Republica

The British band Republica was formed in 1996 by former Flowered Up keyboardist Tim Dorney, and quickly came to popular attention with their debut single Ready To Go, and its follow-up Drop Dead Gorgeous. The Republica sound was described by lead singer Saffron as "techno-pop punk rock", although Melody Maker took to calling it 'electronica'. The band's self-titled debut album was released in July 1996, and reached number four in the album charts. However, their follow-up album Speed Ballads and its lead single From Rush Hour With Love only reached number 37 and 20 respectively, and the group dissolved shortly afterwards. During its lifetime, the group - and particularly lead singer Saffron - attracted much positive press coverage; emerging after a wave of female-fronted rock bands (such as Elastica, Lush, Sleeper, Echobelly, and Kenickie), they had, like Garbage, a notably more aggressive and electronic sound.

Related Topics:
Band - Flowered Up - Tim Dorney - Sound - Techno - Pop - Punk rock - Melody Maker - Speed Ballads - Elastica - Lush - Sleeper - Echobelly - Kenickie - Garbage

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Saffron was born in Nigeria, and claims Portuguese, Chinese and English ancestry. Outside of the band, she was also the featured vocalist on The Prodigy's Fuel My Fire, from their 1996 album The Fat of the Land.

Related Topics:
Nigeria - Portuguese - Chinese - English - The Prodigy - The Fat of the Land

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As of 2005, they are not currently recording together, with Saffron now working on a new band called Swarm Swarm. Keyboardist Tim Dorney briefly reunited with fellow former Flowered Up band member Liam Maher, but split up in late 2002. The Republica website states that Johnny is now part of a band called Cheap Glue, but no more details have emerged. Johnny also co-wrote tracks for Lipslide, the 1997 solo album by Sarah Cracknell of Saint Etienne.

Related Topics:
2005 - Swarm Swarm - Flowered Up - Liam Maher - 2002 - Cheap Glue - Sarah Cracknell - Saint Etienne

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