La Roux

In a blaze of icy synths and fiery vocals, La Roux made the dance floor both a battleground and a refuge with its 2009 breakout singles, “In for the Kill” and “Bulletproof”. The synth-pop smashes were a far cry from the acoustic folk that singer Elly Jackson and producer Ben Langmaid first dabbled in after meeting in London in 2006. Within a few years, the duo swapped strings for keys, embraced flashy New Wave and christened itself La Roux—a name inspired by Jackson’s red locks and androgynous style. The sleek electro bangers of the pair’s 2009 self-titled debut gave ‘80s revivalism a fresh coat of futuristic panache. But the partnership didn’t last long. Following Langmaid’s departure in 2012, Jackson pressed on, adding sunny doses of dub, disco and funk to her club confections with 2014’s Trouble in Paradise and 2020’s more minimalist Supervision—all while maintaining La Roux’s cool, effortless aesthetic.