Photo Credit: Michelle G Hunter
Acclaimed Melbourne-based songwriters Paris Wells & Finley François are gearing up to debut their new project – set to play through their album ‘Lounge Of The Flamingo’ for the very first time on the 27th of November at George Lane in Melbourne.
Released in August this year, ‘Lounge Of The Flami ngo’ is a lush, Latin-inspired lounge masterpiece. Drawing subtle influences from Nouvelle Vague, Astrud Gilberto, and Cesária Évora, the project highlights Wells’ & Francois’ versatility, refined artistry and a 20-year working partnership.
Paris Wells has had a career full of achievements and milestones over the last two decades. She’s supported the likes of Rod Stewart, Justin Timberlake, Robyn & Plan B on tour and played at festivals such as Falls Festival, Big Day Out, Meredith, Sydney Music Festival and the 2010 AFL Grand Final. She has collaborated with international DJs such as Kaz James, and made TV appearances on Spicks & Specks, Adam Hills In Gordon Street, Good News Week & Rockwiz. She toplined for Bliss N’ Eso’s ‘Field of Dreams’, taken from the ARIA Award winning album ‘Flying Colours’ (2012) and shot to worldwide fame with her single ‘Overbite’ which was used by Elie SaaB for their Cannes Film Festival campaign in 2014. To this day she has over 1 millions streams to her name, across her catalogue.
Finley “pHinioUS” François, originally from the picturesque shores of Mauritius and now based in the vibrant hub of Naarm, is a multifaceted artist in music. His journey, marked by curiosity and creativity, began with spinning vinyl at parties and has evolved into crafting a rich tapestry of sounds as a DJ, producer, and musician. His early career included airplay on Kiss FM and being part of Fizard, one of Australia’s pioneering live hip hop groups that won Triple J’s Unearthed competition in 2003. Over the years he has been commissioned to write music for various shows and installations, including projects for NICA and Arts Access; has performed at iconic festivals such as Mona Foma, the Adelaide Fringe Festival, the Cabaret Festival, St Kilda Festival, and Womadelaide; & has shared the stage and collaborated with artists such as GrandMaster Flash, Chris Brown, Rod Stewart, Kelly Rowland and most recently Snoop Dogg at the 2025 AFL Grandfinal along with the likes of Jessica Mauboy, Tash Sulatana and Baker Boy.
‘Lounge Of The Flamingo’ sees the pair hitting new heights collaboratively – with a sexy-stillness and persistent groove throughout the LP that doesn’t force the big moments, but reels you in with a confident calmness and attention to detail. Wells and François were a well-oiled machine at the time of recording, with Wells’ explaining “The team in this project was so solid and the happy musical partnership with Finley really shines through, we are a the point of finishing each others sentences, that shit takes time, this is my/our best body of work yet.”
Thematically, the album is less social commentary, and more of a reflection of Wells’ life right at this moment; “this time I was determined to capture not only humor, but calm and passion and family. I refuse to make any more ‘sad vagina’ music, I’m a happily married mum, shit can be hard but I want to give people the calm we all strive for. The Lounge of the Flamingo cares not about your social pages, Kardashian cages and your friends with strangers. It cares not about keeping up with the Joneses, or running away with the crowd. The Lounge only asks for your calm, so sit back, relax and enjoy the journey.”
Recorded live at the Frying Pan Studios housed within the iconic MONA gallery in Tasmania, Wells was pregnant throughout the session – described by the pair as ‘sitting down like a ripe queen’ throughout the process. The album also features vocals from Kylie Audist (the Bamboos, Cookin’ on 3 Burners) on ‘Down In Mexico’, as well as a string composition from renowned Tasmanian composer Dean Stevenson & his orchestra for ‘Strange Days’.
Talking on that time writing and recording at MONA, François comments;“What’s not to love about Afro Latin music! Paris and I spent many years backstage & on the road speaking about a jazz base album as a side project, but that didn’t stick for me. When the opportunity to record at the newly built Frying Pan Studio, Paris mentioned she’d been diggin’ some lounge vibe tunes. I said “yes” let’s do that! Flamingo was born! My journey on piano started with Afro Latin jazz music so it was a beautiful place to return too, our reinterpretations of the covers was a dope process- rock to lounge! There’s always a positive energy in this genre, a celebration of all that is life!
Tickets for their launch show in Melbourne on the 27th of November are available now. On what fans can expect from the special performance, the duo say; “Think Peggy Lee meets Karen Meets Astrid Gilburto. Lounge of the flamingo could easily be Bad Bunnies Aussie warm up band without wanting to speak to the manager after”
ALBUM LAUNCH
Thursday November 27 George Lane Melbourne VIC
TICKETS
Paris Wells: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Finley François: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Lounge Of The Flamingo: Official Website | Facebook | Instagram
