Luxxury

Last updated
Luxxury
Birth nameBlake Robin
OriginUS
Genres Disco, funk, synth-pop
Occupation(s)DJ, musician, producer, songwriter, podcaster, TikTok creator
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, bass, synthesizer, turntables
Years active2003–present
Labels Kitsuné, Manimal Vinyl, Boogie Angst, Future Disco, Deep&Disco, Super Weird Substance, Atlantic Records, Reinhardt Records, Razor & Tie, RCRD LBL, IAMSOUND, Nolita, Paperclip
Website luxxury.com

Luxxury (birth name Blake Robin; born August 31, 1971), [1] formerly known as Baron von Luxxury, [2] is an American producer, songwriter, DJ and artist.

Contents

Career

His best known songs include "Be Good 2 Me" (as heard in the Xbox game Forza Horizon 4), "Feels So Good" (as heard exclusively in the Xbox game Forza Horizon 5), "Breathe (Again)" and "Feel The Night"; earlier songs include "Drunk", which was used in commercials for Pontiac; "Sweet and Vicious", which was used on The Hills ; and "I Know There's Something Going On", a cover of a song by Anni-Frid Lyngstad from ABBA.

In addition to being the sole songwriter and producer for that band, he is a touring DJ as well as being an in-demand producer, remixer and songwriter formerly under contract with Razor and Tie Music Publishing [3] for whom he has cowritten songs for artists including Vanessa Daou and Little Boots, as well as the song "If That's Love" (co-written with Jesse Owen Astin and Bonnie McKee), which was featured on the CSI: Miami episode, "Show Stopper". [4] He was also a co-founder of the now defunct MP3 blog Disco Workout. Luxxury's 2012 full-length album "The Last Seduction" [5] was released on Manimal Vinyl [6] [7] and featured songs about his friends [8] Theresa Duncan and Jeremy Blake. [9] The album received strong [10] reviews [11] and made it to several "best of 2012" [12] lists, [13] including that of Duran Duran's John Taylor. [14]

In 2013 he began releasing a series of unofficial remixes called "LUXXURY Edits" using "(mostly) only original multitrack stems" [15] for a number of famous songs including Eagles' "Hotel California", [16] Duran Duran's "Girls on Film", and various others. As a result of the attention received he began to get commissioned remix work from artists including Greg Wilson, Melanie Martinez, Fitz and the Tantrums, and others.

A series of original singles moving away from "the synths and Moroder-y stuff from my earlier records" to "1979-style Rhodes piano, funky bass, vintage sounding beats and dreamy floaty vocals: Bee Gees meets Todd Terje" was announced in late 2015; [17] the first single "Take it Slow" premiered on January 19, 2016, [18] followed by a number of singles in a similarly vintage funk/disco vein. As a DJ, Robin performs a mix of live, on-the-fly remixes and sings his original material, often accompanied by one or more other musicians. Sometimes this includes a full live band, with whom he has performed opening for Giorgio Moroder, Escort and The Juan Maclean, including a performance on Last Call with Carson Daly. [19]

In July 2020 Robin began posting short videos deconstructing the musical origins of popular songs, and quickly amassed over 300,000 followers on TikTok and 100,000 on Instagram. In 2023 he signed to Kevin Hart's Hartbeat Network [20] to create and co-host the podcast One Song along with writer, producer and actor Diallo Riddle. He also signed with Oxford University Press to write a yet-to-be-titled book about musical borrowing, which will be published in 2025

Luxxury discography

Remixes & Re-edits

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giorgio Moroder</span> Italian composer and music producer (born 1940)

Giovanni Giorgio Moroder is an Italian composer and music producer. Dubbed the "Father of Disco", Moroder is credited with pioneering Euro disco and electronic dance music. His work with synthesizers had a significant influence on several music genres such as hi-NRG, Italo disco, synth-pop, new wave, house, and techno music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiga (musician)</span> Canadian DJ and musician

Tiga James Sontag, known simply as Tiga, is a Canadian musician, DJ, music programmer, and record producer. He has released three albums: Sexor (2006), Ciao! (2009), and No Fantasy Required (2016). The former won the 2007 Juno Award for Dance Recording of the Year. Tiga released a selection of compilations in the early 2000s, featuring mixes such as American Gigolo, DJ-Kicks: Tiga and, Mixed Emotions. His compilation mix, Tiga Non-Stop, was released in November 2012, and premiered Tiga's latest single "Plush". The mix also features tracks from artists such as Kindness, Duke Dumont and Blawan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Forrest</span> American electronic music producer

Jason Forrest is an American electronic music producer known for noisy experimental electronica and breakcore incorporating many ideas of mash-up and rock and roll. Largely produced and performed on a single computer, his songs tend to be constructed from digital samples of found sounds and other artists' music. Until 2004 he recorded under the name Donna Summer, an allusion to disco singer Donna Summer.

Full Intention are an English house music duo consisting of Michael Gray and Jon Pearn. They are best known as prolific producers and remixers. They have reworked songs for varied artists such as the Sugababes, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Frankie Knuckles, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Devil Disco Club</span> Electronic disco music project

Black Devil, or Black Devil Disco Club, is an electronic disco music project by Bernard Fevre, a French musician who also released synthesizer compositions on library music albums under his own name and under the alias Milpatte.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Own Way (song)</span> 1981 single by Duran Duran

"My Own Way" is the fourth single by English new wave band Duran Duran, originally released on 16 November 1981.

<i>Im a Rainbow</i> 1996 studio album by Donna Summer

I'm a Rainbow is the ninth studio album recorded by American singer-songwriter Donna Summer. The album was recorded in 1981 and scheduled to be released on October 5 of that year but was shelved. It was not released until fifteen years later, on August 20, 1996 by Casablanca and Mercury Records. There was no promotion for the album. No singles or music videos were released. AllMusic gave the album a positive review, naming it her most personal record.

<i>The Donna Summer Anthology</i> 1993 compilation album by Donna Summer

The Donna Summer Anthology is a double CD compilation album by the American singer Donna Summer, released by Polygram Records in 1993. The compilation featured the majority of Summer's best known songs right from the start of her success to the then present day. Summer had originally made her name during the disco era in the 1970s and in the decade that followed had experimented with different styles. Most of the tracks on this compilation are the original album versions of the songs, which were sometimes edited down for their release as a single. Included for the first time are two remixed tracks from her then unreleased album I'm a Rainbow, which had been recorded in 1981 but was shelved by her record company. The album also featured the Giorgio Moroder-penned and produced song "Carry On"', marking the first time Summer and Moroder had worked together since 1981. Summer and Moroder, together with Pete Bellotte had written the vast majority of her 1970s disco hits. Four years later, "Carry On" would be remixed and become a big dance hit. It also won Summer a Grammy for Best Dance Recording, her first win since 1984 and her fifth win in total.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banquet (song)</span> 2004 song by Bloc Party

"Banquet" is a song from British band Bloc Party's debut album Silent Alarm. Originally released on a double A-side single along with "Staying Fat" in May 2004 by Moshi Moshi Records, it was re-released as a regular single in the United Kingdom by Wichita Recordings on 25 April 2005. It was their first single to chart on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks where it came in at number 34, and is often credited as their breakthrough single in North America. It was also featured in the song "Bloc Party" on the Fort Minor Mixtape: We Major. It was ranked No. 31 in NME's top 100 tracks of the decade, and was number 54 in Triple J's Hottest 100 of all time. It peaked at No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart. In 2011, NME placed it at number 20 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years". The song was featured in the 2018/19 video game Life Is Strange 2.

Nu-disco is a 21st-century dance music genre associated with a renewed interest in the late 1970s disco, synthesizer-heavy 1980s European dance music styles, and early 1990s electronic dance music. The genre was popular in the early 2000s, and experienced a mild resurgence in the 2010s.

Manimal Vinyl is a Los Angeles–based record label founded in 2006 by film/TV producer, composer and former fashion editor Paul Gebser-Beahan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meddle (song)</span> 2008 promotional single by Little Boots

"Meddle" is a song by English singer and songwriter Little Boots from her debut extended play (EP), Arecibo (2008), and later appearing on her debut studio album, Hands (2009). Written by Little Boots and Joe Goddard, the song was released as a limited-edition promotional single in the United Kingdom on 4 August 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MNDR</span> American singer and songwriter (born 1982)

Amanda Lucille Warner, known professionally as MNDR, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. She rose to prominence after being featured on Mark Ronson & The Business Intl's 2010 single "Bang Bang Bang", which peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart.

Terje Olsen, known professionally as Todd Terje, is a Norwegian DJ, songwriter, and record producer. His stage name is a homage to house music producer Todd Terry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alle Farben</span> German DJ and record producer (born 1985)

Frans Zimmer, better known by his stage name Alle Farben is a German DJ and producer. Since 2014 Zimmer is signed to the record label Guesstimate/b1 Recordings and the publishing house Budde Music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Right Here, Right Now (Giorgio Moroder song)</span> 2015 single by Giorgio Moroder featuring Kylie Minogue

"Right Here, Right Now" is a song recorded by Italian producer Giorgio Moroder, featuring the vocals of Kylie Minogue, for Moroder's studio album Déjà Vu. The song had a minor impact on singles chart in Europe and attained the top position of the US Dance Club Songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Put It Down</span> 2015 single by Ricky Martin featuring Pitbull

"Mr. Put It Down" is a song recorded by Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin. It was written by Martin, Aaron Pearce, Jeremy Hunter, Keith Ross, Gavriel Avinov and Pitbull, who is also featured with a rap verse. "Mr Put It Down" is a dance-pop song with a club and disco influence and elements from the 1970s and 1980s musical styles. Critics compared the song to the works by several music artists such as Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind & Fire and Justin Timberlake. To deliver the lyrics, Martin uses processed vocals and his falsetto. Following its release it charted on the Wallonia Ultratip chart at number 19 and Ultratop Wallonia Dance chart at number 31. In Billboard's July 4, 2015 issue, it reached number one on the Dance Club Songs chart. "Mr. Put It Down" served as the opener on Martin's 2015 One World Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Déjà Vu (Giorgio Moroder song)</span> 2015 single by Giorgio Moroder featuring Sia

"Déjà Vu" is a song by Italian disc jockey producer Giorgio Moroder, featuring vocals from Australian singer Sia. The song is the third single on Moroder's 2015 album, Déjà Vu. It was released on 17 April 2015, as a digital download via iTunes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Son (Japan song)</span> 1982 single by Japan

"European Son" is a song by the British band Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Rangkuty</span> German-Indonesian musician, composer and producer

Ken Alexander Rangkuty is a German-Indonesian composer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. Known under the stage name Keenhouse, he produces electronic music covering a wide spectrum including synthwave ambient and house music.

References

  1. Colin, Chris (June 24, 2008). "For every Britney and Lindsay". The San Francisco Chronicle.
  2. Parvini, Sarah (December 14, 2014). "Musician Blake Robin creates his own life of Luxxury". Los Angeles Times.
  3. Paoletta, Michael (July 7, 2007). "Making the Brand: More Than Meets the Ear". Billboard. p. 14. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
  4. "Show Stopper – CSI: Miami". TV.com. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
  5. "All Music Guide review of "The Last Seduction"" . Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  6. "Baron von Luxxury profile at Manimal Vinyl" . Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  7. "Discogs entry for "The Last Seduction"" . Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  8. "Baron Von Luxxury on His Friends' Double-Suicide, Five Years Later". LA Weekly.
  9. "Making Sense of a Double Suicide Through Tumblr". Buzzfeed.
  10. "Baron von Luxxury's The Last Seduction". Electronic Rumors.
  11. "Baron von Luxxury's Sci-Fi Glass Candy Video". Spin.
  12. "Best Albums of 2012". The Pop Sucker. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  13. "Top 20 Albums of 2012". Electronic Rumors.
  14. "Duran Duran names Baron von Luxxury's song "The Lovely Theresa" among his top 20 songs of 2012".
  15. Karp, Hannah (July 10, 2014). "Classic Song 'Stems' Inspire Remixes". The Wall Street Journal.
  16. Ray, Josh (May 12, 2015). "Luxxury Talks". The Ransom Note.[ permanent dead link ]
  17. Magnier, David (August 2015). "Luxxury – House of Disco Guestmix". House of Disco.
  18. Brodsky, Rachel (January 2016). "LUXXURY Soundtrack a Couple's Lazy Day in 'Take it Slow' Video". SPIN Magazine.
  19. "Zack Snyder/Luxxury/Melissa Rauch". Last Call With Carson Daly. March 2016.
  20. "Kevin Hart's HartBeat Inks Multi-Year Deal with SiriusXM". Vibe.com. March 15, 2023.
  21. Weiss, Jeff (December 7, 2011). "Premiere: Baron Von Luxxury's 'Rosebud Was the Name of His Sled'". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved January 14, 2012.