Calvin Harris

Scottish music producer, artist, and deejay Calvin Harris was only 22 when his first major-label album was dropped.

Born in January 1984, this guy is the same age as me!  He became interested in electronic music very early, and was recording demos in his bedroom by 1999.  He went from posting his 'electroclash' music on MySpace to signing with a multinational record label almost instantaneously.  In 2006, an Artists & Reportoire delegate heard his music, contacted him, and immediately signed him to a major label.

His debut album, entitled 'I Created Disco' was released the following year and featured two top-10 hits.  Soon enough, he was remixing works by Jamiroquai, All Saints, and the Brazilian new rave sensation, CSS.   A collaboration between him and Dizzee Rascal hit #1 in the U.K.  He continues to pump out #1 hits, with songs like "I'm Not Alone" and "Acceptable in the 80's".

He already has multiple number 1 hits, and is becoming more and more prominent every year.  His songs exemplify colorful disco and electronic influences with a modern r&b styling.  His vocal work features very soothing, yet powerful tonalities with excellent vocal harmonies and melodic phrasing.

Simian Mobile Disco

In 2005, James Ford and Jas Shaw formed Simian Mobile Disco.  From the UK, this duo began after leaving the other members of their previous experimental electronics band, Simian.

Hoping to break from the mold of polished, programmed dance tracks, the duo exclusively uses analog equipment - a style for which they are most known.  Their tracks feature house roots, four-on-the-floor, dancable beats, and electronica influences.

They released a remix album in 2008, entitled Sample and Hold.  A year later, an entirely original album, Temporary Pleasure, appeared with collaboration from some big-named producers.

Last year, they released their studio album Delicatessen & Delicacies, taking the names of their tracks from bizarre delicacies around the world.

Watch their video 'Hustler'.  It's hot.

iMonster - Daydream in Blue

iMonster is an eclectic, electronic duo from England.  It was formed in 1997 by record producers Jarrod Gosling and Dean Honer.   Together, they own their own label, Twins of Evil.

They feature very docile rock instrumentation and mellow electronica.  They are most renowned for their subtle vocal harmonies, melodic phrasing, and awesome string ensemble.

Their biggest hit came with 'Daydream in Blue' in 2001, which hit #20 in the UK.  Since their acclaimed album 'Neveroddoreven', released in 2003, the duo have done many guest DJ appearances all over the country.

Their most recent album, A Dense Swarm Of Ancient Stars, was released in 2009.  Very good stuff!  Check out some of their other videos!

100% Chromeo

Chromeo is an electrofunk duo from Montreal, Canada.  The band formed in the mid 1990's, and are most known for their electronica and disco influences, their house roots, and their extremely danceable beats.

The band is composed of P-Thugg (Patrick Gemayel), who plays synthesizer, keyboard and talk box, and Dave 1 (David Macklovitch), the duo's guitar player and lead vocalist.

The two, who were childhood friends, sarcastically define themselves as the "only successful Arab / Jewish partnership since the dawn of human culture".

Their debut album, 'She's In Control', dropped in 2004.  It instantly became a world-wide hit, being played in clubs overseas, as well as at home.

After a three year break, the band released their second album, Fancy Footwork.  And another album, Business Casual, on September 14, 2010.

On February 21, they performed their hit-song ''Hot Mess" on TBS's Conan.  Watch it here!

This is one of my all-time favorite bands.  Their videos are awesome, and they seem to respectfully enjoy their fan-base, and their success.  Not to mention - they're incredibly good at what they do.  They seem to be a convivial duo who are trying to create something new in a world of repetition and monotony. 

Yelle!

Yelle is an amazing French band founded by Julie Budet.  She was born January, 1983 and became prominent when an early version of their song 'Je veux te voir' appeared on MySpace in September 2005.  Later that year, it reached the top 5 songs in France, and in 2007, their debut album, 'Pop Up' was released.

The band includes lead singer Julie, drummer Jan-Francois Perrier, and keyboarder Tanguy Destable.

Their sounds include electronica influences, mild rhythmic cyncopation, heavy use of vocal harmonies, synthetic sonority and minor key tonality.

Listen to her!!!