Au Revoir Simone: The Brooklyn Indie Pop Trio That Crafted Ethereal Synth-Pop Magic
In late 2003, a chance encounter on a train ride from Vermont to New York sparked the creation of one of indie pop's most enchanting acts. When Erika Forster and Annie Hart decided to form an all-keyboard band, they unknowingly laid the foundation for Au Revoir Simone, a trio that would redefine the boundaries of dreamy synth-pop.
Named after a memorable line from Pee-wee Herman in Tim Burton's Pee-wee's Big Adventure, the Brooklyn-based band quickly expanded to include Heather D'Angelo, forming a unique musical collective that eschewed traditional guitar-heavy arrangements in favor of vintage synthesizers and drum machines. Their approach was revolutionary yet nostalgic, drawing from an eclectic musical palette that ranged from Stereolab and Björk to the Beach Boys and Billie Holiday.
The band's debut album, Verses of Comfort, Assurance & Salvation, arrived in 2005 like a secret whispered in the dark. Pitchfork praised its "simple, elegant, and ethereal" synth-pop, while the band themselves described it as "exploring a secret garden at night with a flashlight." This poetic sensibility would become their trademark, earning them a devoted following across continents.
Au Revoir Simone's breakthrough came with 2007's The Bird of Music, which British Vogue celebrated for its "dreamy synth-pop" created through "old-school synthesizers and vintage drum machines." The album's soft, ethereal vocals layered over spare homemade drumbeats drew comparisons to Air and Stereolab, while Spin noted how they created "make-out music for your inner android."
The trio's artistic credibility reached new heights when they performed at the Fondation Cartier in Paris for David Lynch's retrospective exhibition, playing on a recreation of the Eraserhead set. This connection to Lynch would prove prophetic, as the band later appeared in the 2017 Twin Peaks revival, performing at the iconic Roadhouse venue.
Following 2009's Still Night, Still Light, which Pitchfork called "feather-light electropop that's not to be taken lightly," the band took a creative hiatus before returning with 2013's Move in Spectrums. AllMusic declared it "maybe their best record yet" and "certainly their most sophisticated and most arranged work," proving that their ethereal magic had only grown stronger with time.
Beyond their studio work, Au Revoir Simone became soundtrack darlings, with their songs appearing in everything from Grey's Anatomy to German blockbuster films. Their track "Sad Song" found its way into multiple international productions, while "Another Likely Story" provided the perfect atmospheric backdrop for a milestone Grey's Anatomy episode.
The individual members have continued to explore new creative territories, with Erika Forster forming Summer Moon and Nice as Fuck, while Annie Hart released her solo album Impossible Accomplice in 2017. Yet Au Revoir Simone remains a testament to the power of friendship, creativity, and the magic that happens when three voices blend in perfect harmony over vintage keyboards and drum machines, creating soundscapes that feel both timeless and utterly contemporary.