Published on July 10, 2019Updated on June 19, 2023
In just a few short years, electropop classical-crossover group, Clean Bandit, has conquered Britain and the world. This 8 August, the audience at the Monaco Salle des Étoiles will, in this magnificent setting, discover the festive music of the group, led by the charismatic Grace Chatto. The signer of the trio will be emcee of their venue as part of the 2019 Monte-Carlo Sporting Summer Festival.
Can Mozart’s melodies really live alongside house beats? Thanks to Clean Bandit, we now know the answer is undoubtedly “yes”! Since their 2013 hit appropriately named Mozart’s House, the group has continued to blend different genres. In addition to electronic and symphonic music, dance hall, pop and even hip-hop have infused the scores of these masterminds of the charts. What’s their secret? Their ability to produce chart-topping songs and to attract prestigious vocalists, who collaborate with the group as featured artists in their anthology.
From a duo to a group
Looking at the impressive streaming numbers and YouTube views of Clean Bandit’s hit songs over the last four years, it is hard to believe that the group struggled for some years before making it big. The cheerful band was formed in 2008 around the electronic productions written by Jack Patterson. At this time, he used samples of a string quartet, for which then girlfriend Grace Chatto played the cello. The couple was living in Moscow when the duo was joined by Luke Patterson, Jack’s brother, and Ssegawa-Ssekintu Kiwanuka, who laid down the vocals on their first compositions. The group recorded Mozart’s House in Russia in 2010. It would take several years before their song would hit the radio waves. Thanks to much sacrifice and many club gigs—and despite personal bumps in the road, with Kiwanuka’s decision to leave the group to pursue a career in science and Grace and Jack’s split—the group is still going strong. They have enjoyed a string of hits: after Mozart’s House, the success of Rather Be, featuring Jess Glynne, shot them to the top of the charts, a position they have managed to hold ever since.
Among the stars
Clean Bandit’s classical and electronic crossover productions flooded the airwaves in 2014: after Grammy-award-winning Rather Be, Extraordinary, Come Over and Real Love were all successful releases. The singles form the framework of their début album, New Eyes. To top off their undeniable musical talent, the quartet works very hard on the visual elements of its videos, making the group a YouTube phenomenon. The summertime vibe of their compositions has major appeal for clubs and stages all around the world: seaside dance floors at pop festivals, after-party evening galas, and more. From Ibiza to Monaco, with a stopover in Kyoto, the whole planet is grooving along to their first album.
A turning-point and continued success
In 2016, the trio’s sound took a sharp turn. Rockabye, the first release from their second album What is Love?, featured vocals by Sean Paul and Anne-Marie and was more heavily saturated in synthetic notes than string arrangements. This new electropop recipe would place Grace, Jack and Luke among the stars. For the last two years, each of their singles has been fronted by a notable guest artist, including names like Zara Larsson, Marina (aka Marina and the Diamonds), Demi Lovato, Luis Fonsi, and Ellie Goulding. From Solo to Mama, Symphony or I Miss You... All of these songs are available in live versions featuring solo singing performances by Grace, who has come to personify Clean Bandit in their videos and on stage. The young woman, accompanied by her two musical accomplices, will, as part of their summer tour, lay it all out on stage in Paris for Lollapalooza 2019 and in Monaco for the Monte-Carlo Sporting Summer Festival!
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