College is the synthwave project of David Grellier, a producer from Nantes, France. He also founds the record label Valerie.

Style and background

College develops a cosmopolitan nu-disco sound and is shaped by Grellier’s interest in American 1980s pop culture. He describes the project as an attempt to translate the emotions of childhood into music, with strong visual and emotional references to 1980s television, colour, imagery, silvery film and the cityscapes of Los Angeles and Chicago.

Releases and collaborations

In 2008, College releases Secret Diary and the Teenage Color EP. His work includes collaborations with Minitel Rose, Electric Youth and Anoraak. In 2011, he releases a second album, Northern Council.

Reception and influence

College’s track “A Real Hero” appears on the soundtrack to Drive in 2011 and becomes a charting hit in France, reaching number 26. Grellier cites nostalgic music as an influence, along with Daft Punk, Alan Braxe, Fred Falke, Lifelike, Jacques Lu Cont, Nicolas Makelberge, DJ Falcon and John Carpenter.