In early November 2011, Gossip tweeted about being at Xenomania, so it is expected that their new album will include some sort of collaboration with the team.
JBAG (Jerry Bouthier & Andrea Gorgerino, from Kitsuné/Ponystep) are also working with Xenomania on new songs for Gossip's new album.
Gossip are an American dance-rock/blues-punk trio led by Beth Ditto. Their latest release as a group was the album Music For Men, back in 2009. Beth Ditto released her debut solo EP this year, produced by the electro-house production team Simian Mobile Disco.
THE GOOD NATURED
This English pop noir trio has been in the studio with Xenomania working on their debut album, which is expected to be released in 2012.
The Good Natured consists of 20-year-old Sarah McIntosh (vocals and keyboards), her brother Hamish McIntosh (bass) and George Hinton (drums).
They have an electro-pop sound with a dark/gothic twist and have already released three EPs: Warriors (2008), Your Body Is a Machine (2009) and Skeleton (2011).
According to her Facebook, Annie has been spending quite a lot of time at the Xenomania studios.
She might be writing for other artists (let's not forget she co-wrote Mini Viva's "Left My Heart in Tokyo"), but she's probably also working on her new album, the follow-up to Don't Stop.
She has also had sessions with Timo Kaukolampi, German techno producers ND Baumecker and Sam Barker and Norwegian DJ and producer Skatebård.
Annie has been working on music for a film called The Night Within, in which she is also set to act and sing. That is also the title of her new EP, set to be released in early 2012.
Not only did she release her second EP Experiments (which received rave reviews), but she also spent the year travelling around the world doing live shows, writing and modelling.
She is still working on her new EP, which will probably be out next year, but meanwhile there will be a little surprise released before Christmas.
ALEX GARDNER
During the past few months Alex Gardner has been updating his fans via Twitter/Facebook saying that he's working at Xenomania, possibly on his debut album.
Besides Xenomania, Alex has also been recording with people such as James Fauntleroy (who co-wrote "No Air" by Jordin Sparks, Ciara's "Love Sex Magic" and "Shades" by Diddy-Dirty Money) and the 1500 or Nothin' collective.
TRES B Tres B has worked with Xenomania on a new release set for 2012.
Together they have created what has been described as a "soulful floor filler", inspired by his childhood idols including Congolese legends Papa Wemba. Drawing influence from his Congolese heritage, Tres B's music mixes central African folk, hip-hop and soul.
Tres B's new single, "Lonely Man", a song about being young and lonely in London after leaving the Congo due to threat of political violence, will be released in February 2012.
He was signed to Roundhouse Records in June 2010 and has since supported The Black Keys and been nominated for Best Male UK based Afro/Caribbean Act of 2010 at the BEFFTA Awards. His debut EP Best Friend was released in February last year.
SARAH HARDING (or Girls Aloud?!)
It is known that Sarah Harding has been spending time at the Xenomania studios, we just don't know what for. Feeding the ducks? Working on solo tracks? Working on *gasp* new Girls Aloud songs?
In 2009 she recorded three Xenomania-produced songs for the St. Trinian's 2 film soundtrack. Last year, Sarah apparently said that she was working on a solo album, but nothing's been heard ever since.
And Girls Aloud will definitely do "something" in 2012, to mark their 10th anniversary since "Sound of the Underground" was released. It will probably be a tour, but it could also be a new single/album, hopefully with Xenomania.
The lovely Florrie has posted a sneak peek of the Fred Falke remix of a new track called "Panic Attack". Watch it here. (video filmed and edited by Florrie and Toby Scott). The full remix, video and free mp3 is coming in the next few days hours... (here it is)
Also worth a look is the video that captured the moment when Mr. Falke played his remix of "Call 911" at the Ministry of Sound. Look carefully and you can spot Toby, Florrie and her bobble hat on the dancefloor.
Xenomania will take part in a Producers Masterclass Series at the British Music Experience. Other producers in the event (dates TBC) include John Leckie (Stone Roses, Radiohead, The Fall) and Steve Lyon (Depeche Mode, The Cure).
Gabriella Cilmi says that Xenomania only worked on one song on her new album because they were busy: "It was fun. We only ended up having one track on the record as they're so busy with other things. It's called Hearts Don't Lie and actually turned out to be one of my favourite tracks on the album. It was really fun working with them and the track has a really funky bass line."
Songwriter/vocal producer Thaddis "Kuk" Harrell is collaborating with Xenomania. Kuk Harrell is a member of a songwriting/production team composed of himself, Tricky Stewart and Terius "The Dream" Nash. He was the vocal producer and co-writer of Rihanna's "Umbrella", and a composer and engineer on Beyonce's "Single Ladies". He also produced Alesha Dixon's "Let's Get Excited" and the majority of the vocals on Mary J. Blige's album Growing Pains.
Producer/remixer Michael "Jaxon" Bellina has also been working with Xenomania. Jaxon is known for his work with DJs Phil Fuldner and Moguai. His Xenomania credits include Mini Viva's "Bedroom Viber", Sugababes' "In The Middle" and Girls Aloud's "Fling" and "Something Kinda Ooooh".
Sarah Harding has become the third Girls Aloud singer to announce she's working on a solo album. Sarah told The Sun that she wants to "step away from cheesy pop". Oh dear. Not the best choice of words to sum up the soundofGirlsAloud.
Xenomania are looking for a female/male vocalist to become involved in a duo. If you are or appear to be 20-25 years old, have a unique look, a great voice and a sharp attitude, apply here.
The very first Xenomania fansite, which had the most complete Xenomania discography you could possibly find, appeared to have vanished from the Internet, but most of it has now been archived. Take a look: http://oocities.com/xenomaniasite/
The soundtrack to the film St. Trinian's II: The Legend of Fritton's Gold is released today. It features eight songs produced by Xenomania: five by the Banned of St Trinian's and three by Girls Aloud member Sarah Harding.
1. Banned of St Trinian's - St Trinian's Theme 2. Sarah Harding - Too Bad 3. Banned of St Trinian's - Up And Away 4. The Saturdays - Lose Control 5. Banned of St Trinian's - We Got The Beat 6. Florence + The Machine - Kiss With A Fist 7. Sarah Harding - Make It Easy 8. Noisettes - Saturday Night 9. Banned of St Trinian's - I Can Get What I Want 10. Girls Can't Catch - Keep Your Head Up 11. Sarah Harding - Boys Keep Swinging 12. Dragonette - You're A Disaster 13. Banned of St Trinian's - Jump Off 14. Girls Aloud - I Predict A Riot (live) 15. Cast of St Trinian's - St Trinian's Theme
"Too Bad" is one of the three songs recorded by Girls Aloud's Sarah Harding for the St. Trinian's 2 film. The song is produced by Xenomania and written by Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins, Carla Marie Williams, Eliza Dodd-Noble, Florrie Arnold and Fred Falke.
Sarah has also recorded a cover of David Bowie's "Boys Keep Swinging" and a new song titled "Make It Easy". The St. Trinian's 2 soundtrack includes other Xenomania tracks recorded by the Banned of St Trinian's and will be released on Monday, 14th December. Pre-order: HMV, Play.com.
The soundtrack of the St. Trinian's II: The Legend of Fritton's Gold film will be released on December 14th. It features eight songs produced by Xenomania: five by the Banned of St Trinian's and three by Girls Aloud member Sarah Harding. Banned of St Trinian's single "Up and Away is now available to download on iTunes.
Amazon has clips of each song on the soundtrack - click here to listen. Throughout the week, Popjustice has also selected four songs from the soundtrack as Song Of The Day. Here's what they say (click the song titles for 30 second clips):
-- Banned Of St Trinian's - Up & Away 'Banned Of St Trinian's' are basically a sort of Xenomania house band who've contributed a handful of tracks to the new St Trinian's soundtrack album. 'Up & Away' is one of the best Banned Of St Trinian's contributions - it might not have the polish or finishing touches one requires in a big chart record but the song itself sounds like a bit of a hit. Except it's been pissed away on this soundtrack album so it probably never will be a hit. But that somehow makes its existence here all the more exciting.
-- Banned Of St Trinian's - Jump Off Here's another track from the new St Trinian's soundtrack, a Xenomania-authored raveular pop tune which contains the line "we can make our own kind of voodoo or we can spend the night in like you do" and for that reason alone should be burned to disc, vacuum sealed in some sort of outsized Thermos flask then fired into space as an example to other civilisations of how we make pop music on Planet Earth.
-- Banned Of St Trinian's - I Can Get What I Want It's quite 'What Will The Neighbours Say?'-era Girls Aloud-ish in feel and it has precisely three amazing bits in it. That's three more than most songs, readers.
-- Sarah Harding - Too Bad The surprisingly brilliant 'Too Bad' is the best of three Sarah Harding solo tracks on the 'St Trinian's 2: The Legend Of Fritton's Gold' soundtrack. It starts off like Julian Lennon's 'Too Late For Goodbyes' then lets rip into a massive arms-aloft Dannii Minogue-style chorus, has a big sort of rapped bit in the middle, and even makes time for a little nod towards Westworld's 'Sonic Boom Boy'. If we may humbly suggest a placement for 'Too Bad' in your Girls Aloud playlists, slotting the track somewhere in between 'Close To Love' and 'Girl Overboard' would probably do nicely.
Popjustice also points out that some of the songs on the soundtrack sound «a bit like the first draft of a Girls Aloud album»: «most of the songs sound like they would benefit from a bit more magic dust - but it's a pretty great soundtrack album, is far better than it really needs to be and is, we imagine, about 100 times better than the film».
They add: «In a year without a Girls Aloud album it's a better Girls Aloud album than the Cheryl Cole album».
The soundtrack to the film St. Trinian's II: The Legend of Fritton's Gold will have new songs produced by Xenomania. Sarah Harding, who stars in the film, has recorded three exclusive tracks with the team: "Too Bad", "Make It Easy" and "Boys Keep Swinging" (a David Bowie cover?).
The rest of the album includes other original Xenomania tracks recorded by the Banned of St Trinian's. The film will be in cinemas from December 18th and the soundtrack will be in shops on December 14th (pre-order it here). This is the tracklist:
1. Banned of St Trinian's - St Trinian's Theme 2. Sarah Harding - Too Bad 3. Banned of St Trinian's - Up And Away 4. The Saturdays - Lose Control 5. Banned of St Trinian's - We Got The Beat 6. Florence + The Machine - Kiss With A Fist 7. Sarah Harding - Make It Easy 8. Noisettes - Saturday Night 9. Banned of St Trinian's - I Can Get What I Want 10. Girls Can't Catch - Keep Your Head Up 11. Sarah Harding - Boys Keep Swinging 12. Dragonette - You're A Disaster 13. Banned of St Trinian's - Jump Off 14. Girls Aloud - I Predict A Riot (live) 15. Cast of St Trinian's - St Trinian's Theme
The first St Trinian's soundtrack, released in 2007, included three songs produced by Xenomania: "Sanctuary", recorded by Gabriella Cilmi, and Girls Aloud's "Theme To St. Trinian's" and "On My Way To Satisfaction".
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.
GOSSIP
Tres B has worked with Xenomania on a new release set for 2012.
