Xenomania | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Kent, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels |
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| Members |
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| Past members | see Former members |
Xenomania is an English songwriting and production team founded by Brian Higgins and based in Kent. Formed by Higgins with his Creative Director Miranda Cooper and Business Director Sarah Stennett of First Access Entertainment,[1] Xenomania has written and produced for artists such as Cher, Kylie Minogue, Dannii Minogue, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Pet Shop Boys, The Saturdays and Sugababes. In particular, all but one of Girls Aloud's studio albums have been entirely written and produced by Xenomania. Sugababes' "Round Round" and Girls Aloud's "Sound of the Underground" have been credited with reshaping British pop music for the 2000s.[2][3] Gabriella Cilmi's "Sweet About Me" and Girls Aloud's "The Promise" were named Best Single at the ARIA Music Awards of 2008 and the 2009 BRIT Awards, respectively.[4]
The team has been referred to as "a Phil Spector" and "a Motown of the 21st-century".[5][6] Higgins himself has said that Xenomania aspires to be a modern-day version of RAK Records.[7] Of Higgins and Xenomania, Girls Aloud's former manager Louis Walsh says, "He just makes great songs for radio. They just jump out at you and stay in your brain."[8] There are wide influences present in their productions, including electronic, glam rock, Motown soul, punk, and more traditional pop music.[8] The name "Xenomania" means, according to Higgins, "the exact opposite of Xenophobia [...] a love of everything, of all cultures."[5] Current members of the Xenomania writing and production team are Higgins and Cooper. Long term members Tim Powell and Nick Coler left in 2010. Xenomania also includes a house band who work on potential songs, including Florrie on drums. French remixer Fred Falke also frequently works with Xenomania.[6]
Xenomania started a "record label" of the same name in 2008, developing artists and working on material before looking for major label deals. Artists include Alex Gardner, Jessie Malakouti, Mini Viva and Vagabond.
- ^ "Brian Higgins interview - Music Week". xenomania.freehostia.com. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
telegraph2was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Emily MacKay (November 2009). "End of Decade: Sound of the Overground". NME. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
- ^ "The Promise by Girls Aloud is the 2009 British Single". Brit Awards. British Phonographic Industry. 18 February 2009. Archived from the original on 29 November 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
- ^ a b Ben Thompson (18 July 2004). "Heart of the country, home of the hits". The Observer. London. Retrieved 12 February 2008.
- ^ a b Johnny Davis (October 2009). "Xenomania – The X Factor". Q. No. 279. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
- ^ Neil McCormick (12 August 2009). "Xenomania: Brian Higgins interview". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
- ^ a b Mark Savage (24 May 2005). "The Hitmakers: Xenomania". BBC News. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
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