AMOR BELHOM DUO was, from 1997 to 2001, NAIM AMOR (vocals, guitars, violin and samplers) and THOMAS BELHOM(percussion, drums, accordion, vocals), with lyrics by Amor's wife MARIANNE DISSARD. All three born and raised in France, they were living in Tucson, Arizona in the United States.

Before forming their "avant-French pop" duo and regularly collaborating with Tucson-based Touch And Go artists Joey Burns and John Convertino from Calexico, Naïm and Thomas belonged to bands ranging in style from early Parisian hardcore (Witches Valley) to experimental musical and theatrical political avant-garde (from 1992 to 1997, in Génération Chaos, performing experimental music with contemporary music percussionist/composer Jean-Charles François - director of UCSD music school from 1972 to 1986- and stage director Marc O').

1995

Marianne, who was then living in Tucson where she directed the Giant Sand documentary "Drunken Bees", meets Naïm in Paris. From Tucson, she sends him words he turns into songs. Marianne then in turn challenges him to come perform them in Tucson. Neither had either written lyrics or composed songs before but such is the power of a long-distance romance that they both rose up to the occasion. On Naïm's first visit to Tucson, Marianne introduced him to Joey Burns, her friend and neighbor. That day, Joey recorded Marianne and Naïm singing together their songs. One of them, "Elevator Baby", found its way years later on a limited-editon vinyl. These recordings were the premises of what became a series of Amor Belhom Duo albums, once Naïm's friend, drummer Thomas Belhom, decided to join him in Tucson a couple of years later.

1996

Naïm and Thomas compose the soundtrack to Marianne's French TV documentary "Low Y Cool", shot in Tucson and Nogales, Mexico. The main track is an edgy cover of the 1969 French classic "La Bicyclette".

1997

Having officially relocated to Tucson,Arizona, Naïm and Thomas start regular close collaborations with JOEY BURNS and JOHN CONVERTINO from that other fine Tucson duo, CALEXICO.


1998

In May, AMOR BELHOM DUO records its first full-length album, WAVELAB PERFORMANCE, at the Wavelab Studio (recording home to the likes of Giant Sand, Howe Gelb, Calexico, OP8...). With that album, AMOR BELHOM DUO attempts the challenge of translating their original style of live performance onto tape, through a
four days recording session. The 11 tracks album features frequent collaborators Marianne Dissard (for lyrics) and guest performers Joey Burns and John Convertino, whom Naïm and Thomas later back up on stage, in San Francisco at the Great American Music Hall, in LA at the Troubador, in Austin at the South
By Southwest Conference. WAVELAB PERFORMANCE is made available in CD or cassette
in the US through the Duo's own label, NORMANDIE DREAM RECORDS. It is later released, as WAVELAB, in April 2001 in Europe through Nancy/France-based label ICI D'AILLEURS and in the US through Carrot Top Records.

1999

In May 1999 , the Duo returns from their first very successful and critically
acclaimed US west coast tour (opening for Sparklehorse in San Francisco at the
Great American Music Hall, playing Café du Nord in San Francisco, and
clubs from Seattle to San Diego) to record its second album, the self-titled
AMOR BELHOM DUO.

2000

French label ICI D'AILLEURS (home of Yann Tiersen, Married Monks, Madrid, Bed...)
releases the S/T AMOR BELHOM DUO album in Europe and label SAIDERA RECORDS in
Japan.

Also out is collaborative album TETE A TETE by ABBC, i.e. AMOR- BELHOM- BURNS-CONVERTINO
on WABANA RECORDS in the US, Saidera Record/Japan, Vicious Circle/France

After performing at SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2000 as music festival sponsor Tucson
Weekly's band of choice, Amor Belhom Duo tours Europe with David Grubbs,
Quentin Rollet and Noël Akchoté (label Rectangle), appearing at festivals
Printemps de Bourges and Transmusicales de Rennes.

The Duo also opens for Calexico in Paris and Strasbourg, while Marianne sings
la femme fatale in duo with Joey Burns on Calexico single "Ballad of Cable
Hogue".

A fall 2000 european tour includes dates with Giant Sand, the release of tour-only
CD, ANY TIME ANY WAY, and the music video for title "Pulling On A Cig",
directed by Marianne, appearing on French music channels MCM and M6.


2001

Invited back at SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2001, Amor Belhom Duo heads back to Europe
for a six countries tour, in support of the release by Ici d'Ailleurs of album
WAVELAB (the reproduced, remixed, remastered version of the original 1998 Wavelab
Performance, the Duo's first album). Later that spring, the release of albums
Wavelab and Amor Belhom Duo by Chicago-based label CARROT TOP is followed
by a US tour opening for labelmates Handsome Family.


2002


Amor Belhom Duo collaborates with Valerie Leulliot from French band
Autour de Lucie on a live album, recorded in Tucson at Solar Culture by
Jim Waters. The album, LIVE IN TUCSON, is released by Ici D'Ailleurs in
Europe.


Amor Belhom Duo opens for French pop star MIOSSEC in France and
disbands after that tour. NAIM and THOMAS start solo careers, under
their respective names and on their respective sides of the Atlantic,
while, in 2005, MARIANNE begins singing under the helm of Joey Burns.