| The Secret Handshake | |
|---|---|
The Secret Handshake performing on July 16, 2010. |
|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Dallas, Texas, United States |
| Genres | Pop Punk, Electronica, Electropop, Blue-eyed soul[1] |
| Years active | 2004-2011 |
| Labels | Triple Crown, sixsevenine, Doll House |
| Associated acts | Of Legends[2] |
| Website | www.thesecrethandshake.net |
| Members | |
| Luis Dubuc |
|
The Secret Handshake is the electronica/soul musical project of self-taught musician Luis Dubuc. Dubuc sings and plays all instruments on the band's studio albums, including guitar, synthesizer, piano, percussion, and sound effects which he creates on his computer.[3] He has a new musical project, a Metal band called Of Legends: http://www.oflegends.net.
Contents |
Luis Dubuc was born in New Orleans, LA. He speaks Spanish fluently, but chose The Secret Handshake as his stage name, saying, "I didn't want people to think I was a Latin singer like Enrique Iglesias. Not because those people are bad, because they make great music. But I didn't want anyone to get the wrong idea. I wanted a nondescriptive band's name so that the music can speak for itself."[3]
Dubuc first got his start playing drums in a couple of bands with his friends, most notably in the hardcore unit Thirty Called Arson.[4] Inspired by artists like Michael Jackson and Daft Punk, he eventually began writing and recording some songs as a side project in his Dallas-based bedroom with a laptop and Wurlitzer to assist him.[5] By November 2004, Dubuc had self-released his first full-length album, entitled Antarctica. Less than a year later, he followed up with the EP This Is Bigger Than You and I, which was issued through Doll House Recordings and also featured his now-wife, Bethany Brown. Momentum began building around his distinctive electronica laptop pop/rock, and The Secret Handshake developed a devoted fanbase. Another EP, Summer of '98 (referring to the summer before he started high school),[6] was released in early 2007 through New York's Triple Crown Records,[7] anchored by the vocoder-heavy title track. The full length One Full Year followed, becoming his full length Triple Crown Records debut.
In 2008 The Secret Handshake was featured on the Punk Goes Crunk compilation/covers album. His cover of the Skee-Lo rap classic "I Wish" got the project massive exposure and introduced his music to an almost mainstream audience.[8]
2009
On April 29, 2009, The Secret Handshake released his third studio album, My Name Up in Lights. The album was recorded entirely in Dubuc's apartment in Dallas.[9] In 2009, the album reached #17 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart[10] and #45 on the Independent Albums chart.[11]
The Secret Handshake opened for the Alternative Press Tour 2009, entitled The Fall Ball, which also featured You Me At Six, Set Your Goals, The Academy Is..., and Mayday Parade.[12] Luis Dubuc was featured on the subscriber-only cover of Alternative Press November 2009 issue, along with the lead singers of the other bands featured on The Fall Ball tour with a feature article.[13] The Secret Handshake toured in Australia from November 26 to December 6.[14]
2010
The Secret Handshake finished a two month tour in the summer of 2010 with Every Avenue, Sing it Loud, and There for Tomorrow on the Motel 6 "Rock Yourself to Sleep" tour.[15]
The Secret Handshake's new album Night and Day was released on August 17, 2010.
Night & Day was released with a bonus album. The "Day" album has a more motown, soul-influenced sound with 11 tracks, while the "Night" bonus album contains Electro remixes of 9 of the "Day" tracks. Each copy of Night & Day will include a download card for the "Night" album, or the two albums can be purchased separately on iTunes.
Sound In The Signals complimented the new style found on the album, but criticized Dubuc's vocal ability.[16] Alternative Press noted the new Motown sound was a risky move but stated that Dubuc "obviously had the skills to pull it off".[17]
Luis Dubuc was interviewed in the Alternative Press October 2010 issue, in the feature article titled You Can Hurry Love.[18]
The Secret Handshake hosted the Luis & The Handshakes Tour - a full U.S. headline tour featuring A Cursive Memory.[19]
The End Of The Secret Handshake
On September 21, 2011, Luis Dubuc posted on his twitter "so by this point its obvious but TSH is pretty much over. done with the past. proud of what i accomplished but ready to move on."[20] He later posted about a new project he has started called 'Mystery Skulls'.
Luis Dubuc - All instruments (2004–2011)[21]
