La Roux’s Elly Jackson rallies against ‘underground music’ in defence of pop

Singer says it is unfair that pop stars don't get the acclaim she feels they deserve

Elly Jackson, aka La Roux, has hit out at underground music and the way that pop stars do not enjoy the same credibility as those who work in other genres.

Fresh off the back of critical comments aimed at Kanye West, Jackson’s latest comments see her rallying against critically adored albums that sell poorly and, in her opinion, fail to be memorable.

“I like the ambition of making pop. Underground music gets all of the respect and critical acclaim, yet the stuff which sells shitloads of records doesn’t,” she told Time Out. “It’s the challenge of writing music that’s quality, but also pop, that I want to take on.”

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Asked specifically what her problem with underground music is, Jackson continued: “There are too many underground records. I’m sick of people saying, ‘That record was so great,’ and yet it only sells 4,000 copies. I don’t see what’s cool about not writing hooks; if you’re really fucking clever, where’s the fucking melody that I can remember? I woke up today and forgot your whole album – genius! I don’t get it.”

La Roux’s second album, ‘Trouble In Paradise’, was released on Monday (July 22). It’s the long-awaited follow-up to the self-titled 2009 debut and features recent single ‘Uptight Downtown’.

La Roux will tour the UK in November. See below for ticket details.

La Roux will play:

Glasgow O2 ABC (November 5)
Leeds Metropolitan University (7)
Birmingham Institute (8)
Bristol O2 Academy (10)
Norwich UEA (14)
Oxford O2 Academy (15)
Manchester Ritz (16)

To check the availability of La Roux tickets and get all the latest listings, head to NME.COM/tickets.

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