Basement Jaxx
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Basement Jaxx are an English electronic music duo consisting of Felix Buxton (born 30 April 1973) and Simon Ratcliffe (born 28 November 1972). The pair got their name from the regular club night they held in Brixton, London, UK.[3] They first rose to popularity in the underground house scene of the mid-1990s,[4] but would go on to find international chart success and win Best Dance Act at both the 2002 and 2004 BRIT Awards.[5] Their most successful singles are "Red Alert", "Rendez-Vu", "Romeo" and "Where's Your Head At".
History
1992–1998: Formation
In 1992, Simon Ratcliffe began releasing white label records, gaining him the attention of several music producers including LTJ Bukem and Goldie. The success of these releases enabled him to buy a few electronic musical instruments and set up a basic studio in a friend's mother's basement.
Ratcliffe and Buxton first met in 1993 through a mutual friend in a pub in Clapham, London. The two bonded over an appreciation of New York house music.[6] They released their first extended play called EP1 via the British independent record label Wall of Sound, with the help of its founder Mark Jones. The album went on to sell over 1,000 copies and was played on American radio by Tony Humphries in New York City.
Basement Jaxx began in
An important milestone for Basement Jaxx's career was their role as the opening act for successful French dance group
1999–2001: Remedy
In 1999, the group released their first full-length album,
2001–2004: Rooty
Their next album, 2001's
Basement Jaxx decided to close the Rooty club in May 2001 after it became "too popular."[6]
2003–2005: Kish Kash and The Singles
In 2003, Basement Jaxx released their third full-length album,
Basement Jaxx's manager, Andrew Mansi, says Astralwerks chose not to renew its U.S. licensing contract with the duo.[13]
The duo produced "Shake It", a song from JC Chasez's Schizophrenic.[14]
In 2005, the duo released the number 1 compilation The Singles along with a video collection on DVD, comprising all the singles from their previous three albums, some earlier releases (featured on Atlantic Jaxx Recordings: A Compilation), and two new tracks, "Oh My Gosh" and "U Don't Know Me", which were both released as singles. The Singles (Special Edition) was also released, which contained the original compilation along with a bonus disc entitled Bonus Traxx, containing many previously unreleased tracks, as well as remixes of existing Basement Jaxx songs. The duo appeared as a headline act on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury Festival in 2005 when Kylie Minogue was forced to pull out after being diagnosed with cancer. Basement Jaxx played with a live band made up of artists who recorded the album. Drumtech-trained Nathan 'Tugg' Curran was on drums for Glastonbury and has remained a constant performer.[15]
2006–2010: Crazy Itch Radio and Scars
Their fourth studio album,
In 2009, Buxton revealed in a
Also in 2009, their album Zephyr was released.
In 2010, the duo released the non-album single "Dracula".
2011–present: Attack the Block and Junto
2011 saw the duo collaborating twice: with Metropole Orkest for the live album Basement Jaxx vs. Metropole Orkest,[20] and also with Stephen Price for the soundtrack to the 2011 film Attack the Block.[21]
In November 2011, Simon revealed the pair were working on a new album – hinting that some tracks were already appearing in their DJ sets.
"Back 2 the Wild" was released as a single on 12 April 2013, with an accompanying video co-directed by Matt Maitland and Natalia Stuyk being uploaded to their YouTube account on 16 April, though the single ultimately did not appear on the upcoming album.[27]
"What a Difference Your Love Makes" was released as a single on 30 September 2013.[24] The single's accompanying video was released on Vevo on 7 August 2013. It was directed by Damian Weilers and shot in South Africa.[28] On 1 May 2014, Basement Jaxx released a new song for the album called "Unicorn" on SoundCloud.[29]
On 19 May 2014, Basement Jaxx officially announced their seventh album, Junto, which was released on 25 August 2014 through Atlantic Jaxx and PIAS.[30] In July, the duo released the first lead single off the album, "Never Say Never". The music video, directed by Saman Kesh,[31] is about the development of a "twerking" robot that is intended to save humanity from a world without dancing and features the robotic prototype simulation of human buttocks "Shiri" developed by the Japanese scientist Nobuhiro Takahashi.[32]
Other projects
In addition to their own work, Basement Jaxx have become in-demand remixers. Their more prominent work includes remixes of "
In 2021, the duo remixed Australian singer Kylie Minogue's 2020 single "Say Something", which can currently be found on YouTube;[35] additionally, it will be available on the deluxe version of Minogue's latest album—entitled Disco: Guest List Edition—from 12 November 2021.[36]
The duo were invited to write an exclusive piece of music to accompany a work of art they admired in London's Tate Modern museum, Karel Appel's "Hip, Hip, Hoorah!". The work was initially not available for sale, but later appeared on the album Zephyr.[37] In 2007, their track "Close Your Eyes", sung by Linda Lewis, was featured in the Japanese CGI anime movie Vexille.
Felix Buxton appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks on 23 September 2013 – the opening episode of Series 27, on Noel Fielding's team.[38]
In 2019, the duo composed the music for the CITV animated series The Rubbish World of Dave Spud. The duo also collaborated with The Sydney Metropolitan Orchestra for a live re-imagining of some of their classic songs.[39]
In 2021, they composed the title music for the CBeebies series What's On Your Head?.[40]
Musical style
In the past, Buxton's father did not let him watch
Basement Jaxx's music has been described variously as
Awards and nominations
Antville Music Video Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | "U Don't Know Me" | Best Video | Nominated |
Billboard Music Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | Themselves | Top Hot Dance Club Play Artist | Nominated |
Top Hot Dance Club Play Artist - Duo/Group | Won |
Brit Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2000
|
Themselves | Best British Dance Act | Nominated |
Remedy | MasterCard British Album | Nominated | |
"Red Alert" | Best British Single | Nominated | |
2002
|
"Where's Your Head At" | Best British Video | Nominated |
Themselves | Best British Dance Act | Won | |
2004
|
Won |
D&AD Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | "Where's Your Head At" | Direction | Graphite Pencil |
2006 | "Oh My Gosh" | Wood Pencil |
DanceStar Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | Themselves | Best House Act | Won |
Denmark GAFFA Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | Themselves | Foreign New Act | Nominated |
GQ Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | Themselves | Band of the Year | Nominated | [45] |
Groovevolt Music and Fashion Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | Crazy Itch Radio | Best Dance Recording | Nominated |
International Dance Music Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | Themselves | Best New Dance Artist (Group) | Won |
Best Dance Artist (Group) | Won | ||
2003 | Nominated | ||
2005 | Nominated |
Ivor Novello Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | "Rendez-Vu" | The Ivors Dance Award | Nominated |
2002 | "Where's Your Head At" | Nominated |
Kiss Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | Themselves | Hottest Producer | Nominated |
Best Group | Nominated | ||
Live at Glastonbury | Live Vibe of the Year | Nominated |
MTV Europe Music Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | Themselves | Best UK & Ireland Act | Nominated |
Best Dance | Nominated | ||
2001 | Nominated | ||
2002 | "Where's Your Head At" | Best Video | Nominated |
MTV Video Music Awards Japan
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | Themselves | Best Dance | Nominated |
2015 | "Back 2 the Wild" | Best Collaboration | Nominated |
Themselves & Team Syachihoko
|
Best Live Performance | Won |
MVPA Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | "Where's Your Head At" | Best Directional Debut | Won |
NME Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2000[46] | Themselves | Best New Act | Nominated |
Best Dance Act | Nominated |
PLUG Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | Crazy Itch Radio | Electronic/Dance Album Of The Year | Nominated |
Popjustice 20 Quid Music Prize
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | "Oh My Gosh" | Best British Pop Single | Nominated |
Q Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | Themselves | Best New Act | Won |
2001 | "Romeo" | Best Video | Nominated |
UK Music Video Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | "Mermaids of Salinas" | Best Pop Video - Budget | Nominated |
Viva Comet Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | "Where's Your Head At" | Best International Video | Won |
Discography
- Remedy (1999)
- Rooty (2001)
- Kish Kash (2003)
- Crazy Itch Radio (2006)
- Scars (2009)
- Zephyr(2009)
- Junto (2014)
See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US dance chart
References
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- ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
- ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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- ^ "Foundations: Basement Jaxx's Felix Buxton". Clashmusic.com. 3 September 2014. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015.
- Trinity College, Dublin. Archivedfrom the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ^ Perpetua, Matthew (26 June 2015). "Basement Jaxx Look Back On The Mainstreaming Of EDM". BuzzFeed. BuzzFeed Inc. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ Lestrade, Didier (24 May 1999). "TECHNO. Interview des fameux DJ's anglais Felix Button et Simon Ratcliffe pour leur premier album. Basement Jaxx, fondamentalement déchaînés. CD, "Remedy", (XL Recordings/Delabel)". Libération. Libération Media. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
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- ^ "Basement Jaxx Seeking U.S. Label". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015.
- ^ "JC Chasez Schizophrenic - Album Review - Slant Magazine". Slantmagazine.com. 22 February 2004. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014.
- ^ "Jaxx replace Kylie at Glastonbury". 6 June 2005. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Basement Jaxx unveil guests on the new album". Inthemix.com.au. 7 April 2009. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
- ^ "Basement Jaxx Interview, The End". Endclub.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
- ^ "Basement Jaxx back for overdue homecoming". Metro.co.uk. 28 April 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
- ^ Gilani, Nadia (19 April 2011). "Bridge art backed by Basement Jaxx Tuesday, 19 April 2011". Southlondonpress.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
- ^ Gill, Andy (15 July 2011). "Basement Jaxx vs. Metropole Orkest". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
- ^ Jon O'Brien. "Attack the Block – Basement Jaxx". Allmusic. Archived from the original on 23 September 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
- ^ Contactmusic (5 November 2011). "Basement Jaxx Are Ready For New Album". contactmusic. Archived from the original on 6 November 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
- ^ Pitchfork (12 April 2013). "New Basement Jaxx Single "Back 2 the Wild"". pitchfork. Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- ^ a b "Video: Basement Jaxx: "What a Difference Your Love Makes" | News". Pitchfork. 8 August 2013. Archived from the original on 25 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
- ^ "Basement Jaxx – 'What A Difference Your Love Makes (Miguel Campbell Remix)" (Stereogum Premiere)". Stereogum. 28 August 2013. Archived from the original on 25 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
- ^ JDO. "CREATE COVER ARTWORK FOR A NEW BASEMENT JAXX SINGLE". JDO. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
- ^ "Basement Jaxx – Back 2 The Wild – ( Official Video )". YouTube. 16 April 2013. Archived from the original on 3 May 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
- ^ "Basement Jaxx – What A Difference Your Love Makes". YouTube. 7 August 2013. Archived from the original on 25 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
- ^ "Basement Jaxx Tease First Album in Five Years With House Jam 'Unicorn'". Spin. May 2014. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
- Consequence of Sound. 19 May 2014. Archivedfrom the original on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
- ^ "Features scientist building a twerking robot". Pitchfork. 21 July 2014. Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
- ^ Russon, Mary-Ann (25 July 2014). "Japanese Twerking Robots Feature in New Basement Jaxx Video Never Say Never". Ibtimes.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 September 2014.
- ^ "Rock & Pop: Burning down the house that Basement Jaxx built". The Independent. 24 October 2003. Archived from the original on 18 October 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
- ^ "JIM Mobile | the mobile operator with the lowest prepaid rates in Belgium". JIM Mobile. Archived from the original on 12 September 2007. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Kylie Minogue - Say Something (Basement Jaxx Remix), retrieved 9 October 2021
- ^ "Kylie Minogue announces new version of Disco album featuring Dua Lipa, Jessie Ware and more". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
- ^ "Tate Tracks". Tate. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ^ "BBC Two – Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Series 27, Episode 1". Bbc.co.uk. 30 September 2013. Archived from the original on 6 February 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
- ^ Ramundi, Julian (15 April 2019). "Live Review: Basement Jaxx vs. The Metropolitan Orchestra bring the Baroque Bangers to the Sydney Opera House". The AU Review. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ Ramachandan, Naman (8 January 2020). "'Great British Bake Off' Star Nadiya Hussain to Voice CBeebies Show 'What's on Your Head?'". Variety.
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- ^ a b Panisch, Alex (26 August 2014). "Catching Up With Basement Jaxx". Out. Here Media Inc. Archived from the original on 22 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
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