La Roux
La Roux (/lɑːˈruː/ lah-ROO) is an English synth-pop act formed in 2008 by singer Elly Jackson and record producer Ben Langmaid. The act's debut album La Roux (2009) was a critical and commercial success, winning a Grammy Award and producing hit singles such as "In for the Kill" and "Bulletproof". Recording of a follow-up album was marred by unsuccessful collaborations, the cancellation of two planned release dates, and reported conflict between the duo.[1]
This article is about the musical act. For their self-titled album, see La Roux (album). For the former Belgian town of La-Roux and other meaning, see Roux (disambiguation).
La Roux
London, England, UK
2008–present
- Kitsuné
- Polydor
- Cherrytree
- Interscope
- Supercolour
Elly Jackson
Ben Langmaid
Langmaid ultimately left the group in 2012, and Jackson released a second 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, independently in 2020.
History[edit]
2006–2011: Beginnings and self-titled album[edit]
Elly Jackson and Ben Langmaid were introduced by a mutual friend in 2006. Initially, they performed largely acoustic music under the moniker Automan due to Elly's great admiration of acts like Nick Drake and Joni Mitchell.[2] Their style later shifted to electronic music and the name was changed to La Roux which referred to both the act and Jackson's stage persona; the name alludes to the singer's red hair and tomboyish appearance, mingling the masculine ("le roux") and feminine ("la rousse") French terms.[3]
La Roux's debut single, "Quicksand", was released by French independent record label Kitsuné in December 2008[2] to minor chart success. The duo then signed to Polydor Records in order to release an album. The second single, "In for the Kill", was released on 16 March 2009 and subsequently remixed by two prominent dubstep producers, Skream and Skrillex.[4][5] "In for the Kill" debuted at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart on 22 March 2009, peaking at number 2 four weeks later. "Bulletproof", their third single, was released on 21 June 2009 and debuted at number 1 on the UK Singles Chart.[6] The song also topped the Hot Dance Club Songs chart, peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, and went on to sell over 2 million copies in the United States. The band's debut album, La Roux, was released on 26 June 2009 to generally favourable reviews.[7][8] It peaked at number 2 in the UK and number 70 on the Billboard 200,[9] among others. The fourth single, "I'm Not Your Toy", was released on 29 September 2009[10] and reached number 27 on the UK chart. "As If by Magic" and "Tigerlily" were mooted as next singles,[11][12] but the release plans were later cancelled.
Artistry[edit]
Elly Jackson's first interest was in folk music. She was particularly interested in Carole King and Nick Drake whose music she discovered in her parents' record collection. Jackson's early musical material consisted of folk ditties influenced by Joni Mitchell.[45] Her taste in music changed during her mid-teens when she became involved in the rave scene. She lists Gerry Rafferty,[46] Madonna, Prince, Depeche Mode, Eurythmics, Jenny Wilson, and The Knife[47] as her influences. She made her performing debut at the Half Moon Pub in Herne Hill, London, at the age of 17.[48]
In July 2010, La Roux curated and mixed a volume of Sidetracked, a compilation series from Renaissance that allows artists from the electronic field free rein to showcase their musical interests. The eclectic mix featured the likes of Japan, Heaven 17, Joyce Sims, 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.[49]
Jackson is unhappy with what she perceives as a "normality" fashion trend among a majority of today's musical acts.[50][51] Her androgynous clothing and hair style has been compared to the 1980s group A Flock of Seagulls.[52][53] Jackson strongly opposes stylists who try to make her appearance more classically feminine.[54]
