The Way Electroclash Brought Back Glamour, Grit and Excitement to 00s Music
Johnny Slut knew his party Nag had reached a tipping point when he saw a legendary TV host dancing. “I believe that’s the one occasion I got extremely pumped,” he laughs. “My selection included the reworked version of the song My Neck, My Back – and there was Cilla.”
An International Movement of Electro-Clash
A fresh wave of electronic music appeared around the world in the 2000s. Germany featured group Chicks on Speed and pioneering an influential DJ. France produced Miss Kittin, The Hacker, and other artists. Britain spawned Ladytron and Add N To (X). Canadian musicians introduced a producer and an artist who reinvented her music with a synthesizer.
NYC had Fischerspooner and a DJ-producer who coined the term electro-clash. The lyrics were witty, at times explicit, and over-the-top. The sound fused house with a rough-hewn vibe.
“It isn’t like today,” notes Larry Tee. “You could record releasable songs in your home studio.”
A Reaction to the Established Industry
Electroclash felt like a counterpoint to polished superclubs. As one artist stated, it was music by “outsider creators … tired with a system” that restricted what music should be.
This movement rapidly attracted an crowd. Nag Nag Nag played not only electroclash but also industrial music. It grew into an immediate success, attracting celebrities like Kate Moss, Alexander McQueen, and a pop icon.
Legacy and Renewed Interest
Despite media attention, electroclash didn’t create a huge commercial act. Some artists found it tough on traditional shows. But its impact spread pop music through acts like a girl group, an electronic duo, and even Madonna.
Stateside, though, the genre faced a negative reaction. A key figure argues it was because the music industry ignored “women, LGBTQ+ people and non-binary individuals.”
Lately, however, the style has experienced a resurgence. New artists and events have rediscovered the name. Peaches toured her debut record to excited fans, including twentysomething listeners.
“In my view the younger generation connect with it,” notes Larry Tee. “This was like the counterculture.”
The music of electroclash remain fresh today. Its ideas – queer expression and punk energy – are more current than ever.
