Daniel Chenevez and Muriel Moreno. Muriel Moreno and Daniel Chenevez a.k.a. Niagara a duo of musicians which left their unalterable mark over the mid 80’s to early 90’s. With 15 singles, 4 albums (all certified platinum or gold for about 3 million copies sold) and tours which took them from France through Europe, North Africa, USA, Canada and UK, the band's journey features a long series of unforgettable live performances and outstanding music videos.
1982 DEBUT IN RENNES
Daniel meets Muriel in Rennes in February 1982. Her blue short haircut along with an ear pearced by a bone immediately caught his eye. On a Sunday evening, by chance they share the same table in a bar and start chatting about bossa nova and movie soundtracks.
Daniel, who was singing and playing keyboards in several local bands, propose to make some music together but the art history student is reluctant at first. The young man proves convincing and Muriel joins L’Ombre Jaune. The first songs have a very synthetic and techno-pop feel so Daniel asks old friend José Tamarin to join on guitar. At a time when Rennes local scene is under cold wave and Joy Division influence, the band personality stands out. Debut show takes place at local club Paradise, one week before playing at Transmusicales in December 82, soon followed by performances all around Brittany.
Being different is actually something of a handicap in the short term and the band has an uphill struggle, encouraging them to improve songwriting, as demo tapes are regularly turned down by record companies. L’Ombre Jaune becomes Niagara (reference to Henry Hathaway’s movie featuring Marilyn Monroe) and they decide to send some songs to ‘Coup de Talent Dans l’Hexagone’ jury, a French Ministry of Culture initiative which, among other things, helped funding several French bands recordings. The demo tape is initially rejected before being saved at the very last minute!
1985 FIRST SINGLE
This first recording make it to get signed by Polydor and “Tchiki Boum”‚ (a reference to Hollywood 1940’s musicals) is released in September 85. Medias are immediately seduced. With the song’s exotic and sensuous charm, Niagara finds chart success. This allows them to hit the road around France, backed by a brass section and a percussionist to play small clubs where they sometimes share dressing room with strippers.
While touring, the band flies to Brussel’s ICP Studio to record 2nd single “L'Amour à la Plage”. They find what they called "the best studio in the world" and from day one never felt the need to record anywhere else. “L’Amour à la Plage” is released in May 86 and make it even better than ‘Tchiki Boum’. José Tamarin who was mainly into reggae, sets out to new horizons and the remaining duo, tired of spending time in trains, moves to Paris.
Disappointed by “Tchiki Boum” music video, Daniel Chenevez decides to take care of the matter by himself. The record company is easily convinced (super 8 shooting isn’t expensive) and “L’Amour à la Plage” music video proves to be a nostalgic and naïve little masterpiece. From then on, the songwriter, curious about every aspects of creativity, designed and directed all of the band’s videos, sleeves and posters as well as producing records. Niagara is already a very autonomous and independent band, determined not to let others dictate choices in contradiction with their own vision.
1986 ENCORE UN DERNIER BAISER
In September, hit single “Je dois m’en aller” previews the duet’s first LP “Encore un Dernier Baiser” and imposes Muriel Moreno soul influenced vocals. The album, released in November 86, features energetic lively pop acidified by afro-cuban, funk and jazzy beats as well as dreamy ballads such as “Quand La Ville Dort”, one of the band’s biggest hit. Audience loves it, first four singles have sold more than 1 300 000 copies while album hits gold and get them play at the Olympia on march 10, 1987 along with their first major French tour.
1988 QUEL ENFER !
Punchier and more direct than previous work, “Quel Enfer!” LP is released in April 88. Its musical orientation evolves to a harder, more rock-focused sound coloured by classic rhythm & blues influences. Album is a hit, earning a double gold record with more than 250 000 copies sold. The dark “Assez!”, the suicide themed “Soleil d'Hiver” and “Flammes de l'Enfer” get chart success while “Baby Louis” music video is banned from TV because of its impressionist inspiration pictures being deliberately made fully blurred. The band begins to gain international recognition and “Quel Enfer!” is released just about everywhere in Europe as well as Canada and Japan.
Live performances are essential to Niagara, who considers albums as a mean to put on shows. Early 89, the band starts a new french tour, accompanied by eight musicians and backing singers. In Paris, they perform at La Cigale and pack their first Zénith before touring Germany, Austria, Spain, Belgium, former Yugoslavia, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Canada and the USA (New York, Chicago and Washington).
1990 RELIGION
Both extremely hard-working, they go straight on to rehearse and record a new album back in Brussel. The result, “Religion”, is released in April 90. This time, it is obvious for everyone that Niagara is a rock band. “Religion” is driven by guitars, strings and brass sections while Moreno’s voice gets angrier and more aggressive. The album breathes audacity, realism and cleverness with dark lyrics referring to religion (obviously) or war. “J’ai vu”, “Pendant que les Champs Brûlent” and “Psychotrope” makes their imprint at the start of the new decade.
Religion Tour starts on early 91 together with the Gulf War… The album's lyrics takes an alarming signification. Following French government instructions, “J'Ai Vu” and “Pendant que les Champs Brûlent” are banned from radios. Supported by a team of nine musicians, the show, somewhere between sexy soul revue and heavy metal deluge, attracts more than 150 000 people. Two packed Paris Zenith, Olympia and French tour are followed by European tour including Austria, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Roskilde Festival, London Astoria and Marquee, Madrid, Copenhagen, Helsinki, French and English speaking Canada. The band musical evolution not only enjoys followers but gains new ones in the process. Better still, they pull off a masterstroke by being the first French artists to get sponsorship by MTV Europe as the TV channel always loved and broadcast the band's music videos. Religion became the duo's biggest success, going platinum with more than 550 000 sales worldwide.
1992 LA VÉRITÉ
April 1992, Muriel and Daniel are back to record at ICP Brussels before flying to New York to achieve “La Vérité” mixing at Electric Lady Studio, chosen we are told, for the quality of its wiring! With a 45 musicians team, “La Vérité” is seen by some as the band’s most accomplished album. Using strings, winds, brass, traverse flute, bagpipes and electronica, the band pushes orchestral experimentation a step further. Spatial “La Fin des Étoiles” and its apocalyptic lyrics is followed by 70’s stylish “Un Million d’Années” while “Le Minotaure” goes trip hop with a touch of blues. Moving ballads “Je n’oublierai Jamais” or “Ma Dernière Pensée” soften a dark and disillusioned vision of the world, now a long way from the joyous irony of their debut. The album went gold with 155 000 sold in France.
Daniel and Muriel do start to feel exhaustion. A new album every two years along with rehearsals, video shootings, promotional events and tours, that heavy pace is difficult to maintain. Next winter tour sends them all over Europe again. Niagara is in Sweden when Muriel loses her voice after a cold. Part of the tour has to be cancelled. It resumed a few weeks later, ending in Montreal in front of a 5000 people ecstatic audience. However, Muriel can no longer take pressure and the duo splits late 93 after more than a decade together.
2002 FLAMMES
In April 2002, greatest hits album “Flammes” is released on CD, double CD, double vinyl and Long Box as well as on DVD featuring all of the band’s music videos and documentary “Chemin de Croix” directed by Chenevez during the Religion Tour. “Flammes” went gold on release week and later hit triple platinum with 350 000 sold to date.
