Juliet Richardson

Juliet Richardson (born in 1980 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American singer, known as "Juliet", best know for her 2005 album "Random Order" and hit single "Avalon".

Career

Her recording debut was in 2000 as the singer for 1 plus 1. Their single "Cherry Bomb" from the Elektra Records album of the same title reached the Billboard magazine Top 40 Club Play Chart in 2001, as well as the Top 50 Dance chart.

Music

Despite the initial promise of success, Richardson expressed displeasure with the marketing direction for 1 plus 1, and the act was recreated as alternative rock band MNQNN (pronounced "mannequin"). This music, differing greatly from the prior 1 plus 1 work, prompted Elektra to release them from their recording contract. MNQNN played rock clubs for a couple of years before the band went on an indefinite hiatus in June 2003.

Richardson persuaded Josh Deutsch of Virgin Records to sign her to that label. She reconnected with Steve Sydelink who had worked in her bands and was the drummer in Madonna's band.

ingles

In 2004, Richardson returned to major label recording, after Sydelink introduced her to record producer Stuart Price (also known as Jacques Lu Cont) under the name "Juliet". The album resulting from this project, "Random Order", was released in August 2005; reviews of advance copies have been well received by critics. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/dance/reviews/juliet_random.shtml] [http://www.billboard.com/bb/search/article_display.jsp?schema=&vnu_content_id=1000807664] [http://www.jivemagazine.com/review.php?rid=1001] The advance single, "Avalon", reached the top 5 on the European Dance chart in May 2005, and number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in March 2005. "Avalon" was popular at the 2005 "Miami Winter Music Conference". The song also reached the top 30 of the UK singles chart in April 2005. She scored a second number one on the US dance chart in August with "Ride the Pain".

Random Order (2005 debut album)

In August 2005, Juliet released her debut album on Virgin Records. Recorded with the help of producer Stuart Price of Les Rythmes Digitales, Zoot Woman and Madonna's "Confessions On A Dancefloor" fame, the album drew comparisons to a young Annie Lennox or Madonna thanks to her coolly emotional delivery with a sultry sexual charge. Juliet collaborated with another producer on the album, Guy Sigsworth (Madonna/Björk/Frou Frou) on the song "New Shoes". UK radio DJ Pete Tong supported the single "Avalon" on his influential radio show which many regarded as a stand-out song. Overall the album mixes old school electro and funk with modern day pop sensibilities.

Discography

Full Length Albums

*"Random Order" (August 2005) · UK/USA release · Virgin Records · CD & Digital Download

CD Singles/Vinyl/Digital Downloads

* "Ride The Pain" (July 2005 · Virgin Records)
* "Avalon" (April 2005 · Virgin Records)

ee also

*List of number-one dance hits (United States)
*List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart

External links

* [http://www.julietsounds.com Juliet official home page] (needs Macromedia Flash)
* [http://www.astralwerks.com/juliet/default.html Juliet page at Astralwerks]
* [http://www.ozonerecording.com/mnqnn.html MNQNN page at Ozone Recording]
* [http://www.billboard.com/bb/search/article_display.jsp?schema=&vnu_content_id=1000807664 Billboard article on Juliet 17 February 2005]