Sing-Sing were an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

indie pop Indie pop (also typeset as indie-pop or indiepop) is a music genre and subculture that combines guitar pop with DIY ethic in opposition to the style and tone of mainstream pop music. It originated from British post-punk in the late 1970s and sub ...

dream pop Dream pop (also typeset as dreampop) is a subgenre of alternative rock and neo-psychedelia that emphasizes atmosphere and sonic texture as much as pop melody. Common characteristics include breathy vocals, dense productions, and effects such as ...

supergroup Supergroup or super group may refer to: * Supergroup (music), a music group formed by artists who are already notable or respected in their fields * Supergroup (physics), a generalization of groups, used in the study of supersymmetry * Supergroup ...

formed in 1997 in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, comprising vocalist Lisa O'Neill (who had previously worked with Locust,

Mad Professor Mad Professor (born Neil Joseph Stephen Fraser, 1955, Georgetown, Guyana) is a Guyanese-born British dub music producer and engineer known for his original productions and remix work. He is considered one of the leading producers of dub music ...

, and

Kid Loco Jean-Yves Prieur, Kid Loco is a French electronic musician, DJ, remixer and producer. He was born on 19 June 1964 in Antony, Hauts-de-Seine, France. Allmusic considers his style to be similar to Air and Dimitri from Paris. His best-known albu ...

) and guitarist/vocalist

Emma Anderson Emma Anderson (born 10 June 1967) is an English musician. She is best known for being a songwriter, guitarist and singer in the shoegazing/Britpop band Lush. Musical career Born in Wimbledon, London, the adopted daughter of a former army offi ...

(formerly of Lush).Wilson, MacKenzie
''The Joy of Sing-Sing'' Review
,

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

. Retrieved 21 November 2015 They worked with a variety of musicians to create a sound which nodded to 1960s girl groups,

electronica Electronica is both a broad group of electronic-based music styles intended for listening rather than strictly for dancing and a music scene that started in the early 1990s in the United Kingdom. In the United States, the term is mostly used to r ...

and

folk Folk or Folks may refer to: Sociology *Nation *People * Folklore ** Folk art ** Folk dance ** Folk hero ** Folk music *** Folk metal *** Folk punk *** Folk rock ** Folk religion * Folk taxonomy Arts, entertainment, and media * Folk Plus or Fol ...

. They disbanded in 2007.

History

Lisa O'Neill and Emma Anderson met via a mutual friend in mid-1997, and in early 1998 record their first demo as Sing-Sing, with

Justin Welch Justin Steven Welch (born 4 December 1972) is an English musician, best known as the drummer in Elastica, Suede, and later the drummer in Lush. Biography Welch moved to London in his late teens and studied at London's Drumtech drum school. H ...

Elastica Elastica were an English rock band formed in London in 1992 by ex-Suede members Justine Frischmann and Justin Welch. The band was stylistically influenced by punk rock, post-punk and new wave music. The band's members changed several times, w ...

on drums.Kellman, Andy
Sing-Sing Biography
,

. Retrieved 21 November 2015 A second demo prompted

Simon Raymonde Simon Philip Raymonde (born Simon Philip Pomerance; 3 April 1962, in London) is an English musician and record producer. He is the son of the late arranger and composer Ivor Raymonde. He is best known as the bass guitarist and keyboard player ...

and

Robin Guthrie Robin Andrew Guthrie (born 4 January 1962) is a Scottish musician, songwriter, composer, record producer and audio engineer, best known as the co-founder of the alternative rock band Cocteau Twins. During his career Guthrie has performed ...

to release "Feels Like Summer" as a single on their

Bella Union Bella Union is a British independent record label founded in 1997 by Simon Raymonde and Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins. It is now run solely by Raymonde. History After releasing records with 4AD for a large part of their career, Cocteau Twi ...

label in October 1998.Abebe, Nitsuh (2002)
Sing-Sing The Joy of Sing-Sing
,

Pitchfork Media ''Pitchfork'' (formerly ''Pitchfork Media'') is an American online music publication (currently owned by Condé Nast) that was launched in 1995 by writer Ryan Schreiber as an independent music blog. Schreiber started Pitchfork while working ...

, 4 November 2002. Retrieved 21 November 2015 After having a track on a split single in 1999, they started their own label, Aerial, through which they released their next two singles, "I'll Be" and a re-recorded "Feels Like Summer", in 2000. They signed with

Alan McGee Alan John McGee (born 29 September 1960) is a Scottish businessman and music industry executive. He has been a record label owner, musician, manager, and music blogger for ''The Guardian''. He co-founded the independent Creation Records label, r ...

Poptones Poptones was a record label launched by Alan McGee after the demise of Creation Records in 1999. Its roster included The Hives, January, Arnold, Cherrystones, King Biscuit Time, Thee Unstrung, The Boxer Rebellion, Beachbuggy, Pure Reason Rev ...

label for the release of their debut album, ''The Joy of Sing-Sing'', in October 2001.Begrand, Adrian (2002)
Sing-Sing ''The Joy of Sing-Sing''
,

PopMatters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, fi ...

, 22 August 2002. Retrieved 21 November 2015 It was described as a "divine first album" by

and a "strong debut album" by

gave it a 7.4 rating, with Nitsuh Abebe calling it a "tight, interesting, and great-sounding pop record". ''

CMJ New Music Monthly CMJ Holdings Corp. is a music events and online media company, originally founded in 1978, which ran a website, hosted an annual festival in New York City, and published two magazines, ''CMJ New Music Monthly'' and ''CMJ New Music Report''. Th ...

'' called it "a perfect soundtrack to a lazy afternoon in the countryside".Phillips, Amy (2002)
Sing-Sing ''The Joy of Sing-Sing''
, ''

'', September 2002. Retrieved 21 November 2015 It was released in the US in 2002 by

Manifesto Records Manifesto Records is an independent record label based in Los Angeles, California that has released records by Dead Kennedys, Tim Buckley, Cinerama, Concrete Blonde, Cranes, The Czars, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Lilys, The Rugburns, Sing-Sing, Ken S ...

. They toured the United States twice in 2002 taking in both

SXSW South by Southwest, abbreviated as SXSW and colloquially referred to as South By, is an annual conglomeration of parallel film, interactive media, and music festivals and conferences organized jointly that take place in mid-March in Austin, Te ...

in Austin and

CMJ CMJ Holdings Corp. is a music events and online media company, originally founded in 1978, which ran a website, hosted an annual festival in New York City, and published two magazines, ''CMJ New Music Monthly'' and ''CMJ New Music Report''. Th ...

in New York. To raise funds to record a second album they sold the ''Madame Sing-Sing'' EP via their website.Wilson, MacKenzie
''Sing-Sing and I'' Review
,

. Retrieved 21 November 2015 Second album ''Sing-Sing and I'' followed in 2005, and was again well received by critics.Begrand, Adrian (2006)
Sing-Sing ''Sing-Sing and I''
,

, 27 April 2006. Retrieved 21 November 2015 Caroline Sullivan, reviewing it for ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'' gave it 3 stars out of 5, while PopMatters gave it 6 out of 10. Both the band's albums were produced by O'Neill's former colleague in Locust,

Mark Van Hoen Mark Van Hoen (born September 1966, Croydon, London, England) is an English electronic music artist. He has created music under his own name as well as Locust, and Autocreation. Pitchfork said, "Musically, Van Hoen belongs to a distinguished fa ...

, but they also collaborated with the

(remixed "I'll Be" in a

lovers rock Lovers' rock is a style of reggae music noted for its romantic sound and content. While love songs had been an important part of reggae since the late 1960s, the style was given a greater focus and a name in London in the mid-1970s.Larkin, Col ...

style),

Cocteau Twins Cocteau Twins was a Scottish rock band active from 1979 to 1997. They were formed in Grangemouth by Robin Guthrie (guitars, drum machine) and Will Heggie (bass), adding Elizabeth Fraser (vocals) in 1981 and replacing Heggie with multi-instrum ...

, cellist and string-arranger

Audrey Riley Audrey Riley is an English cellist and string arranger, based in the UK. Career Riley trained at the Guildhall School of Music with Leonard Stehn. She was a cellist for Virginia Astley from 1983 to 1986 and a one-time auxiliary member of The Fam ...

Tim Keegan Tim Keegan is an English singer, songwriter and guitarist. Vocalist and principal songwriter with Departure Lounge since 1999, Keegan has recorded and performed with various bands and as a solo artist. He has worked with a number of noted mu ...

( Departure Lounge vocalist) and 4AD artist

Vinny Miller Vinny Miller (born 1969 in Dorset, England) is an English singer-songwriter and record producer, once signed to the 4AD label. He first came to musical prominence in 1998 as a 4AD signing under the moniker Starry Smooth Hound, releasing a trac ...

. Live musicians for touring included 'Shifty' a.k.a. Michael Scrivens (bass), Poppy Gonzalez (keyboards), Miguel Morland (drums 1998–2000), Jenny Jones (trumpet and keyboards), Darren Groucutt (drums 2000–2002), and Dominic del Torto (guitarist and backing vocalist 2005–2006). At the end of December 2007, they announced via their mailing list and website that they had decided to disband.

Post disbanding

Wrake (née O'Neill) is a graphic designer, and sings with the band Lost Remnants. Anderson took part in the Lush reformation 2015-16.

Discography

Albums

* The Joy of Sing-Sing (2001),

# Everything (Anderson) # Tegan (Anderson/O'Neill/Cipriani) # I'll be (Anderson/O'Neill/Benson) # Me and my friend (O'Neill) # Far away from love (Anderson/Van Hoen) # Panda eyes (Anderson) # Command (O'Neill) # Feels like summer (Anderson/Bloom/Gentry/James/Cordell) # Émigré (O'Neill) # You don't know (Anderson) # Underage (Anderson) # I can see you (O'Neill/Van Hoen) # (bonus track) Keep it that way * Produced by Mark Van Hoen * Sing-Sing and I (2005), Aerial/Reincarnate – CD includes video for "Lover" # Lover (Anderson) # Come, Sing me a Song (O'Neill) # Mister Kadali (O'Neill) # A Modern Girl (Anderson) # Ruby ()'Neill) # I Do (O'Neill) # Going Out Tonight (Anderson/O'Neill) # Unseen (Anderson) # The Time Has Come (Anderson) # When I Was Made (Anderson) # A Kind of Love (O'Neill) * Produced by Mark Van Hoen

Singles and EPs

*"Feels Like Summer" (1998),

*"I Can See You" (1999),

Fierce Panda Fierce Panda Records is a London-based independent record label, with its first release in February 1994. It also produced a small number of releases that year by now famous artists such as Ash, The Bluetones, Baby Bird and Supergrass. Fierc ...

– a double A-side with

Linoleum Linoleum, sometimes shortened to lino, is a floor covering made from materials such as solidified linseed oil (linoxyn), Pine Resin, pine resin, ground Cork (material), cork dust, sawdust, and mineral fillers such as calcium carbonate, most com ...

*"I'll Be"/"Western"/"I'll Be ('Dub You Can Love Mix')" (2000), Aerial/

Sanctuary A sanctuary, in its original meaning, is a sacred place, such as a shrine. By the use of such places as a haven, by extension the term has come to be used for any place of safety. This secondary use can be categorized into human sanctuary, a saf ...

*"Feels Like Summer" (remix) (2000), Aerial/Sanctuary *"Tegan" (2001),

*"Panda Eyes" (2001),

Elefant The ''Elefant'' (German for "elephant") was a heavy tank destroyer used by German Wehrmacht Panzerjäger during World War II. Ninety-one units were built in 1943 under the name Ferdinand, after its designer Ferdinand Porsche, using VK 45.01 ...

*Madame Sing-Sing EP (2004), Aerial # Ruby # A Modern Girl # Every Day # I Do - I Re-Do Mix *"Lover" (2005), Aerial *"Come, Sing Me A Song"/"Mister Darkness" (2006), Aerial

Other appearances

*"Feels Like Summer" appears on the 1999 Polish compilation ''Now To Jest Twoja Muzyka 06'' (''Now That's What I Call Music 06'') (Universal Music Polska 1999) *"Feels Like Summer" appears in the 2005 film ''Shelf Life'' directed by Tamar Halpern. *"Lover" was used in Episode 4 ("Fog") of the 2006 US TV series '' Saved''. *"Come, Sing Me A Song" appears in Season 2, Episode 20 ("Band Aid Covers The Bullet Hole") of the TV Series, ''

Grey's Anatomy ''Grey's Anatomy'' is an American medical drama television series that premiered on March 27, 2005, on ABC as a mid-season replacement. The series focuses on the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings as they develop into se ...

''. It then appeared on Volume 2 of the ''Grey's Anatomy'' soundtrack as an iTunes exclusive. *"A Modern Girl" was used by

The Body Shop The Body Shop International Limited, trading as The Body Shop, is a British cosmetics, skin care and perfume company. Founded in 1976 by Anita Roddick, the company currently has a range of 1,000 products sold in about 3,000 stores, divided b ...

in their 2006 'Make Me Fabulous' make-up campaign (online and in-store). *"Sunbathing" appeared on ''Never Lose That Feeling Volume 2'' on Club AC30 Records in 2005. This was a cover of the Lush song, written by Emma in 1990. *"When I Was Made" appears in the 2007 movie, '' Numb''. *"Come, Sing Me A Song" appears in the 2012 film ''Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life'', written and directed by

Tamar Halpern Tamar Halpern is a writer and director living in Los Angeles. She holds an M.F.A. degree from the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts. Career Halpern has written and directed ten feature films, including the documentary L ...

References

External links

* *

Sing-Sing Sing Sing Correctional Facility, formerly Ossining Correctional Facility, is a maximum-security prison operated by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision in the village of Ossining, New York. It is about north o ...

* Lisa Wrake a
Lisawrake.com

Lost Remnants
featuring Lisa Wrake (née O'Neill)
Lost Remnants at Bandcamp
{{Authority control All-female bands Musical groups from London Musical groups established in 1997 Musical groups disestablished in 2007 Bella Union artists Sanctuary Records artists