La Roux: Difference between revisions

| alias =

| origin = [[London]], England, UK

| years_active = {{start date|2008}}–present

| label = {{hlist|[[Kitsuné]]|[[Polydor Records|Polydor]]|[[Cherrytree Records|Cherrytree]]|[[Interscope Records|Interscope]]|Supercolour}}

| associated_acts =

| current_members = Elly Jackson

| past_members = Ben Langmaid

}}

 

Langmaid ultimately left the group in 2012, and Jackson released a second album, ''[[Trouble in Paradise (La Roux album)|Trouble in Paradise]]'', in 2014, maintaining the former duo's name as her stage [[persona]]. The album was a critical, but not a commercial success, and La Roux subsequently parted ways with [[Polydor Records]]. She released her third album, ''[[Supervision (album)|Supervision]]'', independently in 2020.

In order to promote ''La Roux'', the band was the supporting act on [[Lily Allen]]'s [[It's Not Me, It's You World Tour|UK tour]] of March 2009.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gregory |first=Jason |url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/48854/La-Roux-To-Support-Lily-Allen-On-UK-Tour |title=La Roux To Support Lily Allen on UK Tour |publisher=[[Gigwise]] |date=21 January 2009 |access-date=12 April 2009}}</ref> La Roux then headlined the [[List of NME concert tours#NME Radar Tour|''NME'' Radar Tour]] alongside [[Magistrates (band)|Magistrates]] and [[Heartbreak (band)|Heartbreak]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/la-roux-58-1319493 |title=La Roux to headline 2009 Samsung NME Radar Tour |work=[[NME]] |date=3 March 2009 |access-date=25 April 2009}}</ref> performed at the [[Glastonbury Festival|Glastonbury]] and [[Reading and Leeds Festivals|Reading and Leeds]] festivals<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/la-roux-65-1311350|title=La Roux, Marmaduke Duke, Big Pink for Reading And Leeds Festivals|author=Jamie Fullerton|date=9 June 2009|work=NME}}</ref> as well as London's [[Scala (club)|Scala]].<ref name="Scala">{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/la-roux-67-1315037|title=La Roux to play London Scala|date=1 June 2009|work=NME|access-date=2 June 2009}}</ref> In July and August 2009, La Roux toured North America. The eight-city tour included performances at [[Osheaga Festival]], [[All Points West Music & Arts Festival]] and [[Lollapalooza]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/la-roux-62-1306450|title=La Roux announce North American tour|author=Fiona Byrne|date=19 June 2009|work=NME}}</ref> The group returned to North America for a seven-date tour in October.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/la-roux-52-1315707|title=La Roux plot North American tour|author=Laura Ferreiro|date=26 August 2009|work=NME}}</ref> Their two Australian dates sold out within minutes forcing an upgrade in venues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/110455-la-roux-shows-sold-out-venues-upgraded-to-meet-demand.html|title=LA ROUX shows sold out - venues upgraded to meet demand!|website=AltSounds.com|date=26 August 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090829074450/http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/110455-la-roux-shows-sold-out-venues-upgraded-to-meet-demand.html|archive-date=29 August 2009}}</ref> In November, the duo embarked on an eleven-date UK and Ireland tour.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gregory |first=Jason |url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/51612/la-roux-announces-massive-autumn-uk-tour |title=La Roux Announces Massive Autumn UK Tour |publisher=[[Gigwise]] |date=8 July 2009 |access-date=4 January 2013}}</ref> La Roux gained fifth position on the [[BBC]] [[Sound of...|Sound of 2009]] poll.<ref>{{cite news |last=Youngs |first=Ian |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7787555.stm |title=BBC Sound of 2009: La Roux |publisher=BBC News |date=5 January 2009 |access-date=7 January 2009}}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'' website featured La Roux on the New Band of the Day column,<ref>{{cite web |last=Lester |first=Paul |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/nov/19/new-band-la-roux |title=New band of the day – No 433: La Roux |work=The Guardian |date=19 November 2008 |access-date=7 January 2009}}</ref> having previously featured them as one of the Best New Acts of 2009.<ref name="guardian20090118">{{cite web |first=Rebecca |last=Lovell |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/video/2009/jan/18/la-roux |title=The Best New Acts of 2009: La Roux |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=18 January 2009 |access-date=11 April 2009}}</ref> The album has been nominated for a [[Mercury Prize]],<ref name="Mercury"/> and was eventually [[Music recording certification|certified platinum]] in the UK and Ireland, and gold in Australia.

 

 

===2012–2017: Departure of Langmaid and ''Trouble in Paradise''===

===2018–present: ''Supervision''===

[[File:LaRouxFabric050220-25 (49573620641).jpg|thumb|250px|La Roux performing at [[Fabric (club)|Fabric]] in [[London]], 2020]]

 

La Roux featured on Boulevards' single "Too Far" and [[CASisDEAD]]'s single and video "Park Assist". In 2021, she released a cover of [[Gang of Four (band)|Gang of Four]]'s "[[Damaged Goods (song)|Damaged Goods]]" which was included in the compilation ''The Problem of Leisure: A Celebration of Andy Gill & Gang of Four''. She also appeared in the [[Sky Arts]] documentary ''Blitzed: The 80's [[Blitz Kids]]' Story'' in which she discussed the cultural effects of the [[New Romantic]] movement on younger performers like herself.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.electricityclub.co.uk/tag/the-blitz-club/|title=RUSTY EGAN: The Blitzed Interview|publisher=Electricityclub.co.uk|date=22 March 2021|access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref>

 

==Artistry==

In July 2010, La Roux curated and mixed a volume of ''Sidetracked'', a compilation series from [[Renaissance (club)|Renaissance]] that allows artists from the electronic field free rein to showcase their musical interests. The eclectic mix featured the likes of [[Japan (band)|Japan]], [[Heaven 17]], [[Joyce Sims]], [[Karin Dreijer|Fever Ray]] (lead singer of The Knife), [[Doris Troy]], [[Tears for Fears]], [[Gerry Rafferty]] and many more of her influences. It also includes an exclusive recording of [[The Rolling Stones]]' "[[Under My Thumb]]", a cover La Roux had been featuring in her then-recent live sets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.renaissance.dj/micro/sidetracked_laroux/index.htm |title=Renaissance: La Roux - Sidetracked |publisher=renaissance.dj |access-date=2020-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726070133/http://www.renaissance.dj/micro/sidetracked_laroux/index.htm |archive-date=26 July 2010}}</ref>

 

 

==Members==

* '''Eleanor Kate''' "'''Elly'''" '''Jackson''' (born 12 March 1988) is the lead singer, songwriter and sole member of La Roux, formerly a [[synthpop]] duo. She is known for her reddish toned hair and [[androgyny|androgynous]] style.<ref>{{cite news|title=La Roux's Elly Jackson Refused to Wear Heels at Viktor & Rolf's Men's Show|work=New York|author=Odell, Amy|date=24 June 2010|url=https://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/06/la_rouxs_elly_jackson_refused.html}}</ref> Her vocal range is that of a [[soprano]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.thestudentpocketguide.com/interviews/La_Roux| title=Elly Jackson SPG Interview| work=Student Pocket Guide| access-date=26 December 2011| first=Andy| last=Fuller| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111224164643/http://www.thestudentpocketguide.com/interviews/La_Roux| archive-date=24 December 2011}}</ref> She was born in [[London]] to actors [[Trudie Goodwin]] and Kit Jackson, and has an older sister named Jessica. Jackson's great grandfather was [[Anthony Bernard]], founder of the [[London Chamber Orchestra]] and first musical director of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in [[Stratford-upon-Avon]]. Jackson attended [[Pimlico School]], [[Sydenham High School]], and [[Royal Russell School]]. She was frequently bullied in school because of her appearance and weight.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/entertainment/la-roux-singer-tells-of-bullying-421756.html |title=La Roux singer tells of bullying |publisher=BreakingNews.ie |date=8 August 2009 |access-date=6 April 2013}}</ref> She has expressed discomfort with revealing her sexuality to the public.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/la-roux-interview-new-album-supervision-gay-lgbtq-elly-jackson-a9319376.html|title=La Roux: 'The gay community are dying for you to label yourself'|date=2020-02-05|website=The Independent|access-date=2020-04-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/amplify/133397/la-roux-interview-amplify/|title=British pop enigma La Roux is back and bolder than ever|author=Daniel Megarry|date=2020-03-25|work=[[Gay Times]]|access-date=2020-03-27}}</ref>

* '''Ben Langmaid''' was a member of La Roux from its inception until 2012, as songwriter and producer. He did not participate in the music videos or live performances with Jackson. Langmaid, a London-based producer and composer, has been involved with various other music projects in the past. He was a DJ throughout the 1990s.<ref name=Savage>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15309897|title=Why are La Roux and Example writing for girl bands?|publisher=BBC News|author=Mark Savage|date=19 October 2011}}</ref> He has a close association with [[Rollo Armstrong]] of [[Faithless]]; the two musicians went to the same school and later collaborated as Huff & Puff in the mid-1990s,<ref name='British Hit Singles & Albums'/> releasing the [[house music|house]] single "Help Me Make It" in 1996.<ref name='LaRouxbio'/> Langmaid also recorded as Atomic and was one half of Huff & Herb,<ref name='British Hit Singles & Albums'>{{cite book| first= David| last= Roberts| year= 2006| title= British Hit Singles & Albums| edition= 19th| publisher=Guinness World Records Limited| location= London| isbn= 1-904994-10-5| page= 262}}</ref> before contributing as a songwriter to [[indie rock]] band [[Kubb (band)|Kubb]]'s debut album ''[[Mother (Kubb album)|Mother]]'', released in 2005.<ref name='LaRouxbio'/> This project was again linked to Rollo Armstrong; Kubb's frontman Harry Collier was introduced to Langmaid after Collier sang "[[Happy Birthday to You]]" to Armstrong whilst working as a waiter in a [[North London]] organic café.<ref name='KubbBio'>{{cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Jon |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kubb-mn0000324303/biography |title=Kubb |publisher=[[AllMusic]]. [[Rovi Corporation]] |year=2009 |access-date=28 July 2009}}</ref> Langmaid turned down the offer of a permanent position in Kubb.<ref name='KubbBio'/> In 2011, Langmaid wrote material for the early 1990s [[contemporary R&B|R&B]]-styled girl group War of Words.<ref name=Savage/>

 

[[Category:Grammy Award winners for dance and electronic music]]

[[Category:Interscope Records artists]]

[[Category:Musical groups established in 2008]]

[[Category:NME Awards winners]]

[[Category:Polydor Records artists]]