Hot Chip | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | London, England |
Genres | |
Years active | 2000–present |
Labels | |
Spinoffs | New Build |
Members |
|
Past members |
|
Website | hot-chip |
Hot Chip is an English synthpop band formed in London in 2000. The group consists of multi-instrumentalists Alexis Taylor, Joe Goddard, Al Doyle, Owen Clarke, and Felix Martin. They are occasionally joined by former member Rob Smoughton for live performances and studio recordings. The group primarily produces music in the synth-pop and alternative dance genres, drawing influences from house and disco.
Hot Chip began as a bedroom recording project for Taylor and Goddard, who met while students at Elliott School, Putney; their earliest lineup included Smoughton as their drummer. After completing two EPs, Mexico (2001) and San Frandisco (2002), the group released their debut album, Coming on Strong (2004) and added Doyle, Clarke, and Martin to their lineup. The band's second album, The Warning (2006), was nominated for the Mercury Prize. Their follow-up, Made in the Dark (2008), included the single "Ready for the Floor", which was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording. The band have subsequently released the albums One Life Stand (2010), In Our Heads (2012), Why Make Sense? (2015), A Bath Full of Ecstasy (2019), and Freakout/Release (2022).
Outside of Hot Chip, the band members, individually and in partnership with each other, are active in other musical acts and occasionally perform DJ sets.
Hot Chip were formed around 2000 by the duo of Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard, who met as students at Elliott School, Putney. [1] With a shared love of R&B and house music, they started collaborating on music around 1998, initially playing in a more stripped back acoustic style before gradually becoming more electronic over time. [2] Early formative releases included 2001's Mexico EP on Victory Garden Records (VG14), [3] and the self-released San Frandisco EP in 2002. [4] After years of self-releasing records, they signed with Moshi Moshi in 2003 and released their debut LP Coming on Strong in 2004. [5] During this period, they were joined by Owen Clarke, Felix Martin and Al Doyle. They started working on their second album and signed a UK and US record deal with DFA Records and EMI. DFA and Astralwerks released their debut album for the first time in the United States in late 2005.
The Guardian names Roxy Music, Prince, Royal Trux, Arthur Russell and Madonna as influences on Hot Chip; [6] the band have also paid "tribute and... homage" to Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD). [7]
In 2006, Hot Chip released their second album, The Warning . Now signed to EMI in the United Kingdom, the band gained more mainstream appeal as well as the attention of critics. The album was shortlisted for the 2006 Nationwide Mercury Prize and was Mixmag's Album of the Year 2006. [8] This album spawned also two UK top 40 singles: "Over and Over" in March 2006 and "Boy from School" in May 2006. "Over and Over" received attention for its music video, which was directed by Nima Nourizadeh, and was also named as the best single of 2006 by British music magazine NME . [9]
The band released their third studio album, Made in the Dark , on 4 February 2008. The first song to be released from it was "Shake a Fist", which was released as a limited one-sided 12-inch vinyl in August 2007. The second release was "Ready for the Floor" in January 2008, which peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart. [10] In order to promote "Ready for the Floor", the band appeared on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross in January 2008, and Joe Goddard appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks on 31 January. In February 2008, the band performed on the American talk shows Jimmy Kimmel and Carson Daly. At the end of 2008, "Ready for the Floor" received a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording nomination, but the song later lost out to "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (Alive 2007)" by Daft Punk. [11] On 7 May 2008, the group performed their third single, "One Pure Thought", on Radio 1's Live Lounge. [12] The hypnotic clip for "One Pure Thought" was selected as one of the best music videos of 2008 by AllMusic.
Having completed a world tour in February 2009, Hot Chip returned to London and began writing and recording their fourth album, One Life Stand .
In early 2009, Alexis Taylor told NME that the band recorded new songs including "Alley Cats", which the band played regularly while touring in 2008/2009. Initially, Taylor hinted that the album was going to be "a bit calmer this time" in comparison to Made in the Dark with songs that are "more mid-tempo and disco influenced", although the two tracks released prior to the album, "Take It In" and "One Life Stand", suggest that it will be more upbeat than first suggested, and may be more influenced by early house music. [13] Alongside the regular band members, Hot Chip collaborated on several of the album tracks with the drummer Charles Hayward from This Heat [14] and Camberwell Now, Leo Taylor, drummer from the London-based band The Invisible [15] and the Trinidadian steel pan player Fimber Bravo.
One Life Stand was released on 1 February 2010.
Their self-produced fifth studio album In Our Heads was released on 11 June 2012 by Domino. [16]
About the album, Taylor stated, "I think In Our Heads was a bit speedier, and made with less pressure, but more fun – partly due to people in the band not having too many hang ups about how good the material was – we seemed to be happy with the songs we were writing and they came quickly – and partly due to the fact that we had been enjoying ourselves elsewhere, whether at home, or on tour, or recording with our other projects, or DJing. I think that is right about [having a] subtler confidence, but it may also be that we are a bit more accepted these days as we keep doing what we want, and gradually people stop saying 'why' to everything and each decision. The songwriting developed quickly from songs that were dreamt ('Now There is Nothing'); songs that were written via email file sending (fully fleshed out instrumentals from Joe developing into songs with added percussion/chord changes and singing by me; e.g. 'Flutes'); songs that we bashed out in collaborative writing sessions between Joe and myself ('Don't Deny Your Heart', 'How Do You Do?'); songs that one or the other of us wrote largely separately 'These Chains'– Joe/'Look at Where We Are'- Alexis); songs that a few of us in the room wrote more of: 'Dark and Stormy', or to some extent "Let Me Be Him" (at least in chorus terms); or finally songs that were written after we completed the last album and which were still in our minds: 'Always Been Your Love', 'Doctor'." [17] "Dark and Stormy" has been since released as a non-album single.
On 10 February 2015, the band announced their sixth studio album, Why Make Sense? and released the first single, "Huarache Lights". The album was released on 18 May 2015. [18]
On 4 April 2019, the band announced that their seventh studio album, A Bath Full of Ecstasy , would be released on 21 June 2019. The first single from the album, "Hungry Child", was released on the same day. [19] They released the second single, "Melody of Love", on 29 May 2019. [20]
On 23 October 2020, the band released the single "Straight to the Morning", featuring Jarvis Cocker.
It was announced on 19 April 2022 that Hot Chip would release their eighth studio album Freakout/Release on 19 August 2022, with the lead single "Down" preceding the release. The announcement coincided with Hot Chip's US, UK and European tour, which began in San Francisco on 19 April 2022. [21] They released a second single, "Eleanor", on 7 July 2022, which is about Samuel Beckett driving André the Giant to school. [22]
During live performances, Hot Chip reinvent their studio compositions to form what has been described by Glide magazine as "heavy beat-driven improvisation[s]" that create "an atmosphere of excitement, energy and the unexpected." [23] Festival appearances include V Festival, Dour Festival, Glastonbury, Treasure Island Festival, Roskilde festival, Sónar, Benicassim, Electric Picnic, Bestival, Lovebox Festival, Bonnaroo, the Reading and Leeds Festivals, the Big Day Out, Melt! Festival, T in the Park, Summer Sundae, Splendour in the Grass, Lollapalooza and Lollapalooza Chile, the Brazilian TIM Festival, Oxegen, Coachella, Way Out West Festival, Austin City Limits, Ultra Music Festival, and the Osheaga Festival.
The band is also known for its DJ talent; they have released several mix CDs and mixes for national and international radio stations and they all DJ regularly worldwide.
Al Doyle played guitar with LCD Soundsystem on tour and was present during their concert at Madison Square Garden in 2011.
In April 2012 "Boy from School" featured in The Simpsons episode "A Totally Fun Thing That Bart Will Never Do Again". [24]
On 29 May 2017 "Over and Over" was featured in the American Dad episode "Bazooka Steve". [24]
Hot Chip played at Glastonbury Festival 2023 on Friday, 23 June. [25]
Hot Chip released a DJ-Kicks compilation album in 2007, and the mix album A Bugged Out Mix by Hot Chip in 2009 on the Bugged Out label. [26]
In 2007 some official remixes were released, which they produced for Kraftwerk. [27] [28]
In 2008, the band released an EP which included collaborations with Robert Wyatt. Wyatt sang and reworked versions of three tracks from Made in the Dark , and the Hot Chip with Robert Wyatt and Geese EP also included a remix by Geese, a string quartet based in London who have regularly contributed to Hot Chip's recordings. [29]
Alexis Taylor released a solo album in 2008, Rubbed Out , which saw him focusing more on the fundamental sounds used by Hot Chip. This led to a more downtempo and bluesy album than his works with Hot Chip. [30]
Joe Goddard has also released solo productions including "Bassline '12" and "Gabriel", the latter of which was featured in the 2013 video game Grand Theft Auto V . [31] He has also remixed songs from other artists including Disclosure, Breach, Dirty Projectors, Nneka, and Kanye West.
The band covered the William Onyeabor song "Atomic Bomb" for the Luaka Bop compilation What?! in 2014. [32]
Current members
Former members
Guest members
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | A Bath Full of Ecstasy | Best Dance/Electronic Album | Nominated | [34] |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | "Hungry Child" | Independent Video of the Year | Won | [35] |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | "Over and Over" | Video of the Year | Won | [36] |
Most Fun Video | Won | |||
"And I Was a Boy from School" | Best Art Direction | Nominated | ||
2007 | "Ready for the Floor" | Nominated | [37] | |
2012 | "Don't Deny Your Heart" | Best Animated | Nominated | [38] |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | "Positive" | Best Song | Nominated | [39] |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | "Need You Now" | Best Music Video | Nominated | [40] |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | "Ready for the Floor" | Best Art Direction | Wood Pencil | [41] |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | "Ready for the Floor" | Best Dance Recording | Nominated |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | "Need You Now" | Best Editor | Nominated |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | "I Feel Better" | Best Underground Dance Track | Nominated |
2013 | "Flutes (Sasha Remix)" | Best Progressive Track | Nominated |
Best Alternative/Rock Dance Track | Nominated | ||
2016 | "Need You Now" | Nominated |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | "Over and Over" | Best Contemporary Song [42] | Nominated |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | The Warning | Mercury Music Prize | Nominated |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | "And I Was a Boy from School" | Best International Video | Nominated |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | "Over and Over" | Best British Pop Single | Nominated |
2008 | "Ready for the Floor" | Nominated |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | "Boy from School" | Song of the Year | Nominated | [43] |
"Over and Over" | Nominated | |||
The Warning | Album Art/Packaging of the Year | Nominated |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2008 | "Ready for the Floor" | Best Video | Nominated |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | "I Feel Better" | Best Dance Anthem | Nominated | [44] |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | "Ready for the Floor" | Best Indie/Alternative Video | Nominated | [45] |
Best Art Direction in a Video | Nominated | |||
Best Editing in a Video | Won | |||
2010 | "I Feel Better" | Best Dance Video | Won | |
Best Editing in a Video | Nominated | |||
2012 | "Night & Day" | Best VFX in a Video | Nominated | [46] |
Best Dance Video – UK | Nominated | |||
2015 | "Need You Now" | Nominated | [47] | |
2019 | "Hungry Child" | Nominated | [48] | |
2021 | "Straight to the Morning" | Best Dance/Electronic Video - UK | Won | [49] |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | "I Feel Better" | Best Video | Nominated |
One Life Stand | Best Album | Nominated |
Hot Chip were parodied in an episode of pre-school children's TV show Hey Duggee , as an a capella band Hot Cheep, made up of four birds. The band was mentioned in a series 8 episode of Peep Show , with Mark playing the Name Game and incorrectly guessing their name as Hot Potato.
Their song "Flutes" from their 2012 album In Our Heads was featured in the re-release of Grand Theft Auto V on the fictional radio station Radio Mirror Park.
Their song "Straight to the Morning", featuring Jarvis Cocker, appeared in the game Forza Horizon 5 on the fictional radio station Horizon Pulse.
Their song "Boy From School" was featured on "A Totally Fun Thing That Bart Will Never Do Again", an episode of The Simpsons .
Supergrass are an English rock band formed in 1993 in Oxford. For the majority of the band's tenure, the line-up consisted of brothers Gaz and Rob Coombes (keyboards), Mick Quinn and Danny Goffey. Originally a three-piece, the band was officially joined by Rob Coombes in 2002.
The Killers are an American rock band formed in Las Vegas in 2001 by Brandon Flowers and Dave Keuning. After going through a number of short-term bass players and drummers in their early days, both Mark Stoermer and Ronnie Vannucci Jr. joined the band in 2002. The band's name is derived from a logo on the bass drum of a fictitious band portrayed in the music video for the New Order song "Crystal".
Bloc Party are an English rock band that was formed in London in 1999 by co-founders Kele Okereke and Russell Lissack. They are joined in the band's current iteration by Louise Bartle and touring bassist Harry Deacon. Former members Matt Tong, Gordon Moakes and Justin Harris left the band in 2013, 2015 and 2023 respectively. Their brand of music, whilst rooted in rock, retains elements of other genres such as electronica and house music.
The Warning is the second studio album by British band Hot Chip. The album was released in the UK on 22 May 2006 by EMI Records and in the United States on 3 June 2006 by Astralwerks. Notable tracks include the UK singles, "Over and Over" and "Boy from School", as well as "(Just Like We) Breakdown", which was featured and remixed on the DFA Records compilation album The DFA Remixes – Chapter One. The album was nominated for the 2006 Mercury Music Prize.
Alexis Taylor is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist, keyboardist, and guitarist of the band Hot Chip. He is also the keyboardist of the band About Group and has released solo material.
Alexander John Joseph Doyle is a British musician. He is best known as the guitarist and synthesiser player for British indie electronic band Hot Chip and American rock band LCD Soundsystem. He is also a founding member of British electronic band New Build.
Coming on Strong is the debut studio album by English electronic band Hot Chip. It was released in the United Kingdom on 24 May 2004 by Moshi Moshi Records and in the United States and Canada on 29 November 2005 by Astralwerks, as an extended version with three additional bonus tracks. The album was re-released by Moshi Moshi Records in the United Kingdom on 3 May 2009, as a digital download with four additional bonus tracks. In 2014, it was awarded a silver certification from the Independent Music Companies Association, which indicated sales of at least 20,000 copies throughout Europe.
Made in the Dark is the third studio album by the English indietronica band Hot Chip, released on 4 February 2008 through EMI Records internationally and Astralwerks and DFA Records in the United States. Comprising 13 tracks, a defining feature of the album is the strong presence of romantic ballads. The title ballad was described as "sublime" by one critic, although not all the ballads received universal praise. Alexis Taylor, the main contributor to the lyrics, said he was proud of the album lyrically and felt that feeling of love and happiness, partly the result of his recent marriage, had contributed to the album's romantic tone.
Hercules and Love Affair is a dance music project created by American DJ, singer, composer, musician and producer Andy Butler in 2004. Consisting of a rotating cast of performers and musicians, the band work within the genres of house music, disco, techno and nu-disco.
"Shake a Fist" is a song by English electronic music band Hot Chip from their third studio album, Made in the Dark (2008). It was released on 23 October 2007 as the album's lead single. The song was almost included on Hot Chip's second studio album, The Warning (2006).
One Life Stand is the fourth studio album by English electronic music band Hot Chip, released digitally on 1 February 2010. The physical album was released in the United Kingdom on 1 February 2010 by Parlophone and in the United States the following week on 9 February 2010 by Astralwerks. The album's lead single from the album, "One Life Stand", was released on 30 November 2009. Vocalist Alexis Taylor described the album as "the most warm and soulful sounding record we've made" and expressed hope that people would also say it was "a soulful quality that ties [the album] together".
English electronic music band Hot Chip have released eight studio albums, eight extended plays, two mix albums, 29 singles, five promotional singles and 24 music videos.
In Our Heads is the fifth studio album by English electronic music band Hot Chip, released on 6 June 2012. It is the band's first album to be released by Domino. It was recorded in a span of five months at English producer Mark Ralph's Club Ralph studio in London. The promotional single "Flutes", for which a video debuted on 15 March 2012, was made available as a free download when pre-ordering the album through Domino. A limited-edition 12-inch vinyl of the song was eventually released on 2 April 2012.
Haim is an American rock band, based in Los Angeles, composed of three sisters, Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim. In addition to their primary instruments, each is proficient in several others.
Why Make Sense? is the sixth studio album by English electronic music band Hot Chip. It was released in the United Kingdom on 18 May 2015 via Domino and was co-produced by the band and English record producer Mark Ralph. Similar to their previous album, In Our Heads (2012), it was recorded at Ralph's London studio, Club Ralph, but also at Angelic Studios in Northamptonshire. For vinyl and compact disc copies of Why Make Sense?, the album's cover art has 130,000 variations of its design, which comprises a set of parallel lines intersecting with each other in front of a coloured background. Three official singles were released from the album: "Huarache Lights", "Need You Now", and "Started Right".
Joe Goddard is a British musician, songwriter, and DJ. He is best known as a member of the English synth-pop band Hot Chip, which he co-founded with Alexis Taylor. In 2007, he co-founded record label Greco-Roman, which has released albums by artists such as Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and Disclosure. Goddard is also a member of electronica group The 2 Bears, and produced two solo albums, Harvest Festival (2009) and Electric Lines (2017).
A Bath Full of Ecstasy is the seventh studio album by English synth-pop group Hot Chip. It was released on 21 June 2019, and was co-produced by Hot Chip, Philippe Zdar, and Rodaidh McDonald, marking the first time the group worked with outside producers. The album was preceded by the singles "Hungry Child" and "Melody of Love".
"Hungry Child" is a song by British synth-pop band Hot Chip. It is the fifth track on their seventh studio album, A Bath Full of Ecstasy, and was released as its lead single on 4 April 2019 through Domino Recording Company.
Beautiful Thing is the fourth studio album by British musician Alexis Taylor. It was released on 20 April 2018, under Domino Recording Company.
Freakout/Release is the eighth studio album by English synthpop band Hot Chip. It was released on 18 August 2021 through Domino.