Tim Powell was a member of Xenomania from the very beginning. In March 2010, after 14 years with the team, Tim became an independent producer and songwriter. His first co-write since leaving Xenomania is out now (Alex Gaudino's "I'm In Love") and Ed Drewett's "Champagne Lemonade" (which he co-wrote and produced) will be released on 1st November. Tim has also worked with the Pet Shop Boys for their new single "Together", to be included on their new Greatest Hits album. Also look out for his remixes under the alias Pepptalk.
Alex Gaudino & Maxine - I'm In Love
Alex Gaudino's new single was originally just a dance track with a catchy piano line and the looped "I'm in love" chant, in the same vein as Eric Prydz's "Call On Me".
But the song was given new life with a topline written by Tim Powell. A former Xenomania singer called Maxine Ashley stepped in to perform the vocals.
The single is out this week, on the Ministry of Sound label, and has been steadily climbing up the iTunes chart.
"Champagne Lemonade" is Tim Powell's first production work since leaving Xenomania. The song, which he also co-wrote, is Ed Drewett's debut single, to be released on November 1st. This is the video:
Pet Shop Boys - Together
The track-listing for the forthcoming Pet Shop Boys' greatest hits album includes 25 years of hits from 1985's "West End girls" to 2009's "Love etc." and concludes with a new song, "Together", written and recorded this month.
The new song was written and produced with Tim Powell and will also be released as a single. The release date will be announced shortly. Ultimate Pet Shop Boys will be out on November 1st.
Pet Shop Boys' latest album Yes (2009) was entirely produced by Xenomania. The team also co-wrote three songs on the album: "The way it used to be", "More than a dream" and the single "Love etc.".
Bright Light Bright Light - Love Part II (Pepptalk remix)
During his Xenomania days Tim Powell was also known as "Tony Lamezma", whose remixes became cult favourites. Now he continues to remix tracks under the name Pepptalk.
Tim Powell, one of Xenomania's former core members, recently co-wrote two songs that will be released in the upcoming months: Alex Gaudino's "I'm In Love (feat. Maxine)" and Ed Drewett's "Champagne Lemonade".
» ALEX GAUDINO - I'M IN LOVE (FEAT. MAXINE)
Originally featuring just the title line as vocal loop, "I'm In Love" now features the voice of Maxine Ashley, a former Xenomania singer. The new vocal edit of the song was written by Tim Powell, Alex Gaudino and Giuseppe D'albenzio.
Maxine is a 17-year-old singer from the Bronx. She was briefly part of a Xenomania group with Katie McKenna (now a member of Lite N Dark).
Alex Gaudino is an Italian DJ and producer, known for tracks such as "Destination Calabria," "Watch Out" and "I Love Rock and Roll."
"I'm In Love" went to #1 in the UK Upfront Club Charts and will be released in the UK on Ministry Of Sound on September 19th.
Ed Drewett is a British 22-year-old singer/songwriter. He's been writing his first album for the past year, which is set for release in early 2011.
His debut single "Champagne Lemonade" was co-written and produced by Tim Powell and is set to be released on October 25th. You can listen to a demo of the song on Ed Drewett's MySpace.
There's also a video on YouTube where you can see Ed Drewett singing "Champagne Lemonade" with Tim Powell on the piano ("Hello Internet!") - watch it here.
Ed Drewett recently appeared as a feature vocalist on the Professor Green track "I Need You Tonight", and he also co-wrote The Wanted's first single, "All Time Low".
21-year-old American singer/songwriter, professional dancer and actress. "Standing Up For The Lonely" is Jessie's official first single, to be released on Ministry of Sound on 21st September. Popjustice describes the song as «a defiant modern disco record with a slightly mournful, triumph-over-adversity element» and says that she «is destined for quite big things». Jessie is working on her debut album, to be released later this year.
British pop/rock band fronted by Brooke Gengras, a fantastic singer and performer from Brooklyn, NYC. Brooke has been a member of bands such as the soul-influenced Rider and Lez Zeppelin (an all-female Led Zeppelin tribute band), before being spotted by Xenomania's A&R. Pageboy are signed to Geffen and have been gigging for the last six months. Earlier this year, Pageboy were selected by The Times as one of the hot music acts of 2009.
Links:MySpace, Twitter Upcoming shows:
10 Aug 2009 Monto Water Rats, Londont
17 Aug 2009 LIVE at 229, Great Portland Street, London
ELIZA NOBLE
21-year-old singer/songwriter from London. Eliza Noble started singing and playing guitar when she was 11 and she also plays the piano. She has been gigging for the last few years and is currently working on new music with Xenomania.
Listen:The One Way (demo) Links:MySpace, Twitter Upcoming shows:
5 Aug 2009 The Fly, London
10 Aug 2009 Monto Water Rats, Londont
MAXINE
16-year-old girl from the Bronx, NYC. Maxine Ashley is a sassy/soulful singer who's one part Neneh Cherry, one part Beyoncé. She has just started out with Xenomania.
Influences: Alicia Keys, Beyoncé, Lil Wayne, India Arie, Paramore, Panic At The Disco.
17-year-old from Scotland, recently signed to Universal Records after a bidding war between three record labels. It's the biggest deal Universal has signed since Mika. He's been doing a weekly residence at Water Rats and recently performed at T in the Park - The Herald says he was «soulful and youthfully confident». Alex is currently working on his debut album, due this Autumn.
Links:MySpace Upcoming shows:
Aug 5 2009 - The Fly, London
Aug 17 2009 - Showcase:LIVE, London
NITEVISIONS
Once part of the Electric City, the singer Andy Taylor and guitarrist/writer James Taylor have started up a new band called NiteVisions, with a leaner, more electro sound. Read a review of one their gigs: «(...) it has always been evident that these boys can write a Pop song, and if these early glimpses of Night Visions are anything to go by, the Taylors just keep getting better. This short set was brimming with 80’s synth sounds, jagged guitar work, phat with a capital ‘P-H-’ slap and slide bass lines and Indie-Disco drum beats».
Soulful soloist with a big voice. Once signed to Island as part of The Rushes, Gez O'Connell joined the Xenomania family this year and is one of their newest stand out talents. Recently performed at the iTunes festival.
JFK
Xenomania's in-house band, now turned into a "proper" band. They usually provide live backing for some of Xenomania's new roster of acts (those that don't actually have/are a "band" - Mini Viva, Jessie Malakouti, Alex Gardner, Eliza Noble).
Members: Jason Resch, Florrie Arnold, Kieran Jones
MINI VIVA
Mini Viva are Britt Love (20, Mini) and Frankee Connolly (19, Viva), a pop duo looked after by Xenomania and managed by Spice Girls’ former manager Simon Fuller. Debut single "Left My Heart in Tokyo" is already C-listed on Radio 1 and is Scott Mills' Record of the Week, 6 weeks before its release on September 7th. NME named Mini Viva «the next biggest girl band in the universe» and The Guardian says that Mini Viva are «the act most likely to encourage a productive dialogue between indie and pop, between the art world and the chart world». Mini Viva's debut album is out in November.
International five-piece pop/rock band with a bluesy and soulful sound. They have been crafting their sound under the guidance of Brian Higgins/Xenomania and are signed to the newly reformed Geffen Records UK. Vagabond release their first physical single "Don't Wanna Run No More" on 3rd August 2009. Their debut album You Don't Know The Half Of It is available August 17th. Vagabond are heading out on tour this month, having previously toured with artists such as James Morrison, McFly and The Script. The Guardian says they could be «the world's biggest new band».
Upcoming shows:
6 Aug Bush Hall London
7 Aug Bristol Cooler Bristol
8 Aug Southampton Joiners Southampton
10 Aug Nottingham Bodega Nottingham
11 Aug Manchester Moho Manchester
12 Aug King Tuts Glasgow
14 Aug Cockpit Leeds
15 Aug Norwich Arts Centre
17 Aug Masque Liverpool
22 Aug V-Festival Stafford, Northwest
23 Aug V-Festival Chelmsford, East
Xenomania Records are hosting a free live music event in Westerham on 29th July 2009.
Xenomania are based in Westerham and want to give something back to kids who are interested in music, therefore this event is for under 18s and totally FREE.
The event will be held at Westerham Village Hall, Quebec Avenue, Westerham TN16 1BJ, between 18:00 and 22:30.
The line up is as follows:
Alex Gardner
17-year-old from Scotland, recently signed to Universal Records after a bidding war between three record labels. It's the biggest deal Universal has signed since Mika. He's been doing a weekly residence at Water Rats and recently performed at T in the Park - you can watch a live video from the festival here.
MySpace: http://myspace.com/alexgardnermusic
Pageboy
Lead singer Brooke is from Brooklyn, NYC, and started out in a Led Zeppelin cover band before being spotted by Xenomania's A&R. Pageboy are signed to Geffen and have been gigging for the last six months and getting rave reviews from The Times & GQ.
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/pageboy
Eliza Noble
20-year-old singer/songwriter from London. She has been gigging for the last few years and just starting to get things going and booking more gigs.
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/elizanoblemusic
Maxine
A 16-year-old girl from the Bronx, NYC. She is a sassy/soulful singer who's one part Neneh Cherry, one part Beyoncé. Maxine has just started out with Xenomania.
MySpace: http://myspace.com/maxineakamimi
NiteVisions
Once part of the Electric City, the singer Andy Taylor and guitarrist/writer James Taylor have started up a new band called NiteVisions, with a leaner, more electro sound.
MySpace: http://myspace.com/nitevisionsmusic
Gez O'Connell
Soulful soloist with a big voice. Once signed to Island as part of The Rushes, Gez joined the Xenomania family this year and is one of their newest stand out talents.
JFK
Three piece pop rock outfit making waves wherever they play with their rhythmic harmonies. They have backed artists such as Gabriella Cilmi and Xenomania stable mates Mini Viva.
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.
Alex Gaudino & Maxine - I'm In Love
The track-listing for the forthcoming Pet Shop Boys' greatest hits album includes 25 years of hits from 1985's "West End girls" to 2009's "Love etc." and concludes with a new song, "Together", written and recorded this month.
