This is the first in a (hopefully) series of posts in which we'll take a closer look at the musicians/songwriters that have worked with Xenomania, focusing on what they do outside the team. First up is Fred Falke.
Fred Falke is a 33-year-old French musician, producer and DJ. He's been working at Xenomania, most recently appearing on the latest Pet Shop Boys album, as well as remixing the Mini Viva single "Left My Heart In Tokyo".
He began his career as a bass player around 1995, before starting producing records in the late 1990s. After meeting Alan Braxe, they decided to collaborate as a dance music producing duo. In the heydays of what is now called "French house" (which was fronted by the likes of Daft Punk and Cassius), they released several singles.
In 2006, Fred Falke went solo and dedicated himself to production work and remixes. His remixing output has been highly acclaimed. Falke has reworked songs from artists as diverse as Little Boots, The Gossip, U2, Annie, Grizzly Bear, Alesha Dixon, Ladyhawke, Lykke Li, among many others.
Fred Falke's work is influenced by funk and disco music. His reinterpretations tend to take the simple ideas from a song and transform them into a big sounding record, with a strong focus on melody. His remixes are deconstructed to a point where they still maintain the essence of the song, while at the same time bringing it closer to the dancefloor.
Dan Laithwaite, the drummer from The Electric City, has recently announced that the band has split up:
«Some of you may have noticed a lack in activity on the band MySpace page, this is because after 3 fantastic years The Electric City has come to an end. Reasons for this are from within the band…nooo we haven’t fallen out or anything! But at this time, members of the band want to explore other musical or professional paths. (...)»
Back in February, The Electric City revealed on their MySpace blog that they were in Kent working on their debut album with Xenomania. In March, they played their first ever gig in the US at South by South West festival.
At the time, they had finished recording five songs with Brian Higgins. Click below to download/listen to a free (and legal) mp3 of "Rapture", one of The Electric City's most recent songs:
The Electric City formed in 2006, when friends and housemates Andy J. Taylor (vocals, rhythm guitar) and James Cantone (lead guitar, back vocals) found themselves immersed in the Ibiza rock scene and got inspired to have their own band. Back to London, they began looking for bandmates and found bass player Jonny Bullit and drummer Dan Laithwaite. Andy J. Taylor and James Cantone are sons of Duran Duran's Andy Taylor and Roger Taylor (respectively), while Dan Laithwaite is the nephew of Duran Duran singer Simon LeBon.
The group's live performances earned them various support slots alongside everyone from Fightstar to The Futureheads, played Benacassim and SXSW, and impressed Roger Daltrey so much that he personally asked them to open for The Who.
Mini Viva have signed a record deal with Geffen Records. The duo reveal on their MySpace that they are currently sketching out their first video and getting ready for the launch of the first single:
On to some BIG news, we signed our deal with Geffen last week..Hooray!! We met the whole team at Universal too and they all seemed really nice. Now we just can't wait to get our hands stuck into Mini Viva activity. At the moment we are sketching out our first video and getting ready for the launch of our very first single!!! Stay tuned guys, we will keep you in the know so don't go!!
Mini Viva are a new pop duo being launched by Xenomania. They formed last year and have been gathering attention with their live performances and the remixes of the song "Left My Heart In Tokyo", which has been reworked by Fred Falke, Treasure Fingers and Acid Girls.
Mini Viva are among the first acts being signed to the UK division of Geffen Records. Geffen U.K. is a standalone label in a London HQ separate from Universal Music's offices, signing and developing its own artists. Vagabond were the first band signed to the label.
Spotify has put up a 5-song preview of the Girls Aloud Singles Boxset. The preview list includes the original demo of "No Good Advice", which will be included in the exclusive rarities bonus disc. Click here to listen to the Spotify preview (which also includes "Memory Of You", "I Don't Really Hate You", "Androgynous Girls" and Tony Lamezma's remix of "Sexy! No No No...").
Alternatively, (i.e. if Spotify isn't available in your country) you can listen to the "No Good Advice" demo below:
The box set contains 22 discs (one for each Girls Aloud single, plus a rarities disc) - each single contains the tracks from each format bundled together (CD1, CD2, 7'', 12'', promo and rare mixes). There is also a 64 page booklet with "the story behind the music". The sleevenotes were written by Peter "Popjustice" Robinson, who interviewed Brian Higgins:
While we were putting them together we conducted a two and a half hour interview with Brian Higgins* in which he ran through the highs and the lows of each of Girls Aloud's singles. It was a strangely emotional feeling hearing about the last seven years of British Pop on fastforward, and one of the most exciting bits was Higgins discussing the formation of Girls Aloud's second single, 'No Good Advice', which was a pivotal release for both Girls Aloud and Xenomania, and set both parties up for a long run of hits. At one point he told us that the day before he delivered it to the label he sat outside the studio, in the snow, and listened to the song 85 times.
* Translation: Brian Higgins talked at us for two and a half hours.
Brilliant. The boxset is priced at £45 and will be shipped in July. Click here to buy.
This week, The Alesha Show has reached a new peak in the UK albums chart, climbing to #11. The album entered the charts in November last year, at number 26, and then dropped off the top 75 chart after four weeks. It has been slowly climbing back up, and following the release of the single "Let's Get Excited", The Alesha Show rebounded to #11.
Next week, Vagabond will be traveling to the US to shoot the video for their next single. Paul Minor will be the video director once again.
Vagabond have done an acoustic performance of "Don't Wanna Run No More", exclusively for Facebook users. Click here to watch.
They have been answering questions on Bebo. Watch part 1 and part 2.
In an interview with Wessex Scene, Alex Vargas revealed what Vagabond have been listening to: «Sly and the Family Stones, which is on here at the minute, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, Fleetwood Mac, Smokey Robinson… the bus has a very Motown feel!».
He talks about the group's sound: «We’re very influenced by soul, and I think people pick up on that because our songs are so melody driven - that’s the first step in the song writing process as well, and that’s the important bit that has to be nailed before everything else can follow.
«I’m very inspired by singers like Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, and Paul Roberts. (...) When some people heard ‘Sweat Until the Morning’ they compared us to Simply Red which I don’t really agree with - just because its Simply Red really - but its fine! When they compare me to Stevie Winwood I’m incredibly flattered because I love him, but that’s just vanity!»
Vagabond's Luke Fitton told The Jitty that Xenomania «like to get the best out of you as producers»: «Brian [Higgins] is so driven and likes to try new ideas. He makes you re-learn what’s worth playing in some ways which is good, he had me trying all sorts of different things out, it’s good to get out of your comfort zone from time to time!»
Alex Vargas explains Vagabond's writing process: «They tend to be done traditionally, you know, guitars and vocals sit down, you find your pace, but, then there’s a much more, a way that I’ve learnt that is much more productive, you lay down a backing track. You get a track ready, you blast it out of speakers, you have a Dictaphone, and I’ll sing over that, trying out different ideas. Looking for varying melodies. It could literally just be a 4 bar drum loop (...) and after that you go back and listen to the melodies again and pick out the best ones. (...) It was quite intimidating when I first did it, it’s a really interesting, really productive way of writing. And the results, well’ we’re really happy with it. Definitely be doing it again!»
Stephen Carter added: «Xenomania is kind of about "stepping outside" and looking at things in different ways, and encouraging you to be creative in every way, as opposed to just maybe sitting at a piano, which may well work for others. Some of our songs will have like five or six different versions, different chord progressions, before settling on the final version.»
Song To Nurse A Hangover: Air - 'La Femme d’Argent' Song For Getting Ready To Go Out: Lauryn Hill - 'Doo Wop (That Thing)' Song To Have Played At Your Funeral: Bob Marley - 'Jammin'' Song To Go To Sleep To: Mr Scruff - 'Jazz Potato' Song To Help Get Through Winter - Patrice: 'Everyday Good' Song For A Summer Day: Will Smith - 'Summertime' Song To Wake Up To: Lemon Jelly - 'Space Walk' Song To Die To: Finley Quaye - 'Even After All' Song To Sing In The Shower: Marvin Gaye - 'What's Going On' Song To Quit Your Job To: Jay-Z - 'Dirt Off Your Shoulder' Song To Fall In Love To: Chairmen Of The Board - 'Give Me Just a Little More Time' Song To Lose Your Virginity To: Kings Of Leon - 'Sex On Fire' Song To Get You On The Dancefloor: Jackson 5 - 'I Want You Back' Song For A Road Trip: Arrested Development - 'Mama's Always On Stage'
Gabriella Cilmi's "Sweet About Me" is in the running for an Ivor Novello award for Most Performed Work. The song is up against "Mercy" by Duffy and "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay.
The Ivor Novello Awards recognise the best British songwriting and composing. The ceremony will be held on Thursday 21st May 2009. See the full list of nominees.
In the past, Xenomania have been nominated for the Sugababes single "Hole In The Head". In 1999, Cher's "Believe" won three Ivor Novello awards for Best Song Musically and Lyrically, Best Selling British Single (decided by sales) and International hit of the year.
"Believe" was written by Brian Higgins, Stuart McLennan, Paul Barry, Steve Torch, Matt Gray and Tim Powell. At the time, people started noticing a big change in the way that pop compositions are credited. An Ivor Novello spokesperson said: «In the past, there would have been one writer for the music and one for the lyrics, but now often the whole band is credited, or there is a string of names.»
"Sweet About Me" was written by Gabriella Cilmi, Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins, Tim Larcombe, Tim Powell and Nick Coler. The song has charted in 18 different charts. Its peak position was number 1, on the Norwegian Singles Chart and the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, making her the youngest ever solo artist to achieve the top spot in ARIA history.
Chris Lowe recently expressed Pet Shop Boys' desire to work with Xenomania again. Speaking about the work process, he said: «The whole thing worked out really well. I think we’re going to, hopefully, work with them again in the future.»
Chris Lowe describes how things work at Xenomania: «There are a lot of people working at any one time on your record and the music is passed around the studio on little USB sticks. Brian Higgins sits down, monitoring the whole thing and pushing it in various directions and stuff like that. There are people from all around the world working there, (...) it's a very enthusiastic workplace and I imagine it’s a bit like the Motown studio was in Detroit. At the end of the day, everything gets judged by Brian, and if it’s good enough it sort of gets marked. It’s a very creative place to be.»
Neil Tennant: «What was unusual for them working with us was that they were producing our songs; they don't normally do that, they normally produce their own songs, and to them the songwriting and the production process is the same thing. I think it was probably as much a learning process for them as it was for us.»
When asked to compare Xenomania's style of production with Trevor Horn's style, Chris Lowe said that «with Xenomania it’s more short bursts of energy». Neil Tennant added that Trevor Horn «works in a more quality way»: «He goes for the individual sounds and then puts together the whole thing, whereas Xenomania go for the whole thing which is a bit more like we are». Neil also said that there are ways in which they are very similar, «in that they endlessly experiment, try things, scrap them».
Here's a few bits about specific songs:
"All Over The World" Neil Tennant: «That song was originally called “I'm Not Crying I'm Laughing” and it was a totally different song. When we were writing it it was a bit frustrating, Chris and I just played the Tchaikovsky thing over the top of it and it sort of worked and it was funny.»
"The Way It Used To Be" Neil Tennant: «“The Way Its Used To Be” is structured like a film as a series of flashbacks. It starts in the present, 'I'm here, you're there, come closer,' and then you go back to when they meet. I imagine it being a boy and a girl when they're students meeting and they go on this sort of student holiday to Rome and have an amazing time. (...) I think at the end they get back together again. So “I was there caught on 10th Avenue,” that melody wasn't written by me or Chris, it was written by Miranda Cooper of Xenomania, but I wrote the words to it.»
“This Used To Be The Future” Neil Tennant: «Well, firstly we wanted the bonus disc to be spectacular, we don't see it as some sort of division two thing. The album was too long, when we finished the album with twelve tracks it was really long, it was nearly an hour and it just felt a bit long. “This Used To Be The Future,” I think, was the longest track on it. We had the idea of doing these dub mixes and we thought the song would be an amazing start to that. The bonus album, the dub album as we call it, is a sort of a tribute to the Human League’s album, ‘Love and Dancing,' where they did a dub album based on their album ‘Dare’ which was an amazing album, and that was where the idea for this dub album came from. I had a chat with Phil Oakey because it just seemed really appropriate. »
Last month, Xenomania's Brian Higgins and Miranda Cooper visited the Brighton Institute of Modern Music (BIMM). From the BIMM website:
«Founder Brian Higgins and Miranda Cooper, Directors and principle songwriters from the UK’s leading pop songwriting production house Xenomania entertained a jam packed lecture room. (...) They gave priceless information ranging from how to get into songwriting to the art of pop composition. Brian reinforced BIMMs ethos of a strong work ethic backed with simple approaches executed well and his belief that everybody has a top hit record inside them. It was a fantastic masterclass that gave an insightful and inspiring talk from people who are at the top of their game.»
The Brighton Institute of Modern Music is a modern popular music college based in the city of Brighton & Hove (England). Some of its past students include The Kooks, Beth Rowley and Stephen Carter, who signed with Xenomania in June 2008 and is now a guitarist in Vagabond. From BIMM's website:
«BIMM degree graduate Steve Carter signed to Xenomania Records and Warner Chappell Music. Steve secured his role as an in-house songwriter and guitarist for the company whose track record is enormous! (...) Steve will also be playing with some of the acts signed to Xenomania too. In response to his role in the company Steve said "it is an honour to be working with the greatest songwriters and musicians in the country, this is a one off opportunity and I am thrilled to be in this position!"»
The Pet Shop Boys go minimal on their new video "Did you see me coming?". The single is out on June 1st. Click here to pre-order it in three formats (2 CD-S + exclusive 12'') for just £6.
This week the latest Girls Aloud single has slipped out of the top 20 (#21), while Alesha Dixon's The Alesha Show has climbed back up to the top 30 albums (#27):
Xenomania's official MySpace has been updated and redesigned. They've revealed their new logo (image on the right) and have created official pages on Facebook and Twitter. They are planning on putting out a few "teasers" via Twitter in the next few weeks.
The Sunday Times: "The success of [Beyoncé's "Single Ladies"] supports the view that chart pop — be it American R&B or, in this country, the blowsy, often berserk electro-pop pioneered by the likes of Xenomania — is by far the most experimental genre in contemporary music."
Neil Tennant: "Xenomania are the top pop producers in Britain at the moment, particularly famous for Girls Aloud, who had 20 Top-10 singles and are a household name. I love that song we wrote with them—we should record it ourselves at some point. They experiment with mainstream pop, and I think the most interesting kinds of music [occur] when people experiment in the mainstream."
About.com: "[In Pet Shop Boys' album Yes] Xenomania becomes the eurodisco Barack Obama, dealing with serious and sensitive issues but with a sense of something new and filled with hope."
Chris Lowe: "[Recording at Xenomania] was great fun. It's basically a house full of musicians—one in every room, all doing different things. They all pass around USB sticks and put their little parts in."
Neil Tennant: "When they worked as production team on the songs that we’d written, it’s a fantastic operation Brian [Higgins]’s put together, a really great team of people who are so into pop music and really enthusiastic about what they do. All the time we were working there, Girls Aloud would be popping down and Alesha and it felt great to be connected with contemporary British pop"
Annie has revealed that she is working on a new album, while she waits for the release of Don't Stop. Speaking of the number of times that it has been delayed, she confessed that it is «the most frustrating thing in the world».
«I'm already working on my third album while I wait. I know it's going to be a great feeling when I finally hold a physical CD in my hands, but the wait is just so boring!», she told Digital Spy.
Annie is planning on releasing Don't Stop through her own label, Totally Records. After the single "Anthonio", she's decided to release 12" singles of "My Love Is Better": «I've got some really brilliant remixes so I'll get them out on my label.»
Annie parted ways with Island Records last year: «I guess I ended up in a pretty typical, classic major label situation. The boss who signed me up left after just four months and I was basically on my own. I was working with a team who didn't really understand the project at all and didn't share the vision I had. It got to the point where it almost like a fight. I felt like I was working against them, so I'm pretty happy to be free of that restraint.»
"Everything's much more in my hands and I can be my own boss. It's great to be able to sort out my own remixes and things like that. It's definitely not easy though - especially as I'm not really business-minded at all! But at the same time it's really exciting and I can't wait to get my album Don't Stop out in September."
Xenomania Records is seeking "exceptionally talented, dynamic young musicians" to form part of its busy house band.
The role will require a full time commitment, and involve regular rehearsals, gigs and showcases accompanying Xenomania's signed and unsigned artists.
Ideally, applicants should be aged between 16 and 25, have extensive experience of either live or session work, and possess a highly professional work ethic.
Send a photo, CV and mp3 of your playing for the attention of the General Manager, Will Gresford, at cvs@xenomaniarecords.co.uk
Shortlisted candidates need to be available for auditions on Thursday 14th May.
Saint Etienne will be reissuing their entire back catalogue, with each original album featuring a bonus CD of b-sides, rare tracks and unreleased material. First up are Foxbase Alpha (1991) and Continental (1997), both released on May 18th.
Continental was a Japanese-only compilation of Saint Etienne's non-album singles, cover versions and new material, recorded in 1996-97. It featured "He's On The Phone", Saint Etienne's biggest hit single, as well as the Balearico (Brian Higgins & Matt Gray) remix of "Burnt Out Car" and the Brian Higgins-produced cover of "Stormtrooper in Drag".
The album now receives its first ever release outside of Japan and has been remastered and expanded to 2 discs, including four previously unreleased tracks. The release is packaged in the luxurious Deluxe Edition style and comes with a booklet packed with brand new sleeve notes, images and memorabilia.
Following on from these inaugural re-issues will be So Tough and Sound of Water in the summer, Tiger Bay and Finisterre in the autumn, and Good Humour and Tales From Turnpike House in early 2010, along with all of their remixes on Casino Classics.
Continental's tracklist: CD1 - Original Album Shad Times Burnt Out Car Sometimes In Winter Winter Melody Public Info Film The Process He's On The Phone Stormtrooper In Drag Star Down By The Sea The Sea Lonesome Angel
CD2 - Bonus Material Accident Is It True? Where Did Our Love Go (demo) * Groveley Road How I Learned To Love The Bomb Postal Interlude * Cant Stop Now Under Her Spell * Saturday Remixed Suburban Autumn Lieutenant We Could Have It All (demo) * Lover Plays The Bass Home (demo) Burnt Out Car (demo)
Girls Aloud's "Untouchable" was the big mover in the UK Top 20 Singles this week, climbing 27-11. It will most likely be the first Girls Aloud single to miss the top 10. The album Out of Control is back in top 40 (#33).
In the US, Pet Shop Boys' Yes entered the Billboard Top 200 Albums at #32, making it their highest-placed record since Very hit #20 in 1993.
Alesha's "The Boy Does Nothing" has been very successful all over Europe, peaking at #2 in the singles charts in both Finland and France.
Vagabond are confirmed to play Glastonbury this year. The band reveals on their MySpace blog that they are playing the Queens Head tent on Sunday (28th June).
Vagabond's "Don't Wanna Run No More" is the "Song of the day" on Popjustice:
«Half of Vagabond's album isn't really our sort of thing, half of it is really our sort of thing, and half of this album of three halves is this: an instant classic by the name of 'Don't Wanna Run No More'. It may not exactly be the Friday rave anthem you were hoping for but sometimes, readers, the raving must cease.»
Their first single, "Sweat (Until The Morning)", has been remixed by Quiet Village. The single will be released on 8th June. Meanwhile, Vagabond have put up a YouTube contest:
«We'd like you to post your own renditions of Vagabond's Sweat in our new informal YouTube contest. It can be as serious or as funny as you like, and every week we'll be highlighting one of the best across all Vagabond's social networks, as well as favouritising it on the band's YouTube page.»
To enter the competition, add your video response to this playlist.
Check Vagabond's MySpace to see a list of upcoming shows. Here's a couple of recent live reviews:
My Bliss: «bliss saw Vagabond live last week and we were super impressed. Not only are these lads seriously fit (check out front man Alex Vargas - rock'n'roll pin-up material or what?) but they've got a repertoire of polished synth-tinged rock and a stage presence that makes us think they're gonna be BIG! Plus, they're produced by Xenomania (Girls Aloud), what more can we say..»
The Jitty: «By the time they’d played their first song Vagabond had the audience hooked even though the vast majority of the crowd had probably never even heard of them, potentially the hottest up and coming band for 2009. They played the songs with everything they had and they looked like they were enjoying themselves the whole time. Front man Alex Vargas’ strong voice impressed and the bassline from Sam Odiwe shook the floor. With different melodies played over and under each other they had an impressive set. Vagabond went from real headbanging tunes through easy foot tapping songs to slow blues with ease making for an impressive half hour. The finished with their addictive single ‘Sweat (Until The Morning)’ which will be released on 8th June 2009. Their songs had people dancing, foot tapping and clapping without thinking about it – it just seemed like the nautral thing to do. When Vagabond left the stage they got massive cheers from eveyone in the concert hall. One lady said “I don’t like music but I loved that!”. Others were saying how “amazing” they were and how they wanted “to hear more”. It was like they were the band that the audience had come to see. I forgot it was James Morrison who was about to take center stage.»
Watch the first Vagabond tour diary: ("I've Been Wanting You" is playing in the background)
Xenomania is a songwriting and production house based in Kent, England. It was founded by songwriter and producer Brian Higgins.
Since 1996, Xenomania have written, produced and remixed tracks for a string of successful artists including Girls Aloud, Pet Shop Boys, Sugababes, Dannii and Kylie Minogue, Saint Etienne, Cher, Gabriella Cilmi and many others.
Fred Falke is a 33-year-old French musician, producer and DJ. He's been working at Xenomania, most recently appearing on the latest Pet Shop Boys album, as well as remixing the Mini Viva single "Left My Heart In Tokyo".
