MAGNOLIA is a rock group founded in 2008 by John Silvestre (composition, electric guitar, vocals), Paul Alkhallaf (bass), Sébastien Politi (drums) and Damien Lamy (electric guitar). They will be joined in 2010 by Fabien Planchenault (electric guitar, effects) met at MAI in Nancy. All are between 18 and 24 years old. The group explores music whose influences range from Sonic Youth to Godspeed You! Black Emperor, from Television to Psychic TV, from Radiohead to Massive Attack, including This Heat, Slint, Fugazi ...

The quintet will give around thirty concerts in France between 2008 and 2010, before separating by distance in 2011 after recording a live EP in Verdun.

After this first group experience, John Silvestre and Paul Alkhallaf will continue to collaborate in music and sound until today.

(Paul Alkhallaf recorded and co-produced the EP Pine Cone Songs for TYPHON in 2015, and mixed the Avant L'Aurore album in 2020.)