Skip the Use

Skip the Use is a French band with electro funk, rock and punk influences founded in 2008 with musicians from Ronchin, near Lille and made up of Mat Bastard (vocals), Yan Stefani (guitar), Nelson Martins (bass) and Enzo Gabert (drums). The band is signed with Polydor and has distribution arrangement with Universal Music.

Skip the Use
Skip the Use in concert on the Kerouac stage during the 2014 Vieilles Charrues festival.
Background information
Origin	Ronchin, Hauts-de-France, France
Genres	Rock, punk rock, electro
Years active	2008–2016, 2018–present
Labels	Polydor Universal Music Group
Members	Mat Bastard Yan Stefani Nelson Martins Enzo Gabert
Past members	Jay Gimenez Lio Raepsaet Manamax Catteloin
Website	skiptheuse.fr

Career

The five members used to play in punk band Carving. They released their debut eponymous album Skip the Use produced by CALYSTA and NPE. The latter also organized their French tour and other tours in countries such as Canada, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania for the promotion of their album recorded in YellowSub studios with Yves Jaget and Manu Guiot member of NPE, and released 5 October 2009. They also took part in a string of music festivals allowing them to gain fame.

In early 2011, they launched a well-followed blog and a single "Give Me Your Life" accompanied by a music video and in October of same year the EP Sound from the Shadow on Polydor with 5 tracks made available on digital download although limited edition CD was made of the EP but available only at live concerts of the band.

In January 2012, they were nominated for 'best live group or artist revelation of the year' at Victoires de la musique. "Ghost" launched at French TV entertainment show Taratata accompanied by a choir. This was a prerelease for their album Can Be Late released on 6 February 2012. A limited edition also offered an 8-track of live renditions during a concert at Paris' Moulin Rouge La Machine venue on 27 October 2011.

In popular culture

• The music of "Give Me", a Skip the Use track was used in promoting Noel dernier cri for Canal +^[1]
• The same song "Give Me" also became the tune for June TV's show Bienvenue dans la Ruche^[2]

Members

• Mat Bastard - vocals, guitar, keyboards, programming
• Yan Stefani - guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
• Nelson Martins - bass, backing vocals
• Enzo Gabert - drums

Former Members

• Jay Gimenez - bass, backing vocals
• Lio Raepsaet - keyboards, synthesizers, samples, laptop computer, saxophone, backing vocals
• Manamax Catteloin - drums

Discography

Albums

Studio

Title	Details	Peak chart positions		Certification	Notes
		BEL (Wa) [3]	FRA [4]
Skip the Use	Released: 5 October 2009 Label: CALYSTA music / NPE Format: CD	—	—
Can Be Late	Released: 6 February 2012 Label: Polydor Format: CD	80	35		With limited edition bonus, a 2nd CD of 8-track live show at Paris' Moulin Rouge La Machine venue
Little Armageddon	Released: 24 February 2014 Label: Polydor Format: CD	17	8	FRA: Gold[5]
Past & Future	Released: 18 October 2019 Label: Polydor Format: Digital download, streaming	—	57 [6]

Live

Title	Details	Peak chart positions
		FRA [4]
Little Armageddon Tour	Released: 9 February 2015 Label: Polydor Format: CD	62

EPs

Title	Details	Peak chart positions	Notes
		FRA [4]
Sound from the Shadow	Released: October 2011 Label: Polydor Format: Digital download CD (limited edition)	197	Limited edition CD format available only at band's live concerts

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions		Album
		BEL (Wa) [3]	FRA [4]
2012	"Ghost"	46	24	Can Be Late
	"Give Me Your Life"	—	173
2013	"Cup of Coffee"	—	72
	"Nameless World"	58*	42	Little Armageddon
2014	"The Story of Gods and Men"	—	149

*Did not appear in the official Belgian Ultratop 50 charts, but rather in the bubbling under Ultratip charts. Added 50 position to actual Ultratip position.