Pristine percussion, dramatic synth work and an imperious vocal performance are all hallmarks of The Frixion’s inimitable take on the synthpop and coldwave genres. Each member an established and highly regarded electronic artist and performer in their own right, The Frixion’s impressive catalogue of albums, EPs and live performances has garnered them critical acclaim and appreciative audiences throughout the UK and Europe.
The first incarnation of The Frixion – Gene Serene and Lloyd Price – quickly received a lot of positive attention from music fans and tastemakers alike after their debut release in 2017, with a sound that Electricity Club described as ‘enticing Kylie goes Gothic pop.’
British-born, London/Berlin based singer songwriter Gene Serene has been releasing her distinct brand of electronic pop since the late 90s. The 00s saw Gene propelled and embraced by the electro-pop/clash scene, co-writing with Bill Borez and Barry Ashworth, and writing and performing with diverse artists as Traumschmeire (Shit Katapault), S’Express (Kitsune), Chris Lake (Nervous), Sycophant Slags (End Recordings) and Calvertron.
These collaborations took her everywhere from New York to Berlin, via Tallin and scores of cities in between. Gene subsequently released her debut solo album The Polaris Experience in 2015.
Lloyd Price has produced and been a member of a range of electro acts including Massive Ego and AgencyV, released a solo project titled Polemic, and lent his production and remix skills to a wide range of acts including Stereo in Solo and Terminatryx.
Gene and Lloyd came across one another on social media; having connected via their shared grief at the news of their hero Prince passing away. Lloyd had heard Gene’s previous work and sent over a demo track which became their first single From Dusk ‘til Dawn. The rest, as they say, is history.
The now duo quickly released a self-titled EP and an accompanying remix suite of lead track If U Ever Wonder. The EP featured four original tracks and a cover version of Prince’s Under the Cherry Moon. These self-released EPs were extremely well received by radio across the globe and appeared in the end of year top listings of an array of electronic music radio stations and online blogs.
In late 2017 the band released a cover of the Howard Jones classic What is Love? Once again, the band garnered extremely positive feedback and even a virtual nod from Howard himself in the form of likes and retweets on Twitter.
With their first EPs and a single under their belts, the band locked themselves away in the studio writing and recording their first album. The Frixion also join forces with Manchester’s AnalogueTrash record label in the summer of 2018 after working together on the Ohm From Ohm Tour earlier that year.
Having signed to AnalogueTrash is 2018 following the Ohm From Ohm tour, the first release via their new label was the sublime Magic, which was followed by another digital single – What We Gonna Do? – and a special four track cassette only release for International Cassette Store Day that year which includes the bonus tracks Deceive a Believer, Deceive a Believer (The Slow Deception), and the band’s iconic cover of Howard Jones’ What is Love.
While their initial collaboration in April 2016 was online and often remained so, the duo’s dual base in Germany and the UK provided the perfect platform for them to play gigs around the UK and mainland Europe including Berlin and Copenhagen.
Their intoxicating blend of sultry vocals, conscious lyrics and beautifully elegant arrangements has seen them win over not just fans of electronic music, but also discerning fans of well written, intelligent pop. Though the pandemic consigned the band to an entirely online existence, it didn’t stop them releasing a further series of singles throughout 2020 and 2021.
Mid-2021 saw Gene and Lloyd release To Hell and Back, an album that proved to be an artistic and personal triumph – and catharsis – for the band. Over its twenty-one tracks, it featured a slew of the band’s previous singles, a stunning collection of remixes, and the Pet Shop Boys meets Gary Numan europop noir of Heartbroke Disco.
2023 saw the duo continued the release singles in the wake of To Hell and Back, Starstruck Love and a cover of Velvet Condom’s Collapse in Slow Motion being particular highlights in a busy release schedule. Those two singles were co-produced by renowned DJ, producer, ex-Rosetta Stone bassist, and record label owner Porl Young; and very much helped bring about a creative rebirth for The Frixion.
Meanwhile, Starstruck Love and Collapse in Slow Motion were both followed by sweeping electronica remixes courtesy of Matt Smith aka Tipsy Eyes; and a new original collaborative track – the emotional powerhouse that is Stay – and the band’s first original new music for 2024.
Matt’s ability to appreciate and reimagine The Frixion’s unique mix of coldwave and European-flavoured electropop, along with a burgeoning creative partnership with Gene thanks to the process of remixing the tracks, led to him being welcomed into The Frixion’s extended musical family.
The line-up of The Frixion is currently focused around Gene at its creative centre, with Lloyd and Porl contributing where their other commitments allow. Matt will also be stepping up on production and live duties over the coming months in what is shaping up to be an incredibly busy period for the band.
