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.
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.
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.
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".
Vagabond have announced their decision to split up. Luke Fitton has posted this message on Twitter:
«We have all moved on to new projects as things haven't worked out the way we would have hoped with Vagabond. We are all very much in support of each others decisions to move on musically and there is no hard feelings. I'd personally like to thank everyone who has supported us and we assure you that everything we are currently working on is very exciting and we hope you enjoy it just as much.»
Luke Fitton and Stephen Carter will continue to work on various projects with Xenomania. You can follow what they're up to on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/lfitton http://twitter.com/StephenCarter85 Karl Penney and Sam Odiwe are doing various session work and Alex Vargas has started a new solo project. On his MySpace, Alex says that "electro rock'n'soul" is now his musical path.He posted this message on Vagabond's MySpace: «Currently I am in LA recording. Gotta love the sun! Changes are happening, it's all very exciting! The new material is sounding great and some of it will be ready for you guys to hear in a matter of days.»
Vagabond were the first act launched by Xenomania. The group consisted of Alex Vargas (vocals, acoustic guitar), Stephen Carter (backing vocals, guitar), Luke Fitton (backing vocals, guitar), Sam Odiwe (bass) and Karl Penney (drums).
The band released their Xenomania-produced debut album, You Don't Know the Half of It, in August 2009. "Sweat (Until The Morning)" was released as the first single from the album as a free download in June 2009, followed by "Don't Wanna Run No More", which was released on 3rd August 2009.
The Sunday Times has published an interview with Brian Higgins and Alex Vargas, the front man in Vagabond, who are latest signing to the rapidly expanding Xenomania label.
Sunday Times writer Dan Cairns compares Xenomania's HQ to «an enviably laidback holiday camp». He also describes Brian Higgins as «an affable though slightly edgy character», who admits to having «worked most weekends, going back, I suppose, to about 1994». Higgins says that he and longtime colleagues such as Miranda Cooper reject 95% of what they do: «Our year is spent trying to get to that 5% that is truly great».
Higgins says that he had a hunch that Alex Vargas «wasn’t particularly a rock singer but a soul singer». This led the producer, whose pre-Xenomania background was, he says, all about «really underground, trendy club music», to reconnect with buried influences: «I suddenly remembered the feelings I had for Hall & Oates records.»
Higgins: «There’s nothing wrong with teenage musicians having an idea that doesn’t tally with their ability. That’s called being young. Growing up is about learning who you really are and what your true ability is. If Xenomania stands for anything, it’s about trying to get clarity into that situation far quicker than life experience allows.»
Here's a few more excerpts from the article:
Working with Xenomania: Brian Higgins: «It isn’t an entirely benign environment. The work ethic is so total. When people sign up, they sign up for a lot; it’s a fundamental lifestyle change. While they’re here, all these artists are used to witnessing a lot of success, but what they also see is, no limos, no champagne, nothing other than, ‘Right, what are we getting on with today?’ That culture is deeply ingrained.»
Alex Vargas: «Most people, when they have a No 1, will go to the pub to celebrate, and get lashed. Whereas in the Xenomania house, if they have one, they go, ‘Okay, let’s beat it.’ You have to be made of a certain material to be able to survive in an environment like that. There are people that come and go very quickly because they can’t handle it. I’ve been beaten up, verbally, a couple of times.»
Brian Higgins speaks about Alex Vargas Higgins says he was attracted to Vargas (...) because he could hear in his head the music he felt the front man should be making. “You have to meet the right person. It’s not fate, I don’t mean that, and I don’t really believe in it. It’s all about chemistry and connection. As important as I knew I was for Alex, because I had a vision of where he could be, he was of critical, enormous importance to us, because of this sense that we would be able to move forward into areas we hadn’t been able to go to before, because there hadn’t been a voice of that nature.”
Alex Vargas speaks about Brian Higgins (...) [Higgins] is a man on a mission, and, says Vargas, never really switches off. “At one of the Christmas parties,” the singer recalls, “we had all the amps set up in the purple room, all these musicians, and we ended up having this blues jam. And afterwards, Brian goes, ‘That song, what was that? Could you do it again?’ ”
(...) "He’s a very intimidating man. I was so impressed with how he opened my eyes; just the brutal honesty — you don’t get that with many people.” Vargas is convinced the experience was good for him, painful though it was. “You know the expression ‘killing your babies’?” he laughs. “Well, please don’t highlight this, but Brian will kill your babies.”
Vagabond's frontman Alex Vargas recently spoke in an interview about the group's history and ambitions. The band is currently playing a series of gigs as the main support for James Morrison's UK tour: «We want to become one of the best live acts in the business and that is why we have been touring so much.»
Vagabond formed about a year ago, pretty much by accident, as they were all working in Xenomania's studios. «I was busy working, writing material for my producer, when I met Stephen [Carter] and Luke [Fitton], who had come to do some work with my producer», Alex said. «We hit it off very well and decided to form our own band.» They then came across Sam Odiwe and Karl Penney, and the band was complete.
«The most important and key thing for us is that our music is soulful. We are influenced by many genres of music — pop, rock, lounge, funk and blues — as we all come from different parts of the world, but we always come back to soul.»
Alex Vargas also speaks about what sparked his interest in music: «From the age of 12 I knew I wanted to be a professional footballer — a typical boy’s dream — but then got interested in music. I picked up the guitar when I was 15 and began writing songs and knew this was my destiny.»
Click here to watch a video interview with Vagabond.
Vagabond have posted a live video of "I've Been Wanting You", from a "busking session" they did at the Hammersmith underpass after their Apollo show:
Sounds like a hit already! (fingers crossed, etc.)
The debut album from Vagabond, titled You Don't Know the Half Of It!, arrives June 22nd. You can pre-order it on Amazon. Their first single, "Sweat (Until The Morning)", is due June 8th.
WHO ARE THEY? A Home Counties quintet who are putting a British spin on the radio-friendly pop-soul of Maroon 5.
WHY THE FUSS? Fronted by gruff-voiced Alex Vargas, Vagabond are the latest chart contenders to spring from the Xenomania hit factory, the home of Girls Aloud. They have been honing their skills on the live circuit for the past six months and this week started a UK tour supporting James Morrison.
WHAT'S THE STORY? Curly-haired frontman Alex has family roots in Yorkshire and Denmark, but he formed Vagabond in Kent, recruiting guitarists Stephen Carter and Luke Fitton, bassist Sam Odiwe and drummer Karl Penney, before crafting a wall of sound with the help of Xenomania's Brian Higgins.
WHAT DO THEY SOUND LIKE? The band's MySpace site lists Hall and Oates, Cat Stevens and The Beatles as influences, while their record label Geffen claim, fancifully, that Alex is a cross between Michael Hutchence and Bryan Ferry. In truth, the blue-eyed soul of Mick Hucknall and Steve Winwood is closer to the mark. 'Soul is the thread that runs through everything we do,' says Alex.
WHAT NOW? A single, Sweat (Until The Morning), and the band's debut album, You Don't Know The Half Of It, are out in May. The songs veer between brassy, laid-back funk - the sort of thing that might go down well in a suburban wine bar - and more up-tempo, synth-driven pop. 'You can't listen to one or two tracks and think you know what we are all about,' says Alex. 'You've got to hear the whole package.'
To be accurate, their debut album is out June 22nd, preceded by the single "Sweat (Until The Morning)" (June 8th).
-- Vagabond are today's "New band of the day" on the Guardian. Paul Lester writes: «It will be some – many – people's idea of class, of adult sophistication, of "sexy". Vagabond will appeal to lovers of smoov balladry with a hint of urban and to lapsed soul fans who remember old-style R&B when it was more about grit and sweat than tricksy time signatures and surface dazzle».
Vagabond are seen as «a surprising choice» for Xenomania: «It's funny, or ironic, or something, that a band with a penchant for the "real" and authentic should join forces with the new gods of synthetic pop, but like we say, you'd never know, really (although weirdly, one of their songs, I've Been Wanting You, sounds like New Order-style electro-pop crooned by Hucknall). All Xenomania have done is make all the component parts – the supple basslines, Stax-y keyboards, choppy guitars and That Voice – clear in the mix, so that you can revel in the singing and the dexterous musicianship, all the things that today's mainstream music buyers love».
Paul Lester adds that in Alex Vargas «they've got a regular curly-permed sex-hunk of a frontman who just happens to have one of the most impressive white soul voices since Mick Hucknall, Paul Young, Robert Palmer and Marti Pellow; it even recalls the young Steve Winwood with its thick, deep, rumbling bluesy quality».
--- Their debut LP You Don't Know The Half Of It is released May 25.
--- Debut single "Sweat (Until the Morning)" is released by Geffen on 11th May.
--- The video was shot last weekend in Las Vegas, in the Mojave desert. Paul Minor was the video director.
--- "Sweat (Until The Morning)" has received a bashment treatment with a remix by Toddla T.
«Vagabond played a short, tight set last week at Water Rats. They just keep getting better and better. Ladies down the front swooned over Irrepressible front man Alex Vargas, he really is one to watch.
Debut single “Sweat (Until The Morning)” sounds cracking live as does “I’ve Been Waiting” and “Don’t Wanna Run No More”. This guitar based six piece have an r&b pop sound like no one else. We can’t wait for their debut album in May. Their producer Brian Higgins was in the audience on Tuesday.»
-- Vagabond will be the main support for the James Morrison UK tour starting next month.
Upcoming shows: 21 Feb 2009 20:00 Colosseum, Covertry 22 Feb 2009 20:00 King Tut’s, Glasgow 25 Feb 2009 20:00 The Fly, London 3 Mar 2009 21:00 The Troubadour London 9 Mar 2009 20:00 Portland Arms, Cambridge 10 Mar 2009 20:00 The Lanes, Bristol (Club NME) 11 Mar 2009 20:00 The Hub, Exeter (Vibraphonic Festival!) 12 Mar 2009 20:15 Water Rats London 13 Mar 2009 20:00 Marquee, Hertford 14 Mar 2009 20:00 The Cellars, Portsmouth Southsea 19 Mar 2009 20:00 Apollo , Manchester (Supporting James Morrison) 20 Mar 2009 20:00 Apollo , Manchester (Supporting James Morrison) 21 Mar 2009 20:00 Colston Hall , Bristol (Supporting James Morrison) 23 Mar 2009 20:00 Academy , Glasgow (Supporting James Morrison) 24 Mar 2009 20:00 Academy , Newcastle (Supporting James Morrison) 26 Mar 2009 20:00 Guildhall , Portsmouth (Supporting James Morrison) 27 Mar 2009 20:00 Uni Great Hall , Exeter (Supporting James Morrison) 28 Mar 2009 20:00 Theatre Severn , Shrewsbury (Supporting James Morrison) 30 Mar 2009 20:00 Hammersmith Apollo , London (Supporting James Morrison) 31 Mar 2009 20:00 Royal Albert Hall, London (Supporting James Morrison) 2 Apr 2009 20:00 Academy , Leeds (Supporting James Morrison) 3 Apr 2009 20:00 Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham (Supporting James Morrison) 4 Apr 2009 20:00 Academy, Birmingham (Supporting James Morrison) 6 Apr 2009 20:00 Academy, Sheffield (Supporting James Morrison) 7 Apr 2009 20:00 BIC, Bournemouth (Supporting James Morrison)
Vagabond are one of Xenomania's new acts, a young five-piece pop/rock band with a bluesy and soulful sound. The group consists of Alex Vargas (vocals, acoustic guitar), Stephen Carter (backing vocals, guitar), Luke Fitton (backing vocals, guitar), Sam Odiwe (bass) and Karl Penney (drums).
They met in the Xenomania studio («we were a band before we even knew it», says guitarist Luke Fitton) and have been crafting their sound under the guidance of Brian Higgins. They are the first band signed to the newly-revived Geffen label. Since playing their first acoustic show less than six months ago, their time has been spent between studio work and national touring.
Frontman Alex Vargas (who is very reminiscent of Michael Hutchence) explains Vagabond's sound: «Soul is the thread that runs through everything we do. Our tastes span pop, rock, lounge, funk and blues, but it's these clashes that make us interesting, that make us who we are». Some of the influences listed on the band's MySpace include Sly & The Family Stone, Hall & Oates, The Spencer Davis Group, Cat Stevens, Sam Cooke, INXS and Duran Duran.
Their first release was More Than You Take, a limited 12'' EP with two versions of "More Than You Can Take" plus "Do You Fear Me?" and "Go".
Music Week says that «the Xenomania production team is onto a winner with Vagabond: this is top-shelf pop with international ambitions». Popjustice has written twoarticles about the band and says that Vagabond «are definitely more at home on the side of Gabriella Cilmi than, say, an electrocybermetal balls-out techno rock troupe, and they won't be to all your tastes».
However, Popjustice points out that a couple of the tracks do sound like "proper Xenomania". "I've Been Wanting You" is «electronic and exciting and very very good indeed», and "More Than You Can Take" is «enjoyable in an early-2000s George Michael sort of way».
The debut album from Vagabond (tentatively titled You Don't Know the Half Of It! - a line from the song "Smile Of Mona Liza") arrives summer 2009. Their first single, "Sweat (Until The Morning)", is due this spring. Popjustice indicates that the single «starts off pretending to be 'Unfinished Sympathy' then slides into a slick, orchestral funk sort of 'affair' which doesn't really sound very good on the first listen but ends up hitting the spot about halfway through the fourth spin».
3 Feb 2009 19:30 -- Water Rats London 7 Feb 2009 20:00 -- Oakford Social Club, Reading 8 Feb 2009 20:00 -- Charlotte, Leicester 9 Feb 2009 21:00 -- Notting Hill Arts Club (Private Show) London 10 Feb 2009 20:00 -- Dry Bar, Manchester 11 Feb 2009 20:00 -- Cockpit, Leeds 12 Feb 2009 20:00 -- Rockhouse, Derby (Club NME) 18 Feb 2009 20:00 -- 229, London (Club Fandango!) 21 Feb 2009 20:00 -- Colosseum, Covertry 22 Feb 2009 20:00 -- King Tut’s, Glasgow 25 Feb 2009 20:00 -- The Fly, London London 3 Mar 2009 21:00 -- The Troubadour London 9 Mar 2009 20:00 -- Portland Arms, Cambridge 10 Mar 2009 20:00 -- The Lanes, Bristol (Club NME) 11 Mar 2009 20:00 -- The Hub, Exeter (Vibraphonic Festival!) 12 Mar 2009 20:15 -- Water Rats London 13 Mar 2009 20:00 -- Marquee, Hertford 14 Mar 2009 20:00 -- The Cellars, Portsmouth
This is a quick rundown of what's coming up in the world of Xenomania, with upcoming projects, collaborations and releases.
On part one: three bands (Girls Aloud, Saint Etienne, Pet Shop Boys), a female singer/songwriter (Jessie Malakouti) and two male singer/songwriters (Ultra, Alex Vargas). Part two will feature three well-known (around these parts, anyway) female singers plus a new female singer/songwriter, a new girl band and a new band with boys.
-- GIRLS ALOUD --
A new Girls Aloud album is on the works, with Xenomania on board once again. The girls began recording a few weeks ago.
-- JESSIE MALAKOUTI -- Jessie Malakouti is a 20-year-old American singer/songwriter, professional dancer and actress. She's part of the Xenomania team.
In 2005 Jessie formed the band Shut Up Stella. Last year they went to Xenomania's home in Kent to work on their album. However, they were dropped by their label and the album was never released. Jessie quit the band and all the members moved on to their separate projects.
Earlier this year, Jessie began documenting the process of recording her solo album on her MySpace blog and YouTube channel. In March she met up with Brian Higgins and Miranda Cooper in New York and later she traveled to Xenomania's headquarters.
Her debut album Pretty And Gritty is likely to feature some Xenomania-produced songs. Her work as a writer/lyricist is also likely to appear on a few of Xenomania's upcoming projects.
-- ALEX VARGAS -- Alex Vargas Jr. is a singer/songwriter. Two years ago he released a 4-track EP and he has recently been working with Xenomania on his debut album. Here's what has been said about him:
x. «Extraordinarily versatile, Alex is as confident and comfortable singing acoustic love songs as he is rocking out with shimmering rock n roll anthems. Currently working on his debut album, Alex's excitement is practically tangible.»
x. «(...) a new singer who sounds like the next big thing (...). Considering there is always a market for rock-y music. He's got it all - looks, talent and extremely strong songs. "Diamonds In The Dirt" just sounds like a surefire worldwide hit. Which is what it deserves at least.»
Saint Etienne's new single will be a Xenomania-produced re-make of "Burnt Out Car". It will precede the release of London Conversations: The Best Of Saint Etienne, which is already available for pre-order (UK only, though). Both the album and "Burnt Out Car 2008" are set for a September release.
-- ULTRA -- Ultra (real name Justin) is a British MC/singer. Four years ago, Xenomania began working with him as a "development act". Last year, Ultra revealed on his MySpace that he had teamed up with Brian Higgins for the debut album Ultrasound, which should be released later this year/earlier next year.
-- PET SHOP BOYS -- Back in May the Pet Shop Boys announced that they were working with Xenomania. "One, two or more" songs from the collaboration should feature on their upcoming album, which is planned to be released in early 2009.
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.
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.
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. 
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.
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.
