Loading...
Hometown: Santa Barbara, CA
Label: Cyphyre Music
Management: Cyphyre Music
Website: WeirdVal.com
Sounds Like: édith piaf, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Rasputina, Frank Zappa, Voltaire (Oh My Goth!)
Genre: Comedy
Veronique Chevalier, The "Weird Val" of Dark Cabaret, aka The Original Mad Sonictist; Spooky Polkanista; Perv-ormance Artiste; MC-ess, Model & Authoress. A fan describes her as simultaneously "Ooh La La!" AND "Laugh-out-loud hilarious!" While many of her fellow music artistes are obsessing with the "Punk" portion of the genre, MAD Veronique specializes in producing the "Steam".
Along with her amusing originals, and twisted covers of familiar tunes, she's rightly celebrated for parodies, remodeling & Steam-i-fying works by Thomas Dolby, Frank Zappa, Led Zepplin, ZZ Top & The Beatles, and more.
She takes pride in the fact that she plays no musical instrument whatsoever, and has, over the years, defied the methodology of numerous respected maestros, pedagogues and instructors, in their fruitless attempts to instill any form of known music theory into her fevered brain. Working faithfully with her during her dazzling career, is the mysterious Francois, The "Invisible" Accordionist. Though his origins (and the rest of him) are obscure, suffice it to say, his presence adds just the right amount of je ne sais quoi to keep the doings of The MAD-emoiselle One Herself from ever straying into abject respectability.
Inventrix of Gothic Polka with the recording "Polka Haunt Us: A Spook-tacular Compilation" (aka PHU), which she lovingly calls her "Sonic Franksteam", she leaves no stone unturned, nor any sacred cow unmilked, in her quest to bring levity where the sun don't shine.
Veronique is the recipient of the Unanimous Choice Award for Best Independent Cabaret Artist at the 14th Annual Los Angeles Music Awards, and PHU was an Official Selection on the 51st Grammy Awards Ballot.
In 2012, no less a personage than Lord Hastings Bobbins III himself, bestowed upon MAD Veronique the honour of having her name placed on the plaque of the door to the "Chevalier Music Hall" for "A Trip To The Moon" that year.
Her music's been played on Dr. Demento Radio, as well as Rue Morgue Radio, & her tracks can be found on numerous compilations, including A Sepiachord Passport , released by Projekt Records.
In addition to ink in Gothic Beauty; Rue Morgue; Fangoria; Gearhearts Steampunk Glamour Revue, & more, her image is included in "1000 Steampunk Creations" by Dr. Grymm, as well as the book "International Steampunk Fashion" by Lisa Lewis.
Known for her sartorial splendor, and Parisian elegance, Veronique is the recipient of The Steampunk Chronicle Readers' Choice Awards for "Best Dressed Female Steampunk 2012."
Screened as a comedy short at arts festivals & steampunk events across North America, such as Steampunk Bizarre, Seattle International Cabaret Festival, PDX Steampunk Film Festival & S.T.E.A.M.fest, "Internet Date" is Veronique's lampoon of the preposterous process of online courtship.
With art & direction by Disney's Kyle A. Carrozza, this winsome bit of neo-retro cartooning elicits fits of mirth, with it's witty lyrics, & beguiling sight gags. She and Kyle are currently co-creating a new animated video to her Beatle's parody “Sprocky Spittoon”.
Originator of the "Steampunk SUPER-culture" concept, she is authoring a book on the subject in response to the over-whelming popularity of her panel of the same title, which has been presented at Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo Los Angeles; Gaslight Gathering San Diego; PDX Gear Con in Portland, OR; Dragon*Con, Atlanta, & San Diego Comic Con.
Veronique holds the distinction of having been buzzed off of the premiere airing of America's Got Talent, with her rendition of “White Rabbit”.
Seattle Gay News says, “If Charles Dickens had created A Ghost of Christmas Mirth, Veronique would be she.”
"Polka goes hand-in-hand with Oktoberfest, so the thought of adding a spooky spin to the oft-lampooned genre seemed both appropriate and inviting...based on regional ghost stories & supernatural folklore, [Polka Haunt Us is] like part novelty - part folksy storytelling session".
James Zahn - Fangoria Magazine
"According to Veronique Chevalier, in Hell there's lots of beer, no last call, and non-stop Polka...Fortunately for us, she also loves scary stories, so her Polka Haunt Us recording gives the genre a Transylvanian twist..."
Liisa Ladouceur - Rue Morgue Magazine
"Like any concept album, “Polka Haunt Us: A Spook-tacular Compilation” is best heard in full. Experienced is probably the better word than “heard,” because even after a total listen, my brain still can’t quite process the awesome oddity of this album."
Fallon Masterson, Managing Editor - SCARS Magazine
"Goth Polka WTF? But I swear I like it! ...I mean Goth Polka? I gave it a listen, and my bizarre sensibilities liked it...Not to be missed - The Beer Hall in Hell."
Patrick Nottingham - Raven's Barrow
"Goth? Polka? Only an eclectic recording artist and producer like Veronique Chevalier could pull these two concepts together – and make the marriage work."
Dirty Linen Folk & World Music
"The [Polka Haunt Us] album will be sure to add a sense of twisted delight and even more fun to what is already looked at as one of everyone’s time of year. But polka and Halloween? Really? Absolutely. Ok, it’s goth polka – and it works!"
Ken Payne - Buzz News
"I think we can all agree that there's nothing scarier than polka music and yodeling. I'm shivering already...Polka Haunt Us featuring Veronique Chevalier is exploiting [her] already terrifying musical abilities to write songs like "The Beer Hall in Hell." Yeah, I thought it was funny. SCARY funny!"
Marta Acosta - Vampire Wire
"I was alerted to a highly unique take on Halloween music: the songs of [Polka Haunt Us by] Veronique Chevalier."
Catherine Karp - Suburban Vampire
"[A]fter listening to [Polka Haunt Us] (my favorite is Blank Face Goblins), I think you may find a surprise or two here, too. I always thought accordion music was creepy, but now its creepy in a good way."
John Cozzoli - Zombo's Closet
"[Polka Haunt Us] is a cultural experience...[Based on] different myths and legends from cultures all around the globe. [It's] funny, witty, & totally original. It's also really great for parties and events, especially during October (Halloween, Samhain, etc)."
Tara Bullock - Poetry Connection
"The Vampire Surprise from Polka Haunt Us video by Veronique Chevalier is a song based on Transylvanian Vampire lore- a humorous number telling... how one enterprising cook turns the tables on those pesky blood suckers."
Robyn Lass - Horror Blips
"Veronique Chevalier is one weird chick. Does she do kid's parties? Not sure - all I know is that she does horror-themed polka songs with a very lighthearted (often bad) sense of humor and a Teutonic-inspired Tim Burton-esque wardrobe."
Superheidi - Pretty Scary
“Polka Haunt Us is based on folk tales from around the world. Less a novelty project & more an experiment in ethnomusicology, reminiscent of recordings for the Smithsonian Trust, or the compilation “The Music of Fred Rogers” with a Nick Cave “Murder Ballads” twist...”
Odd Culture
“Veronique Chevalier set her sights high: to create a lasting Halloween classic. That's no easy feat, & a dangerous road to walk, but a fun collection of world-spanning good times. Because, honestly, the world can never have enough absurd ditties.”
Jordan Bodewell - Sepiachord
"Check out the new video for Veronique's song "Vampire Surprise," off her eclectic, unique, strange, oddly funny and at times embarassing Halloween album Polka Haunt Us: A Spook-tacular Compilation."
International Movie Data Base
"We all adore [Veronique Chevalier] here at Obscure Hollow!"
Rebecca - Obscure Hollow
"Let’s face it: there’s a frightful shortage of good Halloween music. Veronique Chevalier agrees, which is why she’s put together Polka Haunt Us, a “spook-tacular” compilation of [what she] dubs 'World Gothic Polka.'
Chris Saccheri, Editor - Let's Polka - All Things Accordion
"Artists like Weird Al, Polka Floyd and now Veronique Chevalier are showing us that polkas can not only rock, they can be valid methods of artist personal expression. It takes a lot of talent to pull something like this off, but Chevalier has it aplenty."
Lee Widener, Founder - Never Ending Wonder Radio
"Download and listen to the podcast featuring an interview with Veronique Chevalier of Polka Haunt Us. Between minutes 31 to 41..."
Rue Morgue Radio
"A new kind of concept album - a first for Halloween, and a first for polka music: a Halloween polka album. Great new compositions- funny and spooky!! Polka Haunt Us is a great fun album to listen to, and is sure to please polka fans around the world- Well done!
Phill N. - Polka Radio Melbourne Podcast
