La Roux

La Roux
Name	Elly Jackson
Birth date	12 March 1988
Birth place	London, England
Occupation	Singer, songwriter, producer
Years active	2006–present
Associated acts	Ben Langmaid, Katy B, Mark Ronson

La Roux is the stage name of English singer and songwriter Elly Jackson, known for synth-pop melodies, icy vocal delivery, and 1980s-inspired production. Rising to prominence in the late 2000s, she achieved commercial success with a debut album that spawned international hit singles and earned multiple awards. Her career spans collaborations with producers, tours across Europe and North America, and evolution toward more organic instrumentation in later releases.

Early life and formation

Elly Jackson was born in London and raised in a family with links to Jamaica and Anguilla, attending schools in Bexley and participating in local music programs. Influenced by attendance at concerts and exposure to artists on BBC Radio 1 and XFM, she met producer Ben Langmaid through mutual acquaintances in the London club scene and the pair formed a duo that merged electronic production with pop songwriting. Early rehearsals and demo sessions took place in DIY studios in Hackney and Camden, where they drew inspiration from synth practitioners associated with labels such as Mute Records and Factory Records.

Career

La Roux's career began with independent singles released on boutique labels, receiving airplay from DJs on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 6 Music, and XFM. The duo's self-titled debut album, produced alongside collaborators experienced with Kraftwerk-influenced programming, led to chart success in the United Kingdom, United States, and across Europe, propelled by singles that charted on the UK Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100. La Roux toured extensively, supporting acts on bills with artists from Coachella lineups and appearing at festivals including Glastonbury Festival, T in the Park, Reading and Leeds Festivals, and Lollapalooza.

In the early 2010s, the project won recognition at the BRIT Awards and performed on television programs such as Later... with Jools Holland and Saturday Night Live. Following creative differences, Ben Langmaid departed and Jackson continued La Roux as a solo endeavor, writing and co-producing subsequent albums with collaborators who had worked with Tony Visconti, Mark Ronson, and session musicians from the London Symphony Orchestra circuit. Later releases experimented with live rhythm sections and influences from artists who recorded on labels like Stax Records and Motown Records, and resulted in tours across North America, Australia, and Japan.

Musical style and influences

La Roux's sound blends synth-pop, new wave, and electronic pop, citing influences from artists and producers such as Prince, David Bowie, Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, Siouxsie Sioux, Yazoo, Gary Numan, Kate Bush, The Human League, New Order, Talking Heads, Blondie, Brian Eno, Phil Spector, Sade, Tangerine Dream, Erasure, The Cure, Thom Yorke, and Peter Gabriel. Production choices recall the textures found on releases from Island Records, RCA Records, and Island Records alumni, with synth programming techniques reminiscent of engineers who worked at Abbey Road Studios and Conway Recording Studios. Her vocal delivery has been compared in critical commentary to contemporaries who favor stylized timbres, while songwriting reflects pop structures used by contributors to Top of the Pops era charts.

Discography

Solo studio albums and major releases include the debut album that reached top chart positions in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, followed by later albums that marked stylistic shifts and critical reassessment. Singles from these albums achieved placements on the UK Singles Chart, the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, and European airplay charts. Extended plays, remixes, and collaborative singles have appeared on compilations associated with labels such as Ministry of Sound and Domino Recording Company. La Roux's catalogue also features soundtrack contributions for films screened at festivals like Sundance Film Festival and television placements on series aired by BBC and HBO.

Awards and recognition

La Roux received nominations and awards including a BRIT Award, accolades from the NME Awards, and nominations at the Mercury Prize and the Ivor Novello Awards for songwriting. Industry recognition included inclusion on year-end lists compiled by Rolling Stone, NME, Pitchfork, The Guardian, and airplay honors from stations such as BBC Radio 1. Live performances earned invitations to headline stages at Glastonbury Festival and to perform at ceremonies hosted by organizations including MTV and Grammy Awards-adjacent events.

Personal life and public image

Jackson has spoken publicly about identity and image in interviews with outlets including The Guardian, The Independent, NME, and The New York Times. Her androgynous aesthetic and performance wardrobe drew commentary from fashion outlets like Vogue, Dazed, Harper's Bazaar, and Elle, and she has collaborated with stylists connected to brands shown at London Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week. Jackson has also engaged with charitable initiatives associated with organizations such as Oxfam, Amnesty International, and music-industry campaigns for mental health promoted by Help Musicians UK and festival-based charities.

Category:English singer-songwriters Category:Synth-pop musicians