Basement Jaxx | |
|---|---|
 Basement Jaxx in 2009. Felix Buxton (left) and Simon Ratcliffe (right). | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Labels |
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| Members |
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| Website | basementjaxx |
Basement Jaxx are an Englishelectronic music duo consisting of Felix Buxton (born 30 April 1970) and Simon Ratcliffe (born 28 November 1969). The pair got their name from the regular club night they held inBrixton,London,UK.[3] They first rose to popularity in the undergroundhouse 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 2004BRIT Awards.[5] Some of their most successful singles are "Red Alert", "Rendez-Vu", "Romeo", "Where's Your Head At", "Do Your Thing", and "Good Luck".[citation needed]
Felix Buxton's father The Rev Derek Major Buxton (4 February 1931 – 17 March 2022) was a Leicestershire vicar, who was ordained on Sunday 18 December 1960 inLeicester Cathedral.[6][7] His father was originally fromLeigh, Staffordshire, the second son of James Buxton,[8] who died in 1969.[9] In the early 1960s, his father was the assistant Anglican chaplain of theUniversity of Leicester,[10] moving toIbstock in May 1969.[11] The Rev Buxton and wife Eileen moved from Ibstock (St Denys) with Heather, to St Paul's Woodhouse Eaves and St Mary's church in Woodhouse[12][13] on 27 April 1987,[14] with a ceremony conducted by theBishop of Leicester, on Tuesday 5 May 1987.[15] His father retired in April 1998.[16][17][18]
Felix Buxton studied Engineering Design at theUniversity of Exeter.
In 1992, Simon Ratcliffe began releasingwhite label records, gaining him the attention of several music producers includingLTJ Bukem andGoldie. The success of these releases enabled him to buy a few electronic musical instruments and set up a basicstudio in a friend's mother's basement.
Ratcliffe and Buxton first met in 1993 through a mutual friend in a pub inClapham,London. The two bonded over an appreciation of New York house music.[19] They released their firstextended play calledEP1 via the British independent record labelWall of Sound, with the help of its founderMark Jones. The album went on to sell over 1,000 copies and was played on American radio byTony Humphries inNew York City.
Basement Jaxx began inBrixton,South London, in 1994, where Ratcliffe and Buxton held a regular club night called Basement Jaxx. The night was also held in a variety of venues includingThe George IV, The Crypt and The Junction. They were joined by DJs including DJ Sneak,Daft Punk, and singerCorrina Joseph. They mutated the night into an equally popular club called Rooty, the namesake oftheir second album.[20][21] Initially, the duo considered "Underground Oasis" as a name for the group, but the idea was scrapped reportedly after a friend informed them ofa similarly named rock band that might "get big".[22]
An important milestone for Basement Jaxx's career was their role as the opening act for successful French dance groupDaft Punk'sDaftendirektour.[23] It was around this time that Basement Jaxx began collaborating with vocalistCorrina Joseph, a collaboration that resulted in the single "Fly Life", which was released by Virgin Records in 1997. Following the success of "Fly Life", the duo signed a record deal withXL, with whom they released their subsequent six albums.[24]
In 1999, the group released their first full-length album,Remedy. It included the singles "Red Alert", "Jump n' Shout", "Bingo Bango", and "Rendez-Vu", which is Basement Jaxx's highestUK Singles Chart entry to date, at number 4.[25] Basement Jaxx also releasedJaxx Unreleased, acompilation album ofB-sides,remixes, and other assorted material, in 1999. 2000 saw them releaseCamberwell, another release of new material.
Their next album, 2001'sRooty included singles "Romeo", "Jus 1 Kiss", "Where's Your Head At?", and "Do Your Thing", which was featured in the filmBend It Like Beckham as well asNickelodeon andCoca-Cola commercials. The music video for album opener "Romeo" is an homage to theBollywood film style. "Where's Your Head At?" became an international hit in 2002, also known for its inclusion on theLara Croft: Tomb Raider soundtrack. "Do Your Thing" was included in the video gameSSX 3.Xxtra Cutz was released shortly afterRooty, containing B-sides from the album's singles.Span Thang andJunction, two EPs, were released in 2001–2002.
Basement Jaxx decided to close the Rooty club in May 2001 after it became "too popular."[19]
In 2003, Basement Jaxx released their third full-length album,Kish Kash, which included contributions fromSiouxsie Sioux,Lisa Kekaula (ofthe Bellrays),Me'shell Ndegeocello,Dizzee Rascal, Totlyn Jackson,JC Chasez and Phoebe. From this album, the tracks "Lucky Star", "Good Luck", and "Plug It In" were released as singles. The track "Good Luck" was re-released in 2004, after exposure from being the theme toBBC'sEuro 2004 coverage, and was also featured in the soundtrack ofJust Married andAppleseed, ananime film released in 2004.Kish Kash was recognised the following year at the47th Grammy Awards, winning Buxton and Ratcliffe the inauguralBest Electronic/Dance Album award.
Basement Jaxx's manager, Andrew Mansi, says Astralwerks chose not to renew its U.S. licensing contract with the duo.[26]
The duo produced "Shake It", a song from JC Chasez'sSchizophrenic.[27]
In 2005, the duo released the number 1 compilationThe Singles along with a video collection on DVD, comprising all the singles from their previous three albums, some earlier releases (featured onAtlantic 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 entitledBonus 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 atGlastonbury Festival in 2005 whenKylie 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.[28][failed verification]
Their fourth studio album,Crazy Itch Radio, was released on 4 September 2006 in the UK, simultaneously with its first single, "Hush Boy". The album featured guest vocals byMartina Sorbara (credited as "Martina Bang"),Lily Allen, andRobyn. In 2006, Basement Jaxx were also one of the support acts forRobbie Williams on his 'Close Encounters' tour. ForCyndi Lauper'sBring Ya to the Brink in 2008, they produced and wrote the track "Rocking Chair". They also released a trilogy of EPs of new material, entitledPlanet.
In 2009, Buxton revealed in aBBC Radio 1 broadcast that Basement Jaxx's forthcoming albumScars was completed and being mastered. Buxton stated that the tracks include guest appearances byYoko Ono,Santigold,Lightspeed Champion, andYo! Majesty.[29] The band was also interested in gettingGrace Jones to add vocals to the new album.[30] The album was released in September 2009.[31] The first single "Raindrops" preceded it in June 2009. The band recorded at the Bizspace centre in Coldharbour Lane, inLoughborough Junction.[32]
Also in 2009, their albumZephyr was released.
In 2010, the duo released the non-album single "Dracula".
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2011 saw the duo collaborating twice: withMetropole Orkest for the live albumBasement Jaxx vs. Metropole Orkest,[33] and also withSteven Price for the soundtrack to the 2011 filmAttack the Block.[34]
In November 2011, Simon revealed the pair were working on a new album – hinting that some tracks were already appearing in their DJ sets.[35] At their first live show for several years at Chiswick House Festival in July 2012, the band performed some new material from their forthcoming album including the song "Diamonds". Possible tracks that were predicted to appear on the album according toPitchfork include "Make.Believe", "Let's Rock this Road Together", "Back 2 the Wild", "We R Not Alone", "Galactical", "Power 2 The People", "Mermaid of Salinas", "People of Planet Earth", and "What a Difference Your Love Makes".[36][37][38] The band ran a contest through graphic design firm JDO, where the band will use the graphic identity (including the album and single artwork designs) that the winner created for their upcoming album and consequent promotional items.[39]
"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.[40]
"What a Difference Your Love Makes" was released as a single on 30 September 2013.[37] The single's accompanying video was released onVevo on 7 August 2013. It was directed by Damian Weilers and shot inSouth Africa.[41] On 1 May 2014, Basement Jaxx released a new song for the album called "Unicorn" onSoundCloud.[42]
On 19 May 2014, Basement Jaxx officially announced their seventh album,Junto, which was released on 25 August 2014 throughAtlantic Jaxx andPIAS.[43] In July, the duo released the first lead single off the album, "Never Say Never". The music video, directed bySaman Kesh,[44] 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" (likely an allusion toSiri), developed by the Japanese scientist Nobuhiro Takahashi.[45]
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In addition to their own work, Basement Jaxx have become in-demand remixers. Their more prominent work includes remixes of "4 My People" byMissy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, "Everyman… Everywoman…" byYoko Ono, "Like I Love You" byJustin Timberlake, and "She Wants to Move" byN.E.R.D, which was included as aB-side on the follow-up single "Maybe." They also collaborated withJanet Jackson on unreleased songs for herDamita Jo album.[46]Sophie Ellis-Bextor, as well as The Botz and Garold Marks, have stated they are fans and would like to collaborate with Basement Jaxx in the future.[47]
In 2021, the duo remixed Australian singerKylie Minogue's 2020 single "Say Something", which can currently be found on YouTube;[48] additionally, it will be available on the deluxe version of Minogue's latest album—entitledDisco: Guest List Edition—from 12 November 2021.[49]
The duo were invited to write an exclusive piece of music to accompany a work of art they admired in London'sTate Modern museum,Karel Appel's "Hip, Hip, Hoorah!". The work was initially not available for sale, but later appeared on the albumZephyr.[50] In 2007, their track "Close Your Eyes", sung byLinda Lewis, was featured in the JapaneseCGIanime movieVexille.
Felix Buxton appeared onNever Mind the Buzzcocks on 23 September 2013 – the opening episode of Series 27, onNoel Fielding's team.[51]
In 2019, the duo composed the music for theCITV animated seriesThe 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.[52]
In 2021, they composed the title music for theCBeebies seriesWhat's On Your Head?.[53]
In the past, Buxton's father did not let him watchTop of the Pops and played his childrenAustrian music andJapanese music instead. "He was always very proud of that we didn't watchTop of the Pops. [...] He thought that made me hungry and want it more," he said.[54] He was a big fan of American house music, which was difficult to get hold of in his hometown at the time. "I used to listen toChoice FM where the legends of the scene could be heard and went toBlackmarket Records in London’sSoho to try and find the sounds I was looking for."[55]
Basement Jaxx's music has been described variously ashouse[1] andbig beat[56] over the course of their career.Prince's influence has also been found on their music.[57] "I remember when we first came to America, they had to work out whichradio stations we could go to," Buxton says. "They said that in a way we were a bit for urban stations, we were a bit for pop stations. They didn’t know where to place us and things were very segregated back then."[55]
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 |
Grammy Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Kish Kash | Best Dance/Electronic Album | Won |
GQ Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Themselves | Band of the Year | Nominated | [58] |
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[59] | 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 |
Awards for Basement Jaxx | |||||
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| Other | |
