| LA ROUX - a bulletproof 'all spark'. |
| Written by Shahlin Graves |
| Sunday, 06 September 2009 20:42 |
 In London Town, girls coiffure their locks sky-high; as if by magic. They swagger fist-sized cameos swinging from their necks, certainly not needing no boy-Charlotte with insipid brass knuckles and chains a-hanging. Twenty-one; trips up on growing pains, but all in the name of the fascination game. Sound familiar, no? Clearly, the world of LA ROUX is no ordinary black-and-white torn from your month-old NME, let alone kiwi chip-paper. Aptly named, "the red haired one" shares her passport name alongside the legacies of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Eleanor Roosevelt. In a further prime-fit, Eleanor (Elly, for short), Jackson's elders gifted her a name whose Greek origin translates to meaningful "sun ray" and "shining light". With the weatherman ignoring Spring and instead forecasting doom, gloom and cold, cold, cold ahead... perhaps LA ROUX; is just the armour that your doctor has been dying for. Retire old 'Rigby, there's a new Eleanor in town and her boots are by no means little. Stomping synths and rope-skipping reflections at the ready, the spunk of La Roux would thieve even The Turtles affections away from that 'other' Elenore. Whether Elly Jackson is constellation-sized in the tropics, channelling her inner femme fatale, or catwalk-ing 'Bulletproof' geometric landscapes... alongside partner-in-beats Ben Langmaid; the combined powers of La Roux are an imperious calling-card introductory on their self-titled. The only thing taller than the twelve-track debut, being Elly's coiffured attitude. Like a surprise box of sushi, you never quite know what you're in for from the Mercury Prize nominated album. Rave on.  COUP DE MAIN: Why did you decide to move on from Automan and acoustic tunes, to synths and La Roux? LA ROUX - ELLY JACKSON: Automan was originally Ben’s pseudonym. We picked it for him because it’s the name of an obscure U.S. TV show from the 80's... I had an epiphany a couple of years ago listening to ‘Speak And Spell’ by Depeche Mode and I suddenly realised; this is how I want my record to sound! Ben was thinking the same thing and from that moment on, we ditched the guitar and vowed only to have synths on the record. CDM: Keytars... Yay? Nay? LA ROUX: Fucking hell. Never in a million years mate! They just look like utter shit! Proper synths please! CDM: There's a social stigma against girls with 'Bulletproof' attitudes... down with double standards, please. What's your advice for girls trying to rise up, in a man's world? LA ROUX: My advice is; believe in yourself. Respect yourself. Know yourself. CDM: Despite all the ease of modern technology at our finger-tips, do you think people are more lonely than ever?... With face-to-face conversation having become almost a novelty now? LA ROUX: I know people who would rather fucking tweet on twitter, than have a conversation with you. People hide behind e-mail and text way too much. Just like now! Having said that, I have just bought a blackberry. But I refuse to look at it.  CDM: Your single 'In For The Kill' asks; "What is love without lust? Two hearts with accurate devotions..." But, what about lust without love? LA ROUX: Lust without love is just a fuck. CDM: You've cited Molly Ringwald as an influence... Did you have a cry/movie-marathon when John Hughes passed away recently? LA ROUX: I had a crank. CDM: Where do you draw the inspiration from, for co-designing your own clothes? LA ROUX: Right now I’m going for an oppulent, regal, Victoriana vibe. CDM: What was it like touring with Lily Allen? LA ROUX: A good time was had by all. Lily made us all feel at home. Loves her wii on the bus. Gets a bit too into it at times; semi-violent. Great crowds. Our first proper shows, as opposed to piss and bleach clubs. CDM: With your mother an actress (Trudie Goodwin), have you considered future dabbling in acting? LA ROUX: No. Acting is playing the part of someone else and I just want to be me. I’ve always wanted to be a musician. I’ve been writing songs since I was 7 years old and I feel it was fated to be. It’s the only way I can express myself.  |
