Sing-Sing

Indie pop group Sing-Sing formed after former Lush guitarist/vocalist Emma Anderson met vocalist Lisa O'Neill in mid-1997. Roughly eight months later, the duo recorded a four-song demo with Elastica's Justin Welch playing drums. Two months after that, another demo was recorded with the help of producer Mark Van Hoen, who O'Neill had worked with previously in Locust. Ex-Cocteau Twins Simon Raymonde and Robin Guthrie heard it and eventually released the Feels Like Summer single on their label, Bella Union, in October of 1998. Around this time, the duo started playing out; they added drummer Mig (Moose, Moonshake), bassist Shifty, and keyboardist Poppy Gonzalez (Mojave 3). A split single with Linoleum was issued on Fierce Panda in early 1999 and wasn't followed with anything until well into the following year. The group released the I'll Be and Feels Like Summer (featuring a re-recording) singles on Aerial, their own imprint. In 2001, Anderson and O'Neill struck a temporary licensing deal with Alan McGee's Poptones label; their full-length debut, The Joy of Sing-Sing, was issued that fall. Appearances at SXSW and CMJ and two North American tours coincided the release. Two years later, Anderson and O'Neill began working on a follow-up effort, however funds were fleeting. The Madame EP (2004), recorded on the band's own dime, was made available for order only through Sing-Sing's official website (www.sing-sing.co.uk to raise money for a proper second album. Within a month, Sing-Sing earned enough to resume recording. Sing-Sing and I followed in summer 2005. ~ Andy Kellman