AlunaGeorge

Biography

“That idea of an “indie” band using the tropes and techniques of R&B, the

stuttering rhythms and itchy glitchiness of 2step, in tandem with a proper pop

song bright enough to light up the charts – you'd think bands would have been

queuing up to do that. Well, AlunaGeorge are doing just that.” Guardian

A UK R&B duo that oh-so randomly bonded over Radiohead,

AlunaGeorge are evidence as to what is oh-so great about British dance

music. Despite being together only a matter of months, vocalist Aluna Francis

and producer George Reid (the band name isn’t rocket science after all) have

captured the attention of futuristic pop heads across the blogosphere, their

debut ‘We Are Chosen’ scoring them the coveted Guardian’s Band of The

Day spot.

Having had their sound described by one fan as “advanced minimalistic

polyrhythmic beats”, the only thing that is already clear about AlunaGeorge is

that they can’t be neatly tucked away into any one box, what with bashment,

experimental hip-hop, ’90’s R&B and house all dripping into their influence

pot. Drawing on everything from Flying Lotus, Chris Clark and (their fan)

Hudson Mowhawke to Aaliyah, Destiny’s Child and Mariah Carey, the

AlunaGeorge catalogue promises fun times.

Hertfordshire’s first lady of the mic, Aluna, the fashion-era avoiding, charity

shop-loving artiste who you may also recognise from NME-loved band My

Toys Like Me - the album Where We Are was lauded by critics and DJs

including Nick Grimshaw and Rob Da Bank - also officially states Lily Allen

isn’t an influence.

“I think the comparisons have come from the fact I’m anti-belter, I’ll try and

sing a song like I’d speak it, get some semblance of how you’d say something

to someone. I want to make that connection; I’ll always go for character over

anything.”

More likely to be found crooning over James Taylor, Van Morrison, PJ

Harvey, Coco Rosie, Aaliyah, or female-fronted bands Broadcast and The

Knife, her photographer dad’s love for reggae and mum’s Indian/ East African

heritage also come into play.

“I didn’t grow up with any musicians so I became an online kid. I’ve made

some very random albums with people I’ve met her through the Internet.

I even played guitar in a band and I can only play a ‘C’… I played the wrong

chord throughout an entire gig once.”

Flopping her art degree, having moved to London, residing in a Willesden

Green squat after her mum left for New York, a desire to make the kind of

music she wanted to make has seen Aluna juggling a random world. From

making catwalk shows with school children and working as a tiler for a builder

friend, in-between supporting CSS and Peaches, Aluna ultimately just wants

people to dance like they do in Dirty Dancing. Now a sober raver who prefers

a field to a club, it was her quest to find “more danceable beats” that resulted

in a meeting of musicology with George, who shared the passion for fat beats

and hooky vocals, and was on remix duties for My Toys.

Stay-at-home George, born and bred by a builder and nurse from the

Hampton Court sides, believe his life is “comparatively boring to Aluna’s.”

Growing up with The Four Tops and Carole King, nowadays George, formerly

of band Colour, is more likely to be found studying the Planet Mu back

catalogue or meddling with experimental hip-hop. An able pianist, despite

having a mother who could only play guitar on one leg, he took to strings

again at 13 when he realised girls really liked it.

Excursions into production began a couple of years later on a four-track digital

recorder, utilizing his loop pedal collection as inspired by a then-obsession

with Muse and Radiohead (“it’s amazing what limitations do for your

creativity,” says he). Trading samples for software, he began collaborating

with friends and figuring out what to do after taking a year out in an attempt to

make it in a band. When session work ensued, university was put on the back

burner.

Fancying himself as a historian or marine biologist if music wasn’t an option,

when he’s not watching sports he still scours MySpace for talent, which

was how he met Aluna after he offered to do a remix for Toys. Demo’s

‘Double 6’s’ and ‘Make No Mistake’ were born thereafter, in 2010, along with

AlunaGeorge.

Following the self-released double a-side ‘We Are Chosen’ / ‘Analyser’

(described by The Guardian as “linear 4/4 house pop”) they’re now five gigs

deep, the Isle of White Festival being a highlight, with support slots imminent

for CockNBullKid. Looking to expand their set-up, aided by live addition

drummer Trood, they’re currently nailing their debut album, and dreaming of

a European tour for 2012 and collaborations with Quincy Jones, Pharrell and

Caribou.

Influences

Influences ranging from Flying Lotus, Hudson Mohawke and Chris Clark to the more late 90s US RnB pastures of Aaliyah, Destiny's Child and Mariah Carey

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