Chew Lips
Encyclopedia
Chew Lips are an East London based dance-pop
duo, formed in spring of 2008. They consist of singer 'Tigs' and multi-instrumentalist
James Watkins.
With Tigs developing into a charismatic whirlwind of a front woman who it was impossible to take your eyes off, Chew Lips increasingly compelling live performances grabbed the attention of uber-cool French label Kitsuné
who insisted on putting out the band’s debut single, "Solo".
Released in March 2009, "Solo" sold out almost instantly, causing a storm in the blogosphere and beyond, with Pitchfork
calling the track "….classic, pristine," and The Fly
magazine labelling it "one of the most magnificent debuts of the year".
Kitsuné released a second sold out single, "Salt Air" in July 2009 – NME called it "an addictive slice of heart-wrenching disco-pop" - before the band begun work in summer '09 on their full-length debut with Bat For Lashes
collaborator David Kosten.
The fruits of their labour came with the self-released album Unicorn
in January 2010, such a giant leap forward for their sound that they were confident enough to leave off both of the previous singles. It was easy to see why – in the likes of "Play Together", "Karen" and "Slick", they'd outdone themselves. The press agreed: the BBC
called it "startling", NME
"mesmeric", whilst a 4/5 review in The Guardian
said it "drags you straight in."
Another stretch of intense touring followed and by the time the European festival season came round and after a scene-stealing appearance at SXSW in Texas (Elle
US described them as the best new act at the festival), Chew Lips were on top of their game. Topping off their tour they headlined the packed BBC Introducing Stage at Glastonbury Festival
.
Other touring highlights include support slots with The Killers, Delphic
, We Are Scientists
, The Virgins
, Joy Formidable, Howling Bells
, 3 sold out UK Tours and a sold out European tour in 2011.
Salt Air
Play Together
Karen
Slick
Unicorn
Dance-pop
Dance-pop is dance-oriented pop music that originated in the early 1980s. Developing from post-disco, it is generally up-tempo music intended for clubs with the intention of being danceable or merely dancey...
duo, formed in spring of 2008. They consist of singer 'Tigs' and multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
James Watkins.
First Steps (2008-2009)
Formed in London as a 3 piece band in the summer of 2008, Tigs, James & Will armed themselves with a slew of electro-pop hooks and set about establishing Chew Lips as one of the most exciting new acts in the capital.With Tigs developing into a charismatic whirlwind of a front woman who it was impossible to take your eyes off, Chew Lips increasingly compelling live performances grabbed the attention of uber-cool French label Kitsuné
Kitsune
is the Japanese word for fox. Foxes are a common subject of Japanese folklore; in English, kitsune refers to them in this context. Stories depict them as intelligent beings and as possessing magical abilities that increase with their age and wisdom. Foremost among these is the ability to assume...
who insisted on putting out the band’s debut single, "Solo".
Released in March 2009, "Solo" sold out almost instantly, causing a storm in the blogosphere and beyond, with Pitchfork
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
calling the track "….classic, pristine," and The Fly
The Fly (magazine)
The Fly is a free music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom. The magazine is published by the HMV owned MAMA Group.The magazine started as a listings leaflet in Camden, north London, for the Barfly music venue on Chalk Farm Road...
magazine labelling it "one of the most magnificent debuts of the year".
Second Kitsuné Single & Debut Album (2009-2010)
A relentless schedule of touring followed into 2009 as Chew Lips honed their sound into a sleek, sophisticated beast.Kitsuné released a second sold out single, "Salt Air" in July 2009 – NME called it "an addictive slice of heart-wrenching disco-pop" - before the band begun work in summer '09 on their full-length debut with Bat For Lashes
Bat for Lashes
Natasha Khan , also known by her stage name Bat for Lashes, is an English musician. She sings and plays the piano, bass, guitar, harpsichord and the autoharp....
collaborator David Kosten.
The fruits of their labour came with the self-released album Unicorn
Unicorn (Chew Lips album)
Unicorn is the debut album by British dance-pop trio Chew Lips. It was released on 25 January 2010.-Track list:#"Eight" - 3:08#"Play Together" - 2:37#"Slick" - 4:36#"Karen" - 3:31#"Too Much Talking" - 3:52#"Toro" - 2:48#"Two Years" - 2:43...
in January 2010, such a giant leap forward for their sound that they were confident enough to leave off both of the previous singles. It was easy to see why – in the likes of "Play Together", "Karen" and "Slick", they'd outdone themselves. The press agreed: the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
called it "startling", NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
"mesmeric", whilst a 4/5 review in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
said it "drags you straight in."
Another stretch of intense touring followed and by the time the European festival season came round and after a scene-stealing appearance at SXSW in Texas (Elle
Elle (magazine)
Elle is a worldwide magazine of French origin that focuses on women's fashion, beauty, health, and entertainment. Elle is also the world's largest fashion magazine. It was founded by Pierre Lazareff and his wife Hélène Gordon in 1945. The title, in French, means "she".-History:Elle was founded in...
US described them as the best new act at the festival), Chew Lips were on top of their game. Topping off their tour they headlined the packed BBC Introducing Stage at Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
.
Other touring highlights include support slots with The Killers, Delphic
Delphic
Delphic are an alternative dance band from Marple Bridge, Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. They are signed to Polydor and released the single "Counterpoint" in April 2009 through R&S Records, produced by Ewan Pearson...
, We Are Scientists
We Are Scientists
We Are Scientists is a New York-based indie rock band that formed in Berkeley, California in 2000. Originally formed of Keith Murray on drums, Chris Cain playing bass guitar and Scott Lamb providing vocals and guitar, before Michael Tapper became drummer and Keith became vocalist and guitarist...
, The Virgins
The Virgins
The Virgins are an American band formed in 2006 in New York, consisting of Donald Cumming , Wade Oates , and Nick Ackerman .Their first outing on the road was a 7-week American tour in direct support for the Australian band Jet...
, Joy Formidable, Howling Bells
Howling Bells
Howling Bells are an indie rock band that formed in Sydney in 2004. The band obtained moderate popularity in the United Kingdom following the release of its 2006 self-titled debut album...
, 3 sold out UK Tours and a sold out European tour in 2011.
Studio albums
| Album Details | Release Date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Unicorn Unicorn (Chew Lips album) Unicorn is the debut album by British dance-pop trio Chew Lips. It was released on 25 January 2010.-Track list:#"Eight" - 3:08#"Play Together" - 2:37#"Slick" - 4:36#"Karen" - 3:31#"Too Much Talking" - 3:52#"Toro" - 2:48#"Two Years" - 2:43... |
January 25, 2010 | Family Family In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children... |
Singles and EPs
| Release Details | Release Date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Solo | January 2009 | Kitsuné Kitsune is the Japanese word for fox. Foxes are a common subject of Japanese folklore; in English, kitsune refers to them in this context. Stories depict them as intelligent beings and as possessing magical abilities that increase with their age and wisdom. Foremost among these is the ability to assume... |
| Salt Air | July 6, 2009 | Kitsuné Kitsune is the Japanese word for fox. Foxes are a common subject of Japanese folklore; in English, kitsune refers to them in this context. Stories depict them as intelligent beings and as possessing magical abilities that increase with their age and wisdom. Foremost among these is the ability to assume... |
| Play Together | January 18, 2010 | Family |
| Karen | March 28, 2010 | Family |
Chew Lips remixing
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, Hot ChipHot ChipHot Chip are an English electronic indie band. They have released four studio albums—Coming on Strong, The Warning, Made in the Dark and One Life Stand.-Formation:...
and Hot City - Didn't Know What Love Was - Party Horse - Lazer Beam
- Tape The Radio - Stay Inside
- Amanda BlankAmanda BlankAmanda Blank is an American singer and member of the performance art band Sweatheart based in Philadelphia.-Early life:Amanda Blank was born in Germantown, a neighborhood in northwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
- Make It Take It - PlastiscinesPlastiscinesThe Plastiscines are an all-female French rock band who perform mostly in English. Their song "Barcelona" was featured on the NYLON Summer Playlist.-Formation and discovery:...
- Barcelona - The Brute Chorus - Heaven
Chew Lips remixes
Solo- David E Sugar
- Tepr (YelleYelleYelle is a French band founded by lead singer and namesake, Yelle and GrandMarnier . A third member, Tepr , joined the band before the recording of their debut album. Budet and GrandMarnier began working on music together in 2000...
)
Salt Air
- Alex KapranosAlex KapranosAlexander Paul Kapranos Huntley , commonly known as Alex Kapranos, is a United Kingdom-based musician who is the lead singer and the guitarist of the Glasgow band Franz Ferdinand.-Early life:...
- Dekker & Johan
- Jupiter
- Plastician
- Two Door Cinema ClubTwo Door Cinema ClubTwo Door Cinema Club are an indie rock band from Bangor and Donaghadee, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed in 2007, the band is composed of band members: Sam Halliday , Alex Trimble and Kevin Baird...
Play Together
- WaWa
Karen
- Analogue People In A Digital World
- Mark Otten
- Netsky
- We Are Enfant Terrible
Slick
- FC KahunaFC KahunaFC Kahuna are a British DJ and electronic music production duo, consisting of Jon Nowell and Daniel Ormondroyd. FC Kahuna released Machine Says Yes in the spring of 2002, which had a number of singles released from it, most notably "Machine Says Yes" and "Hayling", which both featured Icelandic...
Soundtracks and Syncs
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(US TV series) - The Vampire DiariesThe Vampire DiariesThe Vampire Diaries is a young adult vampire horror series of novels written by L. J. Smith. The story centers around Elena Gilbert, a high school girl torn between two vampire brothers. The series was originally a trilogy published in 1991, but pressure from readers led Smith to write a fourth...
(US TV series) - MTVMTVMTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
(Various) - Paris Connections (UK film)
- SkinsSkins (TV series)Skins is a BAFTA award-winning British teen drama that follows a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England, through the two years of college. The controversial plot line explores issues such as dysfunctional families, mental illness , adolescent sexuality, substance abuse and death...
(UK TV series) - Made in ChelseaMade in ChelseaMade in Chelsea is a scripted soap opera set in the wealthy Chelsea district of London. The show follows the lives of: Ollie Locke, Spencer Matthews, Fredrik Ferrier, Francis Boulle, Hugo Taylor, Millie Mackintosh, Amber Atherton, Alexandra Felstead, Francesca Hull, Rosie Fortescue, Caggie Dunlop...
(UK TV series)
UK Highlights
- Glastonbury FestivalGlastonbury FestivalThe Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
- The Great Escape FestivalThe Great Escape FestivalThe Great Escape Festival is a major music festival that covers all genres of music and is held in the city of Brighton every year over 3 days in May. The dates for 2012 are May 10th to 12th. It kick starts the festival season, introducing 15,000 music lovers to the key artists and sounds of the...
- WakestockWakestock (Wales)Wakestock is Europe's largest wakeboard music festival, combining the cultures of music and the world's fastest growing watersport in a weekend of high-octane excitement! It is held on the Llŷn Peninsula in North Wales, in between Pwllheli and Llanbedrog....
- Latitude FestivalLatitude FestivalThe Latitude Festival is an annual music festival that takes place in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk, England. It was first held in July 2006....
- Lovebox FestivalLovebox FestivalLovebox is a three-day music festival held in Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets, London. The event has been running since 2002 and was founded by DJs Groove Armada...
- Secret Garden PartySecret Garden PartyThe Secret Garden Party is an annual independent arts and music festival which takes place in Abbots Ripton near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. Part of the grounds of a Georgian farm house, the location has its own lake, river and landscaped gardens...
- Truck FestivalTruck FestivalTruck Festival is an annual independent music festival in Oxfordshire, England. It was started in 1998 by the Bennett family , who decided that mainstream festivals such as Glastonbury had become too commercial and predictable. It is held in July at Hill Farm in Steventon, near Abingdon...
- Kendal CallingKendal CallingKendal Calling is an independent music festival held annually at Lowther Deer Park in the Lake District, Cumbria. It has grown from a two-day, 900 capacity event in 2006 to an 8000 capacity three-day music festival...
- Standon CallingStandon CallingStandon Calling is an annual music festival held just outside the small UK village of Standon, Hertfordshire in the grounds of private residence Standon Lordship...
- Rip CurlRip CurlRip Curl is a major Australian manufacturer and retailer of surfing sportswear The company was founded in 1969 by Doug Warbrick and Brian Singer in Torquay, Victoria, Australia and initially produced surfboards. In 1970, they decided to begin production of wetsuits, with emphasis on transforming...
Boardmasters Festival - Electric PicnicElectric PicnicThe 2005 festival took place on Saturday 3 September and Sunday 4 September. It is best remembered for Arcade Fire's performance which came before their subsequent mainstream success...
- Jersey LiveJersey LiveJersey Live is an indie/dance music festival held annually at The Royal Jersey Showground in the parish of Trinity, Jersey. The festival has grown in popularity and size each year and has drawn interest from people outside the Channel Islands with overseas visitors making up approximately 25% of...
- BestivalBestivalBestival is a four-day music festival held at the Robin Hill country park on the Isle of Wight, England. It has been held annually in late summer since 2004. The event is organized by DJ and record producer Rob da Bank and is an off-shoot of his Sunday Best record label and club nights. The initial...
European Festivals
- London Calling FestivalLondon Calling (festival)London Calling is a music festival held twice a year in Paradiso, Amsterdam and focuses on the latest trends and bands in music, with the main focus on the UK. Since the festival started in 1992 it has been acknowledged as the main showcase festival of the Netherlands for British music and is...
, Holland - Les InRocks Festival & Ground Zero Festival, France
- Dockville FestivalDockvilleDockville is a music and art festival on Europe's biggest river island, Hamburg's district Wilhelmsburg. It is sponsored by the German Internationalen Bauausstellung and for the first time it took place in 2007. Many parts of the festival area are located directly in front of the river Elbe, in a...
, Germany - Paredes de Coura FestivalParedes de Coura FestivalParedes de Coura Festival is a rock festival that is held every year in August at Praia do Tabuão in Paredes de Coura, Portugal. It is one of the three largest music summer festivals in Portugal, together with Sudoeste Festival and Optimus Alive. The first edition was held in 1993...
, Portugal - Gjon Sports Dome, Spain
- Cupola Festival, Switzerland
- Summerwell Festival, Romania
UnicornUnicorn (Chew Lips album)Unicorn is the debut album by British dance-pop trio Chew Lips. It was released on 25 January 2010.-Track list:#"Eight" - 3:08#"Play Together" - 2:37#"Slick" - 4:36#"Karen" - 3:31#"Too Much Talking" - 3:52#"Toro" - 2:48#"Two Years" - 2:43...
- "4/5 – an accomplished first offering" – QQ (magazine)Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
- "4/5 – sharp-edged, sharp-witted electro rock...success looks like an open goal" – MojoMojo (magazine)MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
- "4/5 – a spine tinglingly awesome debut" – Time Out
- "4.5/5 – it deserves to be massive...make it so" – The FlyThe Fly (magazine)The Fly is a free music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom. The magazine is published by the HMV owned MAMA Group.The magazine started as a listings leaflet in Camden, north London, for the Barfly music venue on Chalk Farm Road...
- "4/5 – brilliant...a record that gets better over time" - MusicOMHMusicOMHmusicOMH is a United Kingdom-based website which publishes independent reviews, featues and interviews from across all musical genres including classical, metal, rock and R&B.-History:...
- "4/5 - Synth heaven!" New!New! magazineNew! is a British weekly magazine, specialising in celebrity news and is published by Northern & Shell, who also oversee OK! magazine and the Daily Star....
- "Beautiful...clattering electronic pop with big melodies" – The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
- "Wistful, discoid confections... like Blondie backed by Simian Mobile Disco" – The ObserverThe ObserverThe Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
- "A band to look out for this year… absolutely superb" – Sunday MailThe Mail on SundayThe Mail on Sunday is a British conservative newspaper, currently published in a tabloid format. First published in 1982 by Lord Rothermere, it became Britain's biggest-selling Sunday newspaper following the closing of The News of the World in July 2011...
- "Our new favourite" – NMENMEThe New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
- "An utterly peerless work; ten tracks to completely lose yourself in" – NME.com
- "Catchy electro tunes...you’ll love 'em" – GraziaGraziaGrazia is an Italian weekly women's fashion and celebrity gossip magazine, with international editions printed in France, Serbia, Australia, United Kingdom, Greece, Portugal, Japan, the Netherlands, India, Bulgaria and Germany....
- "Unicorn is that rarest of things; a record imbued with genuine talent and emotion which wipes the floor with the majority of its makers' contemporaries... quite startling" – BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
- "Chew Lips confidently reveal their crossover potential... the rhythms are edgy and the songwriting is something you can really get your teeth into" - Metro
- "Chew Lips' blending of electronic punk ala 'Yeah Yeah Yeahs go 8-bit' is so infective it’s dangerous" – Super Super