Eclectic might not be strong enough a word to describe Franco/Finnish duo the Dø (as in, “doe, a deer”). Vocalist Olivia Merilahti and multi-instrumentalist Dan Levy create music influenced by just about every genre there is, ranging from mid-20th-century pop to techno to jazz to Finnish folk and everything in between. On top of that, the pair’s debut album, A Mouthful (out now via Six Degrees Records), became the first French record sung in English to hit number one on France’s charts. Here’s the Dø’s equally eclectic mix tape, made especially for MAGNET.
“On My Shoulders (Chamber Version)” (download):
https://magnetmagazine.com/audio/OnMyShouldersChamberVersion.mp3
Elizabeth Cotten “Shake Sugaree”
Olivia: I heard this song a short while ago, and I could not tell if it was a young boy or an old lady singing. Her musical interpretation is the purest and simplest. No show off—so honest. Video
Arcade Fire “Ocean Of Noise”
Dan: This is one band that turned my head upside down. When I first heard Neon Bible, I hated it, I thought the sound was crap and wasn’t sensitive to the songs. Then I heard it at another moment in my life, and this particular song struck me deeply. I couldn’t listen to anything else for weeks. Now Arcade Fire is one of my favourite bands, and I’m looking forward to see them live soon. Video
Joanna Newsom “Good Intentions Paving Company”
Olivia: I was a little disappointed with Have One On Me, though it is rich and clever and interesting. Too many similar songs; nothing really got me off my chair. Until I heard this song, which stands out in the album since it is rhythmical, and there is no harp. It is almost danceable! I still love her very much, though … Video
Gaggle “Hidden Army”
Dan: I discovered Gaggle during the last Trans Musicales de Rennes in France. We love choirs, and these girls are wild. We’d love to tour with them. Video
Umalali “Fuleisei”
Olivia: The Garifuna Women’s Project is a brilliant album! Each voice is stunning, and the sound is amazing. It could be afrobeat or Senegalese music, but it comes from somewhere in the Caribbean and Central America, Belize or Venezuela, where the Garifuna minority lives. Video
Liars “Scissor”
Dan: Punch me now! This is just a great band, and the video for this song is a masterpiece. Video
PJ Harvey & John Parish “Pig Will Not”
Olivia: A pretty extreme track. Aggressive shrieks and vocals—it’s all brimming. Very noisy, wild and daring. Video
Tōru Takemitsu “Ran”
Dan: I love this music. Takemitsu’s music in a movie is very important; it’s never in the back. He brings another dimension to a movie, as in Woman In The Dune. When I was a kid, Ran hit me. I thought it was 3D! Video
Leo Brouwer “Estudios Sencillos”
Olivia: I played some of these pieces when I learned classical guitar. They were very dear to me. I guess these are part of the things that made my ear enjoy dissonances. They still inspire me today. Video
Nina Simone “Plain Gold Ring”
Dan: Nina Simone never did compromises. I love every song she’s written or performed. She’s a goddess, a queen or a mother to me! Video
Kings Of Leon “Milk”
Olivia: I thought this was just a stadium band until I heard Aha Shake Heartbreak, and I felt my teenage emotions suddenly back. This album is brilliant. I love the very dry and sharp guitar riffs. It’s all very accurate, plus he’s got a hell of a voice, that man. This song has a nice rhythm change in the middle and an eerie keyboard floating in the back. It all goes straight to the point, and that feels good. Video
Not long after the release of their second album, 2007’s Our Ill Wills, and months of relentless touring, Sweden’s 
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