About – Sleng Teng Empire

69 Rue des Bauges, Chambery, France: A city building in the heartland of the Alps when in the early nineties Philippe gathered a collective of musicians, DJs, graphic artists, winemakers and more than anything party people. The place could be turned into a recording studio, a nightclub or simply a warehouse flat. Coming back from the first of his many trips to Jamaica, the project was branded Sleng Teng in tribute to the legendary reggae riddim track that epitomised his vision of mixing live and electronic instruments around reggae and hip-hop beats. Armed with Roland Drum machines and an Akai sampler, he started to produce tracks that he would release on cassette tapes.

It did not take very long before he spotted two talented jazz students, Theo and Lucas, who inevitably joined the party. But Philippe's knowledge of sampling and MIDI caught the eyes of some London studio owners who hired him to work in UK recording studios. Once away from his hometown, it was not very long before 69 Rue des Bauges was entirely bulldozed by sad city planners. Nowadays, the only remaining relics of this legendary hub of creativity are floppy disks and this set of pictures

Based in London, Philippe is the founder of Sleng Teng Empire and Creative Director at TipiMMP a Marketing & Music Publishing company. Originally from the French Alps after studying Maths & Physics at University he formed and fronted Les Vindicators a rock band renowned for their intense live performances. From remixing the Rolling Stones to recording unknown artists in West Africa, Philippe loves challenges and embraces diversity. A true cosmopolitan, he speaks six languages and has one daughter and four stepdaughters with Jamaican and Brazilian heritage. He enjoys running and relaxing with a swim in Hampstead Heath Ponds.

With friend and mentor Tony Maserati

He might be more focused on his career of managing top-notch ski resorts in the far east than as a full-time band member but Lucas is the one who brought the Empire to the Sleng Teng. From Dubai to Kazaksthan, this keyboardist from day one has never forgotten to include the rest of the crew in his adventures on the other side of the world, gathering along the way a nice collection of vintage synthesizers. Making the most of internet collaboration, you'll find him either dropboxing beats or vocal harmonies for London or programming a remix for a Hong Kong-based DJ.

Introducing the Master "Ambianceur", the one and only Théo Ilphonse AKA l'Eclatant ( the dazzling) Mister Ti in charge of developing Sleng Teng Empire activities in West Africa. Son of an African father and a West Indian mother, he is an MC, a singer and a saxophonist. Based in Paris, father of four, he is an artist of Life and epitomizes Sleng Teng Empire's thirst for energy and curiosity. Party People, you are in good hands when he runs the show!! He is also Tour Manager and Show Co-ordinator for underground label G-Ness productions.