May 01, 2025

David Grellier: Valerie Collective Founder and French Futuresynth Icon

If you’ve ever cruised a neon-lit highway in your mind while listening to moody synths and imagined you were in a lost scene from an '80s film, chances are you’ve already met the work of David Grellier—even if you didn’t know it. Born in Nantes, France, in 1979, Grellier is more than just a musician—he’s the godfather of a musical aesthetic. He’s one of the architects of synthwave, that nostalgic-yet-futuristic genre that makes us want to don a pair of retro shades and step into a digital sunset.

From the streets of western France to the hearts of synth lovers worldwide, Grellier’s journey is one that blends music, cinema, style, and a deep love for a bygone era. And yes, it’s just as cool as it sounds.

The Birth of a Synthwave Dream

Let’s rewind the cassette tape to 2005. That’s when David Grellier launched his solo project, College. Think less "alma mater" and more "soundtrack to your synth-soaked dreams." Inspired by '80s U.S. pop culture, movie scores (think John Carpenter), and the analog warmth of vintage synthesizers, College was his personal love letter to an era that never really died—it just evolved into pixels and neon lights.

Two years later, he did what all great visionaries do: he started a movement. Enter the Valerie Collective, a group of likeminded artists who weren’t just making music—they were curating a mood. The Valerie roster featured retro futurists like Anoraak, Minitel Rose, Maethelvin, and The Outrunners. This wasn’t just a scene; it was a revival. A synthwave renaissance before most people even knew what the term meant.

The Collective’s 2009 compilation, Valerie and Friends, felt like opening a time capsule filled with laser beams, arcade cabinets, and heartbreak.

The Soundtrack to a Neo-Noir Dream

Then, in 2011, something big happened.

A Real Hero, a hauntingly beautiful collaboration between College and Canadian duo Electric Youth, was picked up for the soundtrack of Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive. Cue the goosebumps. Ryan Gosling staring blankly into the LA night, synths humming in the background—it was cinematic alchemy. The track reached #26 on the French charts, but more importantly, it lodged itself into pop culture consciousness forever.

Suddenly, Grellier wasn't just a niche figure in a French musical underground—he was the sound of a new era of cool. Retro was no longer a throwback—it was a vibe, and David Grellier was its ambassador.

A Musician with Many Faces (and Names)

Let’s not forget—Grellier isn’t just College. Since 2004, he’s also been part of Sexy Sushi, an electro-punk duo where he goes by the name Mitch Silver. Imagine the sonic equivalent of glitter and gasoline—Sexy Sushi is raw, chaotic, and absurd in the best way.

So yes, the man who gave you the sonic melancholy of Teenage Color is the same guy who’s probably screamed into a microphone in a PVC suit. Range? Check.

A Discography That Evolves Like a VHS Dream

If College was a film series, it would have serious sequels. Here’s a quick tour of his releases:

2008 – Secret Diary: His debut full-length, filled with lo-fi synth nostalgia.
2008 – Teenage Color EP: An early fan-favorite. Like falling in love in a retro arcade.
2011 – Northern Council: Sophisticated and cinematic, released the same year Drive dropped.
2013 – Heritage: The live tour of this album featured stunning visuals from Chromaphase. It was less a concert and more a digital dreamscape.
2014 – Save The Day EP: Small in size, big in mood.
2016 – Old Tapes: Think of it as found footage for your ears.
2017 – Shanghai: A shimmering, synth-laced journey into neon East Asia.

Each release feels like it’s plugged into a different memory of a world that never existed—but feels like it did.

Synths, Style, and Substance

Grellier’s impact isn’t just musical. He helped cement the aesthetic of synthwave: VHS fuzz, glowing sunsets, gridlines stretching into infinity. And naturally, that aesthetic bled into fashion. It’s no surprise that a movement like this pairs perfectly with style-forward brands like Newretro.Net.

At Newretro.Net, we’ve always drawn from the same inspiration pool—'80s cinema, analog tech, arcade vibes. Our leather jackets wouldn’t look out of place on a College album cover. Our retro sneakers and watches? Made for moonlit city streets and neon dreams. Grellier created the soundtrack, and we like to think we’re helping people dress for it.

Because let’s be honest—if you’re gonna listen to synthwave, you might as well look like a real hero too.

The Community Builder

One of the most beautiful things about Grellier’s work is how collaborative it is. The Valerie Collective wasn’t just a musical project—it was a shared vision. Like some digital rebel alliance of synth warriors, they built a world that fans could enter, explore, and never want to leave.

This kind of curation isn’t easy. It requires vision, taste, and a deep understanding of what makes people feel. Grellier didn’t just pump out tracks—he built an emotional universe. And he invited others to contribute. Artists like Anoraak and Maethelvin didn’t just join the movement—they helped define it.

And speaking of defining things—have you ever noticed how hard it is to explain synthwave to someone who’s never heard it? You end up saying things like “It’s like if Miami Vice had a baby with Blade Runner.” And they’ll just nod, confused. But then you play A Real Hero, and suddenly they get it.

Grellier made music you feel before you understand.

By the time the late 2010s rolled around, David Grellier had already carved out a legacy—though he'd probably be too modest to admit it. While most artists settle into a rhythm or formula by this stage, Grellier kept expanding his sound and influence. With each project, he proved that synthwave wasn’t just a nostalgic detour—it was a fully realized genre with depth, artistry, and even emotional heft. Yes, we said “emotional heft.” Synths can make you cry, trust us.

Shanghai Nights and Dreamy Flights

In 2017, College released Shanghai, an album that felt like the perfect blend of Eastern city lights and Western synth nostalgia. If Heritage was a French dream and Teenage Color was a romantic arcade memory, Shanghai was a rainy night in a foreign city where everything glows.

There’s a cinematic scope to this album, and you can practically smell the neon steam and see the blurry reflections on wet pavement. Grellier doesn’t just produce music—he paints with sound. And here’s a little life tip: try listening to Shanghai while wearing some reflective aviators from Newretro.Net and staring out the window. Boom—instant protagonist energy.

The Rise of the Synths

By 2019, Grellier’s place in the synthwave movement was undeniable. He was featured in the documentary The Rise of the Synths, which aimed to chart the genre’s evolution and pay tribute to its forebears—particularly the influence of artists like John Carpenter.

This doc is like a retro buffet of everything you love about synthwave: vintage gear, passionate producers, and the kind of emotional connection that only music can explain. Seeing Grellier among the artists interviewed really drives home how central he is to this scene. He isn’t just in the movement—he is the movement.

Why It Works: More Than Just Nostalgia

You might be asking, what makes David Grellier’s music so addictive? Sure, the synths are dreamy, the beats pulse like a digital heart, and there’s more mood than a rainy night in Paris. But the secret sauce? It’s the balance.

Grellier’s music doesn’t just nod at the '80s; it understands the '80s. It pulls from the emotion, the cinematic tension, the warm fuzz of analog imperfection. He knows the references, but he also knows when to break free from them. It’s not mimicry—it’s reinterpretation. This is what separates College from the sea of synthwave imitators flooding YouTube.

He treats nostalgia like a spice, not the whole dish.

Retro Is a Lifestyle—Not a Costume

Here’s something we love about Grellier: he never feels like he’s “playing dress-up.” The retro vibe isn’t a gimmick—it’s in his DNA. And that’s something we really connect with at Newretro.Net. Like Grellier, we believe in crafting modern experiences out of retro foundations. Our gear isn’t about cosplay—it’s about channeling a mindset. That classic denim jacket you just picked up? It’s not just a jacket. It’s a statement: I appreciate the past, but I’m living in the now.

You don’t have to be in a synth band to live the aesthetic—you just have to care about style, mood, and meaning.

Live Visuals, Digital Dreams

If you were lucky enough to catch College on tour during the Heritage era, you’d know his shows are more than just performances—they’re atmospheric experiences. Teaming up with Chromaphase, a French visual artist, the live show fused pulsing lights and animated landscapes with the music’s dreamy tones. It wasn’t just about playing tracks—it was about building worlds.

Grellier's concerts felt like stepping into the movies his music seemed to score. Think: electric skylines, shimmering holograms, and color palettes that feel ripped from a VHS cover in a dusty video store. If you ever needed a reason to dig out your windbreaker and take a road trip, his show was it.

Legacy in Motion

Even now, Grellier isn’t slowing down. He may not be plastered all over mainstream radio, but that’s kind of the point. He’s never chased hype—he’s built something with staying power. A world. A movement. A collective.

If you dig a little deeper, you’ll see his fingerprints all over the modern synthwave and electronica scenes. Young producers cite him as a major influence. Online communities still swap Valerie Collective tracks like rare vinyl. The mythology of College has only grown stronger with time.

And unlike a lot of musical genres that burn bright and fade fast, synthwave continues to thrive because it keeps evolving—with Grellier often subtly nudging it forward from behind the curtain.

Final Glitch (But Not Really)

David Grellier may not be a household name outside of the synthwave cosmos, but inside it, he’s nothing short of a legend. He’s the kind of artist whose music doesn’t just soundtrack your day—it rewires it. Makes you feel like you’re living in a movie where you’re cooler, more mysterious, and definitely driving something with a spoiler.

Whether he’s releasing solo work as College, pushing boundaries with Sexy Sushi, or supporting other artists through the Valerie Collective, Grellier is always innovating, always curating, always staying true to his analog heart.

And as long as there are neon lights, faded cassette tapes, and rainy cityscapes, there will be people tuning into his frequency.