AlunaGeorge are an English electronic music duo from London, consisting of singer-songwriter Aluna Francis and producer George Reid.[1]
AlunaGeorge | |
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![]() Aluna Francis of AlunaGeorge performing in June 2016 at Scala in London | |
Background information | |
Origin | London, England |
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Years active | 2012–present |
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Members |
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Website | alunageorge |
The duo first met in June 2009, when Reid remixed Francis' band My Toys Like Me's track "Sweetheart".[2][3]
AlunaGeorge released the single "You Know You Like It" as a digital download on 20 April 2012, followed by a vinyl release on 11 June 2012. The duo's first commercial single, "Your Drums, Your Love", was released on 10 September 2012, debuting at number 50 on the UK Singles Chart.[4][5] During a visit to BBC Radio 1 on 3 January 2013, AlunaGeorge announced that their debut album would be titled Body Music and released in June 2013, along with the premiere of the full-length version of the song "Diver".[6][7] On 4 June 2013, the duo unveiled the cover art and track listing for Body Music, and confirmed the album would be released on 29 July 2013.[8]
It was announced in December 2012 that AlunaGeorge had been shortlisted for the 2013 BRIT Award of Critics' Choice.[9] Then, later in December, the BBC announced that the duo had also been nominated for the Sound of 2013 poll, in which they finished in second place.[10]
In February 2013, AlunaGeorge scored their first top-40 entry, a collaboration with Disclosure on "White Noise". The single reached number two on the UK Singles Chart. Huw Stephens also premiered a track from the group on his BBC Radio 1 show titled "Attracting Flies", which was eventually included on their debut album.[11] The duo performed at the Evolution Festival in Newcastle upon Tyne on 27 May 2013.
A collection of previously released and brand new remixes, Body Music Remixed, was released on 16 June 2014.[12] On 3 October 2014 AlunaGeorge released a single called "Supernatural".[13]
On 14 July 2015, it was announced that AlunaGeorge had signed with the American record label Interscope Records.[14]
The duo released the single "I'm in Control", featuring Jamaican artist Popcaan, on 20 January 2016.[15] That same day, Francis revealed in an interview with BBC Radio 1's Annie Mac that the duo's second studio album was titled I Remember, which was set to be released on 16 September 2016 via Island Records in the UK and Interscope Records in the US.[15][16] AlunaGeorge was an opening act with Miguel for the North American Arena tour of Australian star Sia.[17] The Nostalgic for the Present Tour ran through November 2016.
In 2017, AlunaGeorge was the main opening act for the European leg of A Head Full of Dreams Tour of the band Coldplay.[18]
In 2020, Francis announced that she would be releasing music as a solo artist. Her first single, 'Body Pump', was released on 30 April 2020. In an interview with The Forty-Five[19] Francis stated that AlunaGeorge was not over but "there started to be certain musical and lyrical areas that felt awkward to do in a duo, because they were so singularly from my culture and my perspective".
Aluna's vocals have been described as "almost child-like" as well as being called "sugar sweet" and "emotionally soulful and heartwarming too". George's production combines sounds from bass, garage and dubstep.[20]
The band use techniques of R&B and use "futuristic pop". The musical style has been described as "advanced minimalistic polyrhythmic beats" as well as "bashment, experimental hip-hop, '90's R&B and house". The duo cite inspiration from artists including Flying Lotus, Chris Clark, Hudson Mohawke, Destiny's Child and Mariah Carey; the band also cite James Taylor, Van Morrison, Aaliyah, PJ Harvey, CocoRosie as references.[21]
Aluna Francis was born in Wales in July 1988 to a Jamaican father and an Indian mother. After her parents separated, she was raised in New Jersey and London.[22][23] Her name “Aluna” means “come here” in the Mwera dialect of Tanzania, “pupil” in Portuguese and “Mother Earth” in Mayan.[24] Before working in the music industry, Francis worked as a reflexologist.[25] Francis' first venture into the music industry came when she sang in a group called My Toys Like Me.[2] In 2013, Francis appeared as a panellist on the BBC music game show Never Mind the Buzzcocks.[26] In July 2019, Francis announced that she was expecting a child by the end of the year Francis announced on 17 November 2019 via Instagram that she had given birth to a girl named Amaya.
Francis released a solo album, Renaissance on 28 August 2020 through Mad Decent.[27] In January 2022, Francis teamed up with Diplo and Italian producer Durante[28] for an indie-dance single called “Forget About Me”.[29][30]
George Reid was born in 1989. Reid was previously a guitarist in indie-math rock band Colour. He has cited minimal American hip hop by The Neptunes, as well as Lil Wayne, as inspirations. Reid has said his approach to music-making stems from it being "so easy to get lost in software, you get to a point where so many noises might be carrying the song, rather than the song carrying everything else. So that’s my excuse for having nothing in there."[2]
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
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2013 | BRIT Awards | Critics' Choice[9] | Nominated | |
BBC | Sound of 2013[10] | Second | ||
MOBO Awards | Best Video in association with SBTV | Attracting Flies | Nominated | |
Best Song in Association with PRS for Music | White Noise | Nominated | ||
Popjustice £20 Music Prize | Best British Pop Single | Nominated | ||
UK Festival Awards | Anthem of the Summer | Nominated | ||
2014 | BRIT Awards | Song of the Year | Nominated | |
World Music Awards | World's Best Song | Nominated | ||
2015 | NME Awards | Best Track | Won | |
2016 | Billboard Music Awards | Top Dance/Electronic Song | You Know You Like It | Nominated |
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