Hôtel Costes has become, since it opened in 1995, a symbol of Parisian chic. This is not only due to the actual hotel with its 83 rooms located on rue St Honoré, which is of course the place to stay for any star, celebrity, businessmen or fashionistas with cash to splash, but the hotel’s image has been created essentially through their series of compilation Cds. Now days any modern luxury hotel with the desire to export its image has its own namesake CD, but this was not the case when Hôtel Costes Volume1 was released in 1999. Not only did Costes sell the image of the hotel (sumptuous, luxurious chic) but also helped rekindle the image of Paris the world over, as the city of romance and suave sophistication. In every metropolis, in order to be‘in’ you had to have a Costes compilation, thus buying into this image. Now at Volume X the Costes image has become synonymous with Paris. Any native of the city travelling abroad has undoubtedly come across the comment ‘Ah you come from Paris, so romantic, la tour Eiffel, le Pont Neuf and .. Hôtel Costes, I have the CD’
So what is the secret of the Costes’ compilation success? A large part is undoubtedly due to Stéphan Pompougnanc, producer, sound designer and DJ for Costes from the very start and whose name is as linked to Hôtel Costes as cream is to strawberries.
He started his DJ career mixing in venues such as Queen and Les Bains Douches. Here he met Claude Challe (worldwide Dj and the man who’s musical selection made the Buddah Bar compilations best sellers). He inspired Stéphan, broadening his musical spectrum. (Indeed Challe is known as an avid music collector, travelling around the world searching for new sounds, introducing the notion of ‘fusion’ music to the masses). An encounter with Jean-Louis Costes led Pompougnac to become resident DJ at the newly opened Hôtel Costes’ bar and restaurant. Here he learned how to move from laidback lounge to electric dance floor as the evening closed in. The compilations had to capture the fine-line between relaxed sounds and edgy beats, without veering one way or another and maintaining a steady flow. Easier said than done. Pompougac has undeniably got this down to a fine art, one of the factors towards to the worldwide success of the compilations.
The cover image of the hotel on volume 1 quickly became replaced by images of beautiful women sauntering across the CD., which of course not only help sales, but are, according to Pompougnac a source of inspiration. But take heed, a beautiful women without substance isn’t enough, she becomes a throw away commodity. The Costes compilations have gained such global recognition and have reached Volume X because they remain tasteful and timeless without being boring. Although the latest Volume is much more vocal and folk inspired than the down-tempo instrumentals that we have come to expect, they have remained the soundtrack to the perfect dinner party and successful petting session the world over, touching on a universal sensibility.
Hotel costes
Stéphane Pompougnac, has become a bit of an icon through the success of the Costes’ compilation, a role that he has accepted and which has led him to become the Gucci house’s favourite DJ, remix a track for Madonna as well as produce his own tracks at ease. He doesn’t mix so much these days but you can still catch him at the odd launch party or special event, and every last Friday at Hotel Costes, so keep your ears to the ground.
Should we be expecting a more risqué sound track compilation from Hôtel Costes’ little brother Hôtel Costes K, a newer much more modern affair?
Hotel Costes /02-Psycho_girls_and_psycow_boys_
stephane pompougnac - clocks (feat. varano)
