La Roux-mania

La Roux are a British electropop synth duo band made up of singer and synth player Elly Jackson, and co-writer and co-producer Ben Langmaid, with Jackson describing their respective roles as "very much a half and half sharing situation... not like a singer producer outfit", but also recognising that it often can "look like a solo act".[1] Their music is largely influenced by 1980s synth pop including Eurythmics, Depeche Mode, The Human League, Yazoo and Prince.

Elly Jackson

Elly Jackson is the daughter of well known actress Trudie Goodwin.[2] Jackson grew up in the Herne Hill section of London. Jackson attended what she describes as a "rightwing, really religious school" where she was bullied because of her androgynous style.[3]
Her first interest in music revolved around folk music. She was particularly interested in Carole King and Nick Drake whom she discovered in her parents record collection. Her early musical material consisted of folk ditties informed by Joni Mitchell. Jackson's taste in music changed during her mid teens when she became involved in the rave scene.[3]
A rollercoaster relationship Jackson has been involved in during the last 5 years has provided the material for La Roux's debut album.[3]

Ben Langmaid

Lanmaid who prefers to stay in the background is a fan of groups with a musical style like Japan, Blancmange and Simple Minds

Career

Jackson claims to have found a book of baby names in a bin and within the book was the name La Roux, French for "red-haired one" (although the actual French would be "La Rousse"). After La Roux struggled for a time Jackson's father passed some of the groups demos to a friend who had connections in the industry.[3]
Quicksand, was released by the Kitsuné Music record label in November, 2008.[4] Polydor are set to release La Roux's debut album in 2009.[5] La Roux's second single In for the Kill was released on 16 March, 2009, and prominent dubstep producer Skream has created two remixes of the track[6] as well as one being made by Lifelike.[7] In for the Kill debuted at number 11 in the UK Singles Chart on 22 March 2009, peaking at number 2 to date.
La Roux were the supporting act on Lily Allen's UK tour of March 2009.[8]
La Roux gained fifth position on the BBC's Sound of 2009 poll.[9] The Guardian website featured La Roux on their new band of the day column.[10] The Guardian also featured La Roux as one of the "Best New Acts of 2009" in the January of that year.[1]
Jackson has been linked to a pop music trend that features androgynous twenty-something women with a strong individualistic attitude. She has cited musicians David Bowie, Annie Lennox, Prince, actress Molly Ringwald, and TV presenter Elton Welsby as her influences. Jackson signed her recording contract with a tee shirt emblazoned with the phrase "I'm a Cunt". She co-designs her own clothing with a friend. Jackson is unhappy with what she perceives as a "normality" fashion trend among a majority of today's musical acts. [11][12]
La Roux will headline the Samsung NME Radar Tour 2009 and play alongside Magistrates, Heartbreak and The Chapman Family[13].

WE LOVE LA ROUX