Shaft (British electronica band)

Shaft
Origin Brighton, England
Genres Electronica, house, Latin dance, big beat
Years active 1999–2001; 2015-present
Labels Wonderboy Records, Universal Records, Nitelite Records, Jellybean Recordings, Urban,
Website Discogs.com
Past members Alex Rizzo, Elliot Ireland

Shaft were a British electronic music production duo, known for their covers and remixes of "(Mucho Mambo) Sway" and "Mambo Italiano". The former entered and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart in August 1999. The original version featured a vocal sample of Rosemary Clooney but Rizzo and Ireland were unable to clear the sample, so the vocal on the final track was sung by Claire Vaughan from Thurstonland, Huddersfield. They followed this with the release of "Mambo Italiano" (vocal by Donna Canale), which peaked at number twelve on the UK Singles Chart.[1] They went on to tour the world and win a gold disc for best performing group. Since then, they have recorded more songs such as "Kiri Riri Boom" and "Shake Seniora".

Members

History

Having acquired a home based recording studio, the duo compiled a database of samples and sound clips. Their biggest hit originated there, with a sample of the Perez Prado song "Sway" which became "(Mucho Mambo) Sway" which reached number 2 in the UK. The original version featured a vocal sample of Rosemary Clooney but Rizzo and Ireland were unable to clear the sample, so the vocal on the final track was sung by Claire Vaughan from Thurstonland, Huddersfield. Lou Bega's "Mambo No. 5", also based on a Prado song, competed for the top position in the UK Singles Chart in the summer of 1999. "Wassuup!", a collage of the Budweiser advertisement catchphrase and the Rick James' track "Super Freak", used by MC Hammer on "U Can't Touch This", was then released under the Da Muttz moniker.[1]

Rizzo and Ireland operated, as did many dance record producers, under various guises. Before Shaft and Da Muttz was Skeewiff. Their formative period in the music industry came with a spell working at the Power Studios in Acton. They undertook remixes for Björk and produced tracks for Alison Limerick and Schooly D. They begin work on the first Skeewiff album, released on their own imprint, Jalapeño Records (teaming up with the Ministry of Sound's FSUK label). With Shaft they signed to Wonderboy Records in 1999. The year after they joined Head On Management, where Phil Nicholas, together with Head On directors Guy Trezise and Steve Baker, currently represent them.[4]

Their track "Kiri Riri Boom" peaked at No. 62 in the UK chart in June 2001.[1]

As Skeewiff, their mix of Man of Constant Sorrow was ranked 96 in the Triple J Hottest 100, 2003, released on Volume 11 disk 1 track 20.[5]

Discography

Singles

Albums

References

  1. 1 2 3 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 491. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. ↑ "Alex Rizzo Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
  3. ↑ "Elliot Ireland Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
  4. ↑ "A&R, Record Label / Company, Music Publishing, Artist Manager and Music Industry Directory". Hitquarters.com. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
  5. ↑ Triple J hootest 100 Volume 11
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