Simon Penard-Philippe grew up in a small town at milestone 44 along the railway leading to Angoulême in southwest France. He was raised listening to dub, influenced by the English label On-U Sound and the French band Zenzile, as well as the trip-hop rhythms of Massive Attack and the adventurous pop of Gorillaz. However, beyond the more obvious influences of artists like Mount Kimbie, MGMT, and Slowdive, one must listen closely to the details of Station 44's first album to appreciate these subtler inspirations, which are quite rare for a record that can be classified as dream pop. Like Damon Albarn, whom he admires, Simon enjoys collaborating with the talents he encounters. He fuels his creativity through these collaborations, sharing a journey that is as much a one-man band as it is a vast collective.