Loo & Placido

Loo & Placido

Loo & Placido is a French mashup group made up of Jeremy Johnson, known as Placido, and Laurent Lupidi, known as Loo. The pair meet in 1999 after several years of work as drummer and bassist in French bands including Portobello Bones, Satellites, No One Is Innocent, Oui Oui, and Rubin Steiner.

Early work and live sets

Before the term mash-up becomes widely used, the duo creates the “Dancing music show” with Rubin Steiner in 1998. This cross-over DJ and live set features home-made remixes that blend artists and styles including the Chemical Brothers, Michael Jackson, Daft Punk, The Ramones, Technotronic, Public Enemy and the Beastie Boys. It runs for about 40 dates in France, including major festivals.

Their DJ sets draw on a broad mix of dance, electro, rock and hip-hop, and they build a reputation for combining songs from different periods in fast, dense mixes. From 2009, they add machines and keyboard to the set, along with Placido’s voice, to make the performance more interactive and more like a live show.

Recordings, remixes and collaborations

Since 1999, the duo produces tracks and albums for signed French artists, alongside hundreds of mash-ups, bootlegs, cut-ups, edits and pirate remixes that circulate widely through radio stations and blogs. They also work under the description “Electronic Popstar Killers”.

In 2003, they begin a collaboration with MTV UK and create more than 20 mash-ups for the MTV MASH show. From that point, they also produce the mixes and sound for the MTV Europe Music Awards television show each year.

At the end of 2004, their mix “Superchunk” is voted “Best Studio Session” by XFM UK host and DJ Mag tastemaker Eddie Temple Morris.

Official releases and recognition

In 2006, Loo & Placido collaborate with The Dandy Warhols and Mousse-T on “Horny As A Dandy”, their first official worldwide release. The track reaches the German Top 10 and the Top 20 in England and Australia, and receives a nomination for Best Underground Dance Track at the 2007 Miami Winter Music Conference.

In 2008, Madonna chooses a Loo & Placido mash-up, “Toop Toop Grove”, for live performance on her Sticky and Sweaty tour. The track combines “Into the Groove” and “Toop Toop” by Cassius.

Broadcast work and touring

Between 2005 and the end of 2008, the duo hosts a weekly radio show on one of France’s major national stations and also presents a Saturday mix show on Turkey’s Power FM. They tour in France, England, Germany, Spain, Turkey and the USA, and become known for mashup sets that circulate internationally.