La Roux

La Roux is the synth-pop project of south London musician Elly Jackson. The singer was previously joined under the moniker by producer Ben Langmaid, but the duo split in 2014 with Jackson continuing alone.

Langmaid and Jackson had begun to write music together after being introduced by a mutual friend in 2006. They named the band La Roux as a play on both Jackson’s red hair and her androgynous features. They released their eponymous debut album in 2009, following hit singles ‘In For The Kill’ and ‘Bulletproof’, which charted at Number 11 and Number One respectively. Singles from the first record were remixed by the likes of Skream, Skrillex and Lifelike.

The duo won a Grammy for their first LP, taking the award for Best Dance Recording at the 2011 ceremony. They began working on the follow up to the record shortly after its release, with Jackson describing it in 2011 as “cheekier” and “slightly suggestive”. ‘Trouble In Paradise’ was eventually released on July 21 2014, scoring nine out of ten in NME, and features contributions from Langmaid despite his subsequent departure from the outfit.

Jackson hit out at her label after her second album’s release, saying that the backing the record deserved “wasn’t quite there”.

Outside of La Roux, Jackson has provided vocals for other artists. She guested on Kanye West’s ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ album and later appeared on West and Jay-Z’s collaborative LP, ‘Watch The Throne’, singing on the track ‘That’s My Bitch’. The singer also provided vocals for Chromeo’s track, ‘Hot Mess’.