Johnny Melton realized his club night Nag Nag Nag had hit a new level when he spotted a legendary TV host dancing. “I believe that’s the only time I got extremely pumped,” he smirks. “My selection included the reworked version of Khia’s My Neck, My Back – with Cilla present.”
The Global Movement of Electro-Clash
A fresh wave of synth-driven beats surfaced internationally in the early 2000s. Germany featured feminist collective Chicks on Speed and pioneering DJ Hell. French acts brought forth Miss Kittin, The Hacker, and notable performers. The UK gave rise to Ladytron and a noisy trio. Canadian musicians introduced a producer and an artist who revamped her style with a production tool.
New York had Fischerspooner and a DJ-producer who popularized the term electro-clash. Song texts were clever, at times raunchy, and theatrical. Music mixed techno with a DIY attitude.
“Production wasn’t as easy,” says an originator. “Artists made finished tracks in your bedroom.”
A Reaction to the Established Music Scene
Electroclash felt like a response to slick superclubs. According to a key figure, it was music by “queer creators … tired with a industry” that defined what rock had to be.
Electroclash rapidly attracted an audience. This event featured not only the genre but also punk songs. It turned out to be an popular destination, bringing in famous faces like Kate Moss, a designer, and a pop icon.
Legacy and Renewed Interest
Although hype, the sound didn’t create a major crossover star. Some artists found it tough on mainstream gigs. But its legacy spread pop music through artists like Sugababes, Goldfrapp, and even the pop icon.
Stateside, however, the genre provoked a backlash. A key figure argues it was because the establishment didn’t invest “girls, gays and theys.”
Recently, but, electroclash has experienced a comeback. New artists and events are using the genre. Peaches toured her debut record to enthusiastic audiences, including twentysomething supporters.
“I think the new audience get it,” notes Larry Tee. “It was like the counterculture.”
These tracks of the movement feel relevant today. The themes – sexual openness and independent spirit – seem more timely than ever.
