 2nd CD of 8-track live show
at Paris' Moulin Rouge La Machine venue
Little Armageddon
  • Released: 24 February 2014
  • Label: Polydor
  • Format: CD
17 8
Past & Future
  • Released: 18 October 2019
  • Label: Polydor
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
57
[6]

Live

Title Details Peak chart positions
FRA
[4]
Little Armageddon Tour
  • Released: 9 February 2015
  • Label: Polydor
  • Format: CD
62
Title Details Peak chart positions Notes
FRA
[4]
Sound from the Shadow 197 Limited edition CD format available
only at band's live concerts

Singles

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Year Single Peak chart positions Album
BEL
(Wa)

[3]
FRA
[4]
2012 "Ghost" 46 24 Can Be Late
"Give Me Your Life" 173
2013 "Cup of Coffee" 72
"Nameless World" 58* 42 Little Armageddon
2014 "The Story of Gods and Men" 149

*Did not appear in the official Belgian Ultratop 50 charts, but rather in the bubbling under Ultratip charts. Added 50 position to actual Ultratip position.

References

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  1. ^ Noel dernier cri campaign using "Give Me" (in French)
  2. ^ Official web page for Bienvenue dans la Ruche on June TV (in French)
  3. ^ a b "Belgian Charts > Skip the Use". Ultratop. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  4. ^ a b c d "LesCharts - Skip the Use". lescharts.com. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
  5. ^ "SNEP - Syndicat National de l'édition Phonographique". www.snepmusique.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24.
  6. ^ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums Fusionnes – SNEP (Week 43, 2019)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
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