La Roux

Image via Last.fm

Ever since her first single "Quicksand" came out in 2008, I have been a huge fan of Eleanor Kate Jackson, aka La Roux.  Aptly named for her red hair and tomboyish style, La Roux combines both masculine and feminine forms of the French expression for "red-haired one".  La Roux is actually a duo with keyboardist/producer Ben Langmaid who Elly met in school.  She cites folk legends as Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake as her first influences followed later by 80s synthpop greats Depeche Mode, Yazoo, and The Human League.  Enjoying much success in the UK, her single "Bulletproof" took off in the US by 2010, and she recently picked up the Grammy for best Electric/Dance album in February of this year.


Her style and music is the perfect blend of 80s funk, with a touch of folk, and a lot of spunk.  All of her music videos are pretty awesome, but here is one of my favorites for her lesser known "I'm Not Your Toy".



Check out her videos for "In For the Kill" and "Bulletproof" too.  Long live the 80s!