Studio Killers is a British-Finnish-Danish electropop virtual band made up of four animated characters: vocalist and designer Cherry, keyboardist Goldie Foxx, DJ Dyna Mink, and manager Bipolar Bear.
Studio Killers | |
|---|---|
 Members from left to right: Goldie Foxx, Cherry, Dyna Mink | |
| Background information | |
| Origin |
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| Genres | |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Labels |
|
| Members |
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| Website | studiokillers |
History
edit2011–2014: Formation and debut studio album
editThe voices of Goldie Foxx and Dyna Mink stated that they had originally written a song for a British girl band that was dropped from their label and were put in contact with Cherry's vocalist, who wrote the lyrics and performed the song with them.[2][3] The members claim that most of their correspondence is through email, although their song "Who Is in Your Heart Now?" was written when they first had a face to face meeting.[4] The identities of the band members are unknown, and all interaction with fans is conducted via their fictional counterparts; however, it has been speculated by fans that the Finnish musician Teemu Brunila provides the voice of Cherry.[5]
They premiered in 2011 with the single "Ode to the Bouncer", about the lead singer character Cherry's difficulties in getting into a club,[6] and gained popularity through their music video on YouTube. The single was successful in the Netherlands, Finland, and Denmark. After releasing other singles "Eros and Apollo", "All Men Are Pigs", and "Jenny" through 2012 and 2013, they released their self-titled debut album in 2013, and followed up in 2014 with the new single "Grande Finale". Studio Killers also announced that they were going to start having live shows, starting with the 2014 Ruisrock festival in Finland,[7] followed by Ilosaarirock.[8][9] To prepare for this performance and a world tour, they began a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter for £50,000 and successfully gathered £55,176.[10]
In 2014 the band performed live at Ruisrock and Ilosaarirock festivals. The real-life counterparts of the characters Goldie Foxx and Dyna Mink appeared on stage wearing masks, and the character Cherry was present in the form of screen projection.[11]
2015–2019: Hiatus and comeback
editIn 2015, after a year-long absence, Studio Killers made a brief comeback and released the music video for "Jenny" on 24 December, as a Christmas gift to their fans.[12] The band went on a two year long hiatus, up until 15 February 2018, a YouTube video titled "Fresh Start: Studio Killers Are Back!" was posted onto their official YouTube channel, in which an animated Cherry promises new music coming soon.[13]
Later on in 2018, they released two singles; "Party Like It's Your Birthday" on 8 June and "Dirty Car" on 30 November, with music videos accompanying each song respectively.[14][15]
On 31 August 2019 the group announced their intent to create an animated series and plan to launch a kickstarter to create a pitch pilot called Studio Killers 404.[16] The kickstarter reached its $115,000 goal in three days.[17][18]
2020–2023: "Jenny" TikTok success and remixes
editDuring 2020, the 2013 single "Jenny" started gaining success over the platform TikTok and started a new trend on the video-sharing app.[19] The group decided to release a lyric video to the song on 13 January 2021. The track later received a remix by Danish DJ and producer Faustix, on 10 February 2021.
The group recorded a new version of the single "Jenny" with the help of German singer Kim Petras; this new version was released on 26 March 2021.[20]
In June 2021, the group collaborated with electronic music duo The Knocks and released the single "Bedroom Eyes". They later featured in a remix of the song by Nathan Barnatt under the persona of Dad Feels.[21]
In December 2021, an animated pilot Studio Killers 404 was released on YouTube.[22]
On March 24, 2023, they released a new single, "Underneath my Raincoat",[23] later re-titled simply "Raincoat".
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIN [24] |
US Indie [25] |
US Heat [25] | ||
| Studio Killers |
|
10 | 39 | 9 |
Singles
edit| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certification | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN [26] |
FIN [24] |
UK [27] |
UK Club [27] |
BEL (Fl) [28] |
BEL (Wa) Dance [29] |
NLD 40 [30] |
NLD 100 [31] |
US Sales [32] |
US Dance Digital [33] | ||||
| 2011 | "Ode to the Bouncer" | 15 | 13 | 26 | 9 | 24 | 65 | 1 | 1 | — | 9 | Studio Killers | |
| 2012 | "Eros and Apollo" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Tip: 4 | — | — | — | ||
| 2013 | "All Men Are Pigs"[34] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Jenny" | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | |||
| "Who Is in Your Heart Now?"[36] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2014 | "Grande Finale" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | Studio Killers (Special Edition) | |
| 2018 | "Party Like it's Your Birthday" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | Non-album single | |
| "Dirty Car" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Studio Killers (Special Edition) | ||
| 2020 | "Jenny (I Wanna Ruin Our Friendship)" (2020 reissue) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Studio Killers | |
| 2021 | "Party Like It's Your Birthday" (featuring Omi) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
| "Jenny" (featuring Kim Petras) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Bedroom Eyes" (The Knocks featuring Studio Killers) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Schoolyard Dance Off" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Soft Bitch" (Studio Killers and Ally Ahern) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2024 | "Valentine" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country. | |||||||||||||
References
edit- ^ Kellman, Andy. "Studio Killers Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- ^ Matt Meuse (14 June 2013). "Studio Killers are animated, anonymous and unapologetic". CBC Music. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
- ^ "KKS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Studio Killers". Kick Kick Snare. 15 July 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
- ^ "Studio Killers Interview". Contactmusic.com. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
- ^ "Menestysbändin salattu laulaja tuleekin Suomesta – tunnistatko? – Hymy". Otavamedia Oy. 15 September 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
- ^ "– Studio Killers: 'Ode To The Bouncer'". Scandipop.co.uk. 8 April 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
- ^ "STUDIO KILLERS WILL PLAY THEIR FIRST EVER GIG AT RUISROCK". Retrieved 7 October 2014.
- ^ "Ilosaarirock Festival 2014 | Line-Up – Studio Killers (UK)". Ilosaarirock.fi. 13 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
- ^ "Ilosaarirock Festival 2014 | Studio Killers brought Tähti Tent to capacity". Ilosaarirock.fi. 13 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
- ^ "Studio Killers Kickstarter". Kickstarter. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- ^ "The Studio KiIlers Live Experience". 12 September 2014 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ "Jenny Music Video". Tumblr. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
- ^ "Fresh Start: Studio Killers Are Back!". 15 February 2018 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Studio Killers – Party Like It's Your Birthday (Official Video)". YouTube. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
- ^ "Studio Killers – Dirty Car (Official Video)". YouTube. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
- ^ "Studio Killers Facts & Special Announcement". YouTube. Studio Killers. 31 August 2019.
- ^ "Studio Killers 404". Kickstarter.
- ^ Milligan, Mercedes (28 October 2019). "Queer-positive Shojo Parody 'Studio Killers 404' Hits Crowdfund Goal".
- ^ "How Studio Killers' "Jenny" Became a Queer TikTok Hit (Interview)". MUUMUSE. 9 January 2021.
- ^ "Kim Petras Guests On A New Remix Of Studio Killers' TikTok-Boosted 2013 Hit 'Jenny'". UPROXX. 26 March 2021.
- ^ "Bedroom Eyes (Dad Feels x JAMATAR) (feat. The Knocks & Studio Killers) [Remix]". Bandcamp. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ "Studio Killers 404". Studio Killers. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ City Air News (28 March 2023). "Internet phenomenon and virtual electro-pop group Studio Killers release their catchy new single 'Underneath My Raincoat'". City Air News. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ a b "Studio Killers Robin Stjernberg". finnishcharts.com.
- ^ a b Studio Killers – Studio Killers Awards. Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
- ^ "Studio Killers". danishcharts.dk.
- ^ a b Commercial Pop Top 30. Music Week. 24 August 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
- ^ "Studio Killers" (in Dutch). ultratop.be/nl.
- ^ DANCE BUBBLING UNDER: 21/01/2012 (in French). ultratop.be. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ^ "Studio Killers search results" (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
- ^ "Studio Killers" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl.
- ^ "Hot Singles Sales: Jun 14, 2014". Billboard. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- ^ Murray, Gordan (21 June 2018). "Billboard Dance Chart Upstarts: Lucas & Steve x Brandy, Studio Killers & Chicane". Billboard. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
- ^ Music – All Men Are Pigs – Single by Studio Killers. iTunes. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
- ^ "American certifications – Studio Killers". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
- ^ Studio Killers (2013). Who Is in Your Heart Now? (Media notes). Warner Music Finland. 5053105986125.
