Last Updated on 2025-09-04 by a-indie
SCHØØL is a four-piece alternative rock band formed in Paris, France in 2023.
The band is led by Francis Mallari, who is also a member of the Paris-based post-punk band Rendez-Vous.
The members are Erica Ashleson (Bass), Jack Moase (Guitar), and Alex Battez (Drums).
Their debut album “I Think My Life Has Been OK,” released on September 5th, embodies the initial impulse of wanting to feel the energy and innocence of their teenage years. The collection of songs features shoegaze sounds that balance the two poles of nostalgia and purity.
Along with the Berlin band BED that we recently interviewed, they are one of the emerging shoegaze bands we want to recommend.
This time, we asked SCHØØL about the Paris music scene, their album, and what shoegaze means to them.
🗾Japanese article here 🔗
Japanese
Artist: Francis Mallari Interviewer: Yuuki Takita Translation, Editing, Proofreading: BELONG Media / A-indie
Band Formation and Member Encounters
-Yuuki Takita: We are a media outlet that values artists’ roots, the background of how their music was born, and the music, culture, and art that influenced them. Since this is our first interview together, let me start by asking about the band’s formation. You’re a four-piece band formed in Paris, right? I believe Francis has a history with the post-punk band Rendez-Vous, Erica has been active with Special Friend and Dog Park, Jack with Liquid Face, and Alex is also a member of Marble Arch. How did these four people meet and come together to form the band?
Francis Mallari:I wanted to feel again the energy and the innocence of my teenage years.
I met Alex around 2014 I always told him that if I started a new band I’d want him and no one else on the drums and here we are 10 years later.
I met Jack at the dog park where we used to go every morning with our dogs, he had a band in australia (Liquid Face)
but was not playing with anyone since he moved to france so I just asked him if he’d be down to play with me.
We all knew Erica, it was obvious for us to ask her to play the bass.
Musical Tastes Nurtured by Skate Culture
-Yuuki Takita: What kind of childhood did each member have and what music were you listening to? Or what kind of music sparked your interest and made you start playing instruments?
We all lived in differents cities/countries, Erica was in the US, Jack in australia, Alex in north of france and myself in the south. But what I can tell is that we all grew up in the skateboarding scene. For myself the soundtracks of the skate videos is what made me and my taste. Videos like the Flip Sorry or Emerica’s this is skateboarding were an huge influence. But what made me start music is when I discovered the Ramones, and the fact that all the songs could be played with the same powerchord on guitar I was like “I can do better than them!”
The Feelings Behind the Band Name
-Yuuki Takita: Please also tell me about your band name. Why did you choose the name “SCHØØL”? What does the band name “SCHØØL” mean?
As I told you in the first question, I wanted to feel the innocence of my teenage years again. So it was obvious to me to call the project like this.
Why They Sing in English
-Yuuki Takita: Like other French bands, your lyrics are sung in English. Why do you use English instead of French? There are many bands in Japan that write and sing lyrics in English, mostly for reasons like it being easier to match rhythms and melodies. Is this the same for you?
I guess so, we all grew up listening to english speaking music. If I sing the same thing in french it’d be a little less serious so yeah, it’s more natural for me to write in english.
Paris Music Scene and Current Musical Situation
The music scene is super interesting these days, I don’t know who is popular or not but my fav band here right now are the Bryan’s Magic Tears, the song writing is so good. There is more and more interest in shoegaze by a newer generation and it’s very refreshing. There is many great venues like Le Point Ephemere or La Maroquinerie, we’re doing our album release party at La Boule Noire.
The Festival of Dreams
-Yuuki Takita: Europe has many music festivals like Glastonbury Festival, Reading Festival, and Rock am Ring. Are there any festivals you’d like to perform at? If so, please tell me your reasons. If not, please tell me which countries you’d like to tour or perform in.
Last June I’ve been to London at Outbreak Festival at Victoria Park, the line up was super crazy, I loved all the bands! So if I got to pick one festival that’d be it. The location is awesome, line up is perfect, I was not a big fan of London before that, I’m in good terms with the city now.
Affinity with the Label
-Yuuki Takita: Your label, Geographie, includes not only you but also notable bands/artists like Marble Arch, Dog Park, Good Morning TV, and Bad Pelicans who are gaining attention both domestically and internationally. Are there any domestic artists you currently feel empathy or affinity with?
Yeah I have lots of affinity with the labels band, lots of them are friends of mine! And as I told you above, I love the Bryan’s Magic Tears. I often ask them to play together, but I don’t know why their booker don’t get it.
Musical Influences and Album Production
Three Life-Changing Albums
-Yuuki Takita: I understand your music draws inspiration from Swirlies and Drop Nineteens. Please tell me about three albums that influenced your music. Also, please explain what aspects influenced you and any episodes about each album. If that’s difficult, please tell me about each member’s favorite music album and related episodes.
13 by Blur, there is a track called 1992 and when I first heard the noisy guitar I was blown away how controlled it is. That guitar is stuck in my head and is still an inspiration today.
You’d Prefer An Astronaut by Hum, Stars is probably my fav track ever but I think I have 200 fav track ever…
Loveless by MBV, nothing original here I know, but this album will always be in any top of mine.
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About Debut Album “I Think My Life Has Been OK”
Feelings Behind the Melancholic Title
-Yuuki Takita: Now let’s talk about your debut work “I Think My Life Has Been OK.” First, about the title. What emotions or atmosphere are reflected in the title “I Think My Life Has Been OK”?
The title is from the track OK <3, and I think it resumes quite well the melancholic feeling of the whole album. I want people to know that even if it's not easy sometimes, don't worry it's going to be alright. https://youtu.be/oyNbEuPD83s
Intimate Production Like Bedroom Music
-Yuuki Takita: This work has a nostalgic sound and atmosphere while landing on a fresh and refreshing impression. I felt that while it recreates 90s-derived sounds, it’s also properly updated. Did an external producer participate in the creation of this album? If so, what kind of discussions and idea exchanges did you have with them? If not, what concept or direction did the members have when proceeding with the creation?
I worked with Maxime Gendre (playing in Rendez Vous too) and I told him that the album must have a intimate feeling, almost like bedroom music. To keep the fragility we didn’t push into something over produced. We really kept it super simple and humble. There is track like Mouzer’s Quest, it’s the very first take. It’s not perfect but that’s how it has to exist.
Homage to 90s MTV
-Yuuki Takita: The album artwork and music videos for “N.S.M.L.Y.D” and “Gardener” also create a nostalgic atmosphere with pale colors. What kind of mental landscape is reflected in these? I felt they reflect the decadent beauty and sense of era that connects to the atmosphere of the 90s shoegaze bands that influenced you. Please tell me the reason for creating this nostalgic atmosphere.
I love the late 90s music videos that aired on MTV, so my dream was to have that feeling again. I still have minidv cameras with a fisheye from skateboarding, so it was super intuitive to use it again here.
The Most Personal Song
-Yuuki Takita: Which song in the album became a breakthrough or made the band feel the most change? Please tell me the reason as well. If there isn’t one, please tell me the most personal song.
I think the most personal song is Chevalier B, it’s about the recent loss of a good friend of mine. When we play it live there’s something very emotional happening. The synth coming at the mid track is the most emotional part for me.
Love for Shoegaze Sound
Beauty Found in Imperfection
-Yuuki Takita: All 10 tracks on the album are centered around shoegaze sound. How do you perceive shoegaze sound? Or what aspects of it fascinate you? My first encounter with shoegaze was through My Bloody Valentine. I was shocked by the magnificent sound image, but what surprised me even more was that it was sound formed by gathering noise.
As you said you were surprised by the noise, the beauty of it. When I talked about the track 1992 that’s what gave me chills too. I think why we love shoegaze so much is that it’s not perfect, and it’s in that imperfection that we feel the best. Maybe it’s a reflection of our lives.
Music for Everyone
-Yuuki Takita: Who would you like to listen to “I Think My Life Has Been OK”? Or in what situations would you like people to listen to it?
Everybody can listen to this album, I don’t think it’s a very hard album to listen to, even for non indie music listeners. I hope this album can help to cheer up anyone who is feeling down in their lives.
Message to Japanese Fans
-Yuuki Takita: Finally, Japanese music fans, globally speaking, include many passionate shoegaze fans like myself, so I’m sure they’ll love your music! Please give a message to those people.
FREE PALESTINE
SCHØØL Album Release
Debut Album “I think my life has been OK”
Release Date: September 5, 2025
Track List:
1. Schøøl Suxx
2. N.S.M.L.Y.D
3. OK ＜3
4. Missed Call
5. 3467200
6. Mouzer’s Quest
7. Gardener
8. Passing Breeze
9. The End
10. Chevalier B
View on bandcamp
SCHØØL Profile
A four-piece alternative rock band formed in Paris, France in autumn 2023. Centered around Francis Mallari, who is also a member of the Paris-based post-punk band Rendez-Vous, the band was formed together with Erica Ashleson (Bass), Jack Moase (Guitar), and Alex Battez (Drums). Born from the desire to create the kind of band they admired in their teenage years, they draw inspiration from 90s shoegaze bands like Swirlies and Drop Nineteens. Their debut album “I Think My Life Has Been OK” features shoegaze sounds that balance the two poles of nostalgia and purity.
SCHØØL Live Information
Event Name: SCHØØL – La Boule Noire
Date: September 24, 2025 (Wednesday)
Doors/Show: 19:30
Venue: La Boule Noire, Paris (120 Boulevard Marguerite de Rochechouart, 75018 Paris, France)
Performers: SCHØØL
Tickets: €13.68
Book tickets here
Writer: Yuuki Takita
Born in 1991, freelance writer from Tomakomai, Hokkaido. After graduating from the same university as TEAM NACS, he entered a music vocational school and majored in the writer course.
There, he produced three music freepapers and conducted everything from artist interviews to editing.
Using that experience, he joined a cross-music media company with both freepapers and web media, where he experienced writing and editing review articles and sales.
After leaving the company, he changed jobs to become an employee at a major record shop, where he also wrote disc review articles for the company’s media.
This led him to start his activities as a freelance music writer. Currently, he’s a salaryman and music writer who dreams of organizing an outdoor music festival in his hometown of Tomakomai.
He enjoys cats, movie watching, and reading. Komatsu Nana and curry & biryani exploration are his lifestyle.
Articles he has written so far are here
Articles written for other media are here
Twitter: @takita_funky
- is a music media platform run by BELONG, a Japanese music organization. We publish music articles with a focus on indie music.