Clean Bandit
Clean Bandit in 2016
Clean Bandit in 2016
Background information
OriginCambridge, England
Genres
Years active2008–present
Labels
Members
Past members
  • Ssegawa-Ssekintu Kiwanuka[1]
  • Neil Amin-Smith[2]
Websitecleanbandit.co.uk

Clean Bandit are an English electronic music group, formed in Cambridge in 2008. They have had four number 1 hits and ten top 10 hits on the UK Singles Chart. They direct and produce their own music videos, many of which have been nominated for Brit Awards and VMAs, while two of them, "Symphony" and "Rockabye", each have over 1 billion views on YouTube, with Rockabye having reached over 2.7 billion views. The group currently consists of founder Grace Chatto and brothers Jack and Luke Patterson.[2] Jack Patterson is the principal songwriter and has been awarded two Ivor Novellos for the writing of "Rather Be". Many of their projects are known for blending elements of both classical and dance music, and featuring guest vocalists. Notable collaborators include Marina, Demi Lovato, Jess Glynne, Anne-Marie, Sean Paul, Zara Larsson, Julia Michaels, Luis Fonsi, Ellie Goulding, Iann Dior and Mabel

The band released their debut single "A+E" in 2012, followed by their 2013 single "Mozart's House", the latter of which reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart. In January 2014, they scored their first UK chart topping single with "Rather Be", a collaboration with Jess Glynne. The song also reached number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[3] In 2015, the song won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording.[4] The band's debut album New Eyes was released in June 2014 and has received a gold certification from the BPI. Their 2016 single "Rockabye", which features Jamaican artist Sean Paul and singer Anne-Marie, became their second number one hit in the UK and the Christmas number one single for 2016. The song became an international chart topper for the band, additionally charting at number nine in the US.[5] "Symphony" featuring Zara Larsson became their third UK number one single in 2017. Clean Bandit's final number one to date was Solo, with Demi Lovato providing vocals. The band's second album, What Is Love?, was released in November 2018. As of 2016, Clean Bandit have sold over 13 million singles and 1.6 million albums worldwide.[6]

History

Four-shape motif used on early album covers

2008–2012: Formation and career beginnings

Original band members Grace Chatto, Jack Patterson, Luke Patterson and Neil Amin-Smith met while studying as undergraduates at Jesus College, University of Cambridge.[7] At the time, Amin-Smith, who attended Westminster School[8] was leading a string quartet together with Chatto, who attended The Latymer School.[9] The original vocalist, Ssegawa-Ssekintu Kiwanuka, left to undertake a PhD in laser analytics.[1] In 2011, Chatto and Jack Patterson formed their own film production company, Cleanfilm, to make music videos for themselves and other artists.[7]

The band's name, Clean Bandit, comes from a translation of a Russian phrase; the meaning is similar to the English phrase "complete bastard", though Patterson later stated that it is actually a more affectionate term similar to "utter rascal".[10][11]

2012–2015: New Eyes

Clean Bandit, along with singers Florence Rawlings and Elisabeth Troy, at Way Out West in Gothenburg, Sweden, August 2014

In December 2012, Clean Bandit released their debut single "A+E", which peaked at number 100 on the UK Singles Chart. In March 2013, they released their second single "Mozart's House". The song peaked at number 17 on the UK Singles Chart. Their third single "Dust Clears" charted at number 43 in the UK. The band's fourth single "Rather Be" featuring Jess Glynne was released on in January 2014 and topped the UK Singles Chart. It was the fastest-selling song released in January since 1996 and ended 2014 as the year's second best-selling song in the UK (behind "Happy" by Pharrell Williams), selling over 1.13 million copies.[12] "Rather Be" also reached number one in Austria, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, whilst charting at number ten on the US Billboard Hot 100. In April 2014, the band made their TV debut on BBC's Later... with Jools Holland.[13] The following month, they announced a 14-date headline tour of the UK kicking off in Lancaster Library as part of the Get It Loud In Libraries campaign.[14] The band's debut studio album New Eyes, was released in June 2014 by Atlantic Records UK.[15] In September 2014, they performed with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra at MediaCityUK.[16][17] In November, the band collaborated again with Jess Glynne, on their single "Real Love". It reached number two on the UK Singles Chart.[18] The same month, the band performed as part of the charity group Band Aid 30 alongside other British and Irish pop acts, recording the latest version of the track "Do They Know It's Christmas?" to raise money for the 2014 Ebola crisis in West Africa.[19]

In February 2015, "Rather Be" won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.[20] The group recorded a 30-piece orchestral version of "Rather Be" at Abbey Road Studios for Marks & Spencer's Christmas 2015 advertising campaign.[21]

Chatto with Elisabeth Troy at FIB 2015

2016–2019: What Is Love? and Neil Amin-Smith's departure

In May 2016, the band released the single "Tears" featuring The X Factor 2015 winner Louisa Johnson, which later appeared in their second studio album. The song peaked at number five in the UK, following a performance on Britain's Got Talent.[22]

In October 2016, it was announced that violinist and pianist Neil Amin-Smith had decided to leave Clean Bandit.[23][24] Two days later, the group released their first song as a three-piece without Amin-Smith: "Rockabye", which features rapper Sean Paul and singer Anne-Marie. "Rockabye" became their second number one hit in the UK,[25] and remained at the top spot for nine weeks. It went on to become the Christmas number one single for 2016.[26][27] The song also reached number one in Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland. It additionally charted at number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100.[28] In March 2017, the trio released "Symphony", a collaboration with Swedish singer Zara Larsson. The song topped the UK Singles Chart, becoming the group's third number one single in the country.[29][30] They gave their first live performance of the song on The Voice UK.[31] "Rockabye" was recorded at The Crypt Studio in London. In June, the band released the studio version of "Disconnect" with Marina Diamandis. The track was previously performed at the 2015 Coachella Festival.

Clean Bandit on stage in Rome on 28 June 2017

In October 2017, the band announced the single "I Miss You", featuring renowned songwriter Julia Michaels. It charted within the top five of the UK and has been certified platinum. In May 2018, the band released the second album's fifth single, "Solo", featuring vocals from Demi Lovato. It topped the charts in the UK the following month and has received a platinum certification in the country.[32] In November 2018, sixth single "Baby" was released, featuring Marina and Luis Fonsi.[33] Clean Bandit released their second album What Is Love? in November 2018. The album features collaborations with Rita Ora, Ellie Goulding, Craig David, Anne-Marie, and Charli XCX.[34]

2020–present: Forthcoming third studio album and new projects

Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the band produced a 'House Party' event fortnightly in place of the live shows which they would've performed if the pandemic had not happened. Clean Bandit produced six of these house parties in total, from April to July, many featuring vocals from their singer Yasmin Green.

In early August 2020, as their live home music performances gained credit, the band agreed with Global Citizen to host a 12-hour long 'Houseparty Against Hunger' on 8 August, to raise money for the charity to help fight poverty-related hunger. The event consisted of one hour-long sets from DJs around the world. Clean Bandit hosted the event and played at the start and end of proceedings, with their set-up the same as that used in their original house parties. Kirsten Joy, one of the band's singers, performed along with Becky Hill, Joel Corry, MNEK and a guest appearance from Sean Paul.[35]

On 17 August, Clean Bandit announced they would be releasing a new single, titled "Tick Tock" with singer Mabel and rapper 24kGoldn.[36] It was released on 21 August 2020.

On 26 January 2021, Clean Bandit announced their new single "Higher" featuring American rapper Iann Dior. The song was released on 29 January 2021.

On 30 July 2021, Clean Bandit released their new single "Drive" with German DJ Topic featuring Wes Nelson.

On 24 September 2021, Clean Bandit released a remix of the famous 80s hit song How Will I Know in collaboration with Whitney Houston.

On 18 February 2022, Clean Bandit released a new dance/electronic song featuring A7S called "Everything but You".

On 9 September 2022, Clean Bandit released a new single "Sad Girls" with rapper French the Kid featuring Rema.

On 21 October 2022, Clean Bandit released another single, "Don't Leave Me Lonely" in collaboration with the songwriter Elley Duhé.

Musical style

Clean Bandit are an electronic,[37] electropop[38] and dance-pop band.[39] The band mixes electronic music with classical pieces by composers such as Mozart and Shostakovich.[10]

Political views

In May 2017, Clean Bandit endorsed the Labour Party and Jeremy Corbyn in the 2017 UK general election.[40] In June, the band supported a Labour Party rally in Birmingham.[41]

In June 2018, they headlined the Labour Live festival in London.[42]

In November 2019, they endorsed the Labour Party in the 2019 UK general election.[43][44] In December 2019, along with 42 other leading cultural figures, they signed a letter stating that "Labour's election manifesto under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership offers a transformative plan that prioritises the needs of people and the planet over private profit and the vested interests of a few. "[45][46]

They endorsed Rebecca Long-Bailey in the 2020 Labour Party leadership election.[47]

Members

Former members

  • Neil Amin-Smith – violin, piano (2008–2016)
  • Ssegawa-Ssekintu Kiwanuka – vocals (2008–2010)

Former touring musicians

  • Patrick Greenberg – bass (2010–2016)
  • Simon Marlin – guitar (2010–2016)
  • Braimah Kanneh-Mason – violin (2016–2017)
  • Nikki Cislyn – vocals (2012–2013)
  • Florence Rawlings – vocals (2013–2016)
  • Elisabeth Troy – vocals (2013–2016)
  • Christina Hizon - vocals, piano (2013–2016)
  • Ezinma – violin (2017)
  • David Gane – drums, percussion (2018)[49]
  • Tom Varrall – guitar (2017)
  • Molly Fletcher – violin (2018)

Discography

Awards and nominations

Year Awards Category Recipient Outcome
2011
Best Dance Video - Budget
 Nominated
Best Pop Video - Budget
"Telephone Banking"
 Nominated
2014
Best Electronic/Dance Act
"Clean Bandit"
Won
Song of the Year
 Nominated
Best English Language Song
 Nominated
2015
British Group
"Clean Bandit"
 Nominated
British Single of the Year
"Rather Be"
 Nominated
International Work of the Year
 Nominated
Won
Most Performed Work
 Won
Best Contemporary Song
 Won
Top Dance/Electronic Artist
"Clean Bandit"
 Nominated
Top Dance/Electronic Song
"Rather Be"
 Nominated
Modern Pop/Rock Album of the Year
 Nominated
2017
British Single of the Year
 Nominated
British Video
 Nominated
Best Song
 Nominated
Best Dance/Electronic Song
 Nominated
Gaygalan Awards
International Song of the Year
 Nominated
International Song of the Year
 Nominated
International Hit of the Year
 Nominated
International Duo/Group of the Year
Clean Bandit
 Nominated
2018
Best Group
 Nominated
Mass Appeal Award
 Nominated
Best Group
 Nominated
British Single of the Year
 Nominated
British Video of the Year
 Eliminated
Gaygalan Awards[52]
Best International Song of the Year
 Won
Danish GAFFA Awards[53]
Best International Song of the Year
 Nominated
Sweden GAFFA Awards[54]
Best Swedish Song of the Year
 Won
P3 Guld Awards[55]
Song of the Year
 Nominated
Scandipop Awards[56]
Best Dance/Pop Song
 Won
Pop Awards[57]
Song Of The Year Award
 Nominated
Winning EDM Songs
 Won
"Rockabye"
 Won
Winning Hot 100 Songs
 Won
Best Global Track
 Won
Top Dance/Electronic Song
 Nominated
Choice Electronic/Dance Song
"Solo"
 Nominated
Best World Stage
Clean Bandit
 Nominated
Best British Group
Nominated
2019
Best Group
 Nominated
Best British Artist or Group
 Nominated
Best Song
"Solo"
Nominated
British Single of the Year
 Nominated
British Video of the Year
 Nominated
Swedish GAFFA Awards[62]
International Song of the Year
 Nominated
Nominated
2023
Clean Bandit
 Won

References

  1. 1 2 Parrish, Charlie (21 July 2015). "Clean Bandit on Cambridge, being shameless, and turning down MI6". The Telegraph – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  2. 1 2 Preston, Dominic (19 October 2016). "Clean Bandit's Neil Amin-Smith just quit the band". PinkNews.
  3. ↑ Trust, Gary. "Meghan Trainor, Tove Lo, Clean Bandit Hit Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  4. ↑ "Grammys 2015: Complete list of winners and nominees". LA Times. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  5. ↑ "Clean Bandit". Billboard. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  6. ↑ "UK TRIO CLEAN BANDIT RELEASE THEIR NEW SINGLE "ROCKABYE" FEAT. SEAN PAUL AND ANNE-MARIE!". Warner Music Canada. 24 October 2016. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Interview: Clean Bandit". Varsity, the independent student newspaper for the University of Cambridge. 30 September 2011.
  8. ↑ Maxx Design. "Famous Old Westminsters (OWW), Central London". Westminster.org.ou. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  9. ↑ Alex Bellotti (6 February 2014). "Highly-strung sounds of success for Clean Bandit), Central London". Hamhigh.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 December 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  10. 1 2 "Clean Bandit: A classical approach to pop music". BBC News. 26 May 2014.
  11. ↑ Augustin, Camille (19 June 2014). "5 Facts You Should Know About Clean Bandit". Vibe. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  12. ↑ Copsey, Rob (31 December 2014). "The Official Top 100 Biggest Songs of 2014 revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  13. ↑ "Later... with Jools Holland - Series 44 Live Episode 1". BBC Two. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  14. ↑ "Clean Bandit announce a 14-date headline UK tour". BBC Newsbeat. 12 May 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  15. ↑ Copsey, Robert (3 February 2014). "Clean Bandit announce debut album New Eyes". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  16. ↑ Burrell, Ian (9 September 2014). "Clean Bandit to join BBC Philharmonic orchestra for Zane Lowe's Radio 1 show". The Independent. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  17. ↑ "Radio 1's Clean Bandit Symphony". BBC. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  18. ↑ "Band Aid 30 single storms to number one". BBC News. 23 November 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  19. ↑ "Band Aid 30: One Direction among celebrity line-up". Telegraph. 10 November 2014.
  20. ↑ "GRAMMYS: Clean Bandit's "Rather Be" Wins Best Dance Recording". Headline Planet. 8 February 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  21. ↑ "MARKS & SPENCER DEBUTS 2015 CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN TO ITS TWO MILLION SPARKS MEMBERS". corporate.marksandspencer.com. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  22. ↑ Smith, Carl; Cox, Lizzie (27 May 2016). "The X Factor's Louisa Johnson's first single to be Clean Bandit collaboration 'Tears'". Sugarscape.com. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  23. ↑ "Neil Milan on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  24. ↑ "Clean Bandit announce Neil Amin-Smith's departure from the band". Official Charts Company. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  25. ↑ Copsey, Rob (11 November 2016). "Clean Bandit's Rockabye reaches Number 1 in the UK". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  26. ↑ Cantor, Brian (2 December 2016). "CLEAN BANDIT, SEAN PAUL & ANNE-MARIE'S "ROCKABYE" ENJOYS 4TH WEEK AS UK'S #1 SONG". Headline Planet. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  27. ↑ Savage, Mark (23 December 2016). "Clean Bandit land Christmas number one with Rockabye". BBC News. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  28. ↑ Trust, Gary (13 March 2017). "Ed Sheeran Stays Atop Hot 100, Clean Bandit Bounds to Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  29. ↑ "Clean Bandit". Official Charts. Archived from the original on 7 October 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  30. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 – 28 April 2017 - 04 May 2017". Official Charts. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  31. ↑ Darvill, Josh (16 March 2017). "Clean Bandit and Zara Larsson to perform on The Voice UK on Saturday". TellyMix. Archived from the original on 17 March 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  32. ↑ McIntyre, Hugh. "Clean Bandit And Demi Lovato Climb To No. 1 In The U.K. With 'Solo'". Forbes. Archived from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  33. ↑ "Clean Bandit, Marina and Luis Fonsi Lament Lost Love in Nostalgic 'Baby' Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  34. ↑ "What Is Love? (Deluxe) by Clean Bandit on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  35. ↑ Yopko, Nick. "Clean Bandit Announce 12-Hour Virtual House Party to Fight Hunger". EDM.com - The Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  36. ↑ "Clean Bandit announce new single titled Tick Tock". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  37. ↑ Multiple citations:
  38. ↑ Multiple citations:
  39. ↑ Multiple citations:
  40. ↑ Milne, Oliver (8 June 2017). "Who are celebrities voting for in 2017 General Election? The A-Z of famous names supporting Labour, the Tories, the Lib Dems and Greens". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  41. ↑ Elkes, Neil; Campbell, Darren; Cannon, Matt (6 June 2017). "Recap - Jeremy Corbyn in Birmingham: Live updates as Labour holds major rally today - two days before General Election 2017". Birmingham Mail. Birmingham. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  42. ↑ "Clean Bandit's Grace Chatto On Labour Live, Jeremy Corbyn And Empowering New Single, 'Solo'". HuffPost UK. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  43. ↑ Bandit, Clean [@cleanbandit] (20 November 2019). "REGISTER TO VOTE BEFORE Tue Nov 26 http://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote …. Share or create your own version of 'why I'm voting labour' using #WantChangeVoteLabour. Vote tactically if you're in a marginal using http://www.tactical.vote, other sites are dishonest. Pass this on!" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 November 2019 – via Twitter.
  44. ↑ Speare-Cole, Rebecca (14 November 2019). "General election 2019: Pop stars and actors rally behind Jeremy Corbyn, calling him 'last stand' for England". London Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  45. ↑ "Vote for hope and a decent future". The Guardian. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  46. ↑ Proctor, Kate (3 December 2019). "Coogan and Klein lead cultural figures backing Corbyn and Labour". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  47. ↑ Clean Bandit [@cleanbandit] (12 February 2020). "I think Rebecca Long-Bailey is the only choice? #Newsnight #LabourLeadership" (Tweet). Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Twitter.
  48. ↑ "Clean Bandit / Starley – Manchester Academy". 10 November 2017.
  49. ↑ "Clean Bandit - I Miss You (Live on Sunrise)". Facebook. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  50. ↑ "Danish Music Awards 2017". Gaffa.dk. 9 August 2017. Archived from the original on 14 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  51. ↑ "Global Awards Winners List". capitalfm.com. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  52. ↑ "Dags att nominera till QX Gaygala 2018! – QX". QX. 1 December 2017.
  53. ↑ "GAFFA-Prisen 2018". GAFFA.dk. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  54. ↑ "Sweden GAFFA Awards 2018". Gaffa.se. Archived from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  55. ↑ "Här är alla nominerade till P3 Guld 2018". Sverigesradio. 1 December 2017.
  56. ↑ "The 2018 Scandipop Awards: The Winners!". Scandipop. 26 January 2018. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  57. ↑ "Pop Awards 2018, the 1st annual Pop Awards". Pop Awards. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  58. ↑ "Ascap London Awards 2018 Winners". Ascap.com. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  59. ↑ "The 2018 MTV EMA Nominees Are Here!". MTV. 4 October 2018. Archived from the original on 4 October 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  60. ↑ "BBC Radio 1's Teen Awards 2018: Nominations". bbc.com. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  61. ↑ Radio, Global. "The Global Awards - Nominees". The Global Awards. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  62. ↑ "The Swedish Gaffa Awards - Nominees". The Swedish Gaffa Awards (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 17 December 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  63. ↑ Lynch, Joe (1 May 2019). "2019 Billboard Music Awards Winners: The Complete List". Billboard.
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