Posted at 2:42 PM, 26 June 2010 -
Four new acts who consist of people that have previously worked with Xenomania and no longer are with the team: Jessie & the Toy Boys, D E K A D E, Lite N Dark and Alex Vargas
JESSIE & THE TOY BOYS
Sounds like: Bubblegum 80s pop with an urban edge
Jessie Malakouti began working with
Xenomania while she was a member of female trio Shut Up Stella. When she went solo, she worked with several producers, including Xenomania. During the time she worked with the team, she sang backing vocals for the Pet Shop Boys and went on a UK tour supporting The Saturdays.The Xenomania-produced "Standing Up For The Lonely" was set to be released as a single on Hard2Beat/ Ministry Of Sound, but it only ended up on a few dance compilations. A 4-track album sampler/megamix of her Xenomania collaboration is still available to download here.
Her latest musical endeavour is called Jessie and the Toy Boys (the "toy boys" are mannequins, because "mannequins don't talk back and are easy to write songs with"). Jessie has been working with David Gamson from Scritti Politti, Matt Squire and Sam from The Bravery, Scott Storch, Richard Vission, Howie D. and Lil' Eddie.You can listen to her new demos on MySpace.
Links: Official site / MySpace / Facebook / Twitter
Xenomania songs: Standing Up For The Lonely, Baby Don't Ask Me, Crash Bang Baby, Jungle Town, Never Be the Same, Who's That Man
D E K A D E
Sounds like: Dark synth pop with big melodies
Andy Taylor and James Taylor
started working with Xenomania when they were still known as The Electric City. Later they became a duo and changed their name to NiteVisions. More recently they have rechristened themselves DEKADE and are now working with producer Flood. Andy and James, the sons of Andy Taylor and Roger Taylor from Duran Duran, continue the growing trend for male synth pop duos and take inspiration from the dark pop from the 80s and late 70s, when people like Gary Numan, Depeche Mode and New Order ruled the world.
Their new Flood-produced tracks can be heard on DEKADE's MySpace. The Xenomania-produced "Fire" can be found here.
Links: MySpace / Twitter / Blog
See also: NiteVisions, The Electric City
Xenomania songs: Fire (NiteVisions), Rapture (The Electric City)
LITE N DARK
Sounds like: Electro-pop-rap with hard club beats and boy-girl vocals
Katie McKenna (17) and Tim
Talbot (21) met in the Xenomania house: Tim was playing keyboards for a new Xenomania act and Katie, as a recently scouted future starlet, was recording vocals.Months later, once they had both left Xenomania to work on other projects, they met again and decided to team up as a duo. Their music is said to be a mixture of Soulwax basslines, Timbaland synths and Gaga rhythms.
Lite N Dark have been in the studio with Andy Taylor (from DEKADE - see above) and Matt Peel. For now their songs can be downloaded for free on Bandcamp.
Their first ever live show had Britt Love of Mini Viva fame behind the decks. Click here to watch an amusing video from their Xenomania days, with Katie, Britt and Maxine making a rap about Xenomania and Westerham.
Listen/download: Losing Control EP / Nightfever (feat. Kay Maf)
Links: MySpace / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / Bandcamp
Upcoming shows: August 1 - The Cockpit (supporting Starman) Leeds, UK
ALEX VARGAS
Sounds like: Rocking tunes with a soulful spirit and an electro twist
Alex Vargas was signed
to Geffen Records in 2008 and formed the band Vagabond, the first act launched by Xenomania. Vagabond released their Xenomania-produced debut album, You Don't Know the Half of It, in 2009. Earlier this year the group announced their decision to split.Throughout 2009, Vagabond toured the UK supporting artists such as James Morrison, McFly and The Script, and they also performed at Glastonbury, T in the Park and V music festivals in the UK.
Alex is currently writing and recording his debut solo album in London and Los Angeles. You can listen to four demos on his MySpace: "Supernova", "Higher", "Mr. Heartache" and "One Track Mind".
Links: MySpace / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube
Upcoming shows:
1 Jul Smash & Grab Loves TV Nights @ Proud Camden, London,
5 Aug Smash & Grab Loves TV Nights @ Proud Camden, London
Labels: Alex Vargas, beyond Xenomania, Dekade, Jessie Malakouti
1 Comments:
Got to admit I'm unimpressed and even a little disappointed about all of these acts' new material, especially Jessie's. Not too surprising I guess, considering a big part of their appeal for me was the Xenomania connection in the first place.
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