Blaqk Audio
{{Short description|American electronic music duo}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Blaqk Audio
| image = Blaqk Audio live 2007.jpeg
| caption = Blaqk Audio performing live in 2007. From left to right: Davey Havok and Jade Puget.
| origin = Oakland, California, United States
| genre = {{flatlist|
- Synth-pop{{cite web|url=http://lifeinabungalo.com/2007/09/23/blaqk-audio-at-the-grand-ballroom/ |title=Blaqk Audio at the Grand Ballroom « Life in a Bungalo |access-date=February 24, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011160327/http://lifeinabungalo.com/2007/09/23/blaqk-audio-at-the-grand-ballroom/ |archive-date=October 11, 2008 }}
- EBM
- dark wave
}}
| years_active = 2006–present
| label = {{flatlist|
}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.blaqkaudio.com/}}
| current_members =
}}
Blaqk Audio is an American electronic music duo, formed by current AFI members Davey Havok and Jade Puget under Interscope Records.
Their debut album, CexCells, was released on August 14, 2007, and reached number eighteen on the Billboard 200. The band's second album, Bright Black Heaven, was released on September 11, 2012, under Superball Music's imprint Big Death.{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/blaqk_audio_sign_with_superball_music_release_free_download_of_new_song |title=Blaqk Audio sign with Superball Music; release free download of new song - News - Alternative Press |website=Altpress.com |date=2012-06-12 |access-date=2016-06-03}} The first single from Bright Black Heaven, "Faith Healer", was released August 14, 2012. Their third album, Material, was released on April 15, 2016, and became their third consecutive album to debut at number one on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart.
Three additional albums, Only Things We Love, Beneath the Black Palms, and Trop d'amour were released in 2019, 2020, and 2022 respectively.
History
=Origins=
Havok and Puget started writing music for Blaqk Audio around 2001, but they were too busy with AFI to devote enough time to the project.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=161463843&blogId=235157738 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708184552/http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=161463843&blogId=235157738 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 8, 2012 |title=Like a Quadruped Comin' Atcha! |author=Davey Havok |date=February 27, 2007 |publisher=Myspace |access-date=August 26, 2010 }} They returned to the project only in 2006, and the debut album CexCells was put out in August 2007.
AFI have increasingly included synthesized elements into their recent albums; 2003 release Sing the Sorrow and 2006 release Decemberunderground credit Puget with 'programming and keyboards'.Sing the Sorrow CD BookletDecemberunderground CD Booklet These synthesized elements are particularly apparent on songs such as "Death of Seasons" and "37mm". In the August 2006 edition of Guitar World, Puget states that AFI songs "37mm" and "Love Like Winter" were both originally intended as part of the Blaqk Audio side project.Guitar World, "The Shape of Punk to Come" August 2006 Elements of programming, however, can be found as early as 2000s The Art of Drowning, which featured a drum machine on "The Despair Factor".Lash, Jolie. [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930230001/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5935498/afi_go_electronic "AFI Go Electronic"]. Rolling Stone. September 4, 2003.
=''CexCells''=
Blaqk Audio entered the studio to record several songs for their first album in January 2007.{{cite web |url=http://shyboyswin.blogspot.com/2007/01/so-i-must-apologize-for-my-tardiness.html |title=So I Must Apologize For My Tardiness |date=January 9, 2007 |access-date=September 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091114064857/http://shyboyswin.blogspot.com/2007/01/so-i-must-apologize-for-my-tardiness.html |archive-date=November 14, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} Puget kept fans apprised with updates through his blog, before the Blaqk Audio Myspace was created in February 2007. By July 27, they had filmed footage for the music video for their debut single "Stiff Kittens", but the video was never finished. The album, CexCells, was released on August 14, 2007. Also in 2007, Puget collaborated with the German band Tokio Hotel, contributing a remix of "Ready, Set, Go!" called "Ready, Set, Go! (AFI/Blaqk Audio Remix)" to the American version of Scream. On January 12, 2008, Puget uploaded a new song to the Blaqk Audio Myspace titled "The Ligature".
Instrumental versions of the songs, "Between Breaths" and "The Love Letter" were used in trailers and on the official website for the 2008 film The Eye. In response to the buzz it created, Puget suggested at a possible public release of all the CexCells songs in instrumental form.
=''Bright Black Heaven''=
In July 2009, Blaqk Audio contributed a cover of "No New Tale to Tell" to the tribute album for Love and Rockets, New Tales to Tell: A Tribute to Love and Rockets.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/34181/blaqk-audio-contribute-to-love-and-rockets-tribute|title=Blaqk Audio contribute to Love And Rockets Tribute|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=June 30, 2009|access-date=October 10, 2022}}
While promoting AFI's new single "Medicate" on KROQ, Havok said that Blaqk Audio's second album was already completed, but they were focused on AFI as they felt "if all of a sudden we're doing two Blaqk Audio records in a row people will think AFI is not happening or something."{{cite magazine |url= http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/266793/afi-duo-ready-to-go-with-new-blaqk-audio |title= AFI Duo Ready To Go With New Blaqk Audio |author= Gary Graff |date= November 2009 |magazine= Billboard }} Puget revealed that the name of the album as Bright Black Heaven. Despite the album being finished, the band continued working on new material.{{cite web |url= http://reaxmusic.com/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=75299 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100317134749/http://www.reaxmusic.com/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=75299 |url-status= dead |archive-date= 2010-03-17 |title= An Exclusive Interview with Davey Havok of AFI |author= Justin Crites |date= March 2010 |publisher= ReaxMusic.com }} Over thirty songs were recorded for the album.{{cite web| url= http://live105.radio.com/2010/08/30/davey-havok-really-loves-underworld-calls-station-230am-to-announce-spookfest-2010-headliner/ | title= Davey Havok Really Loves UNDERWORLD: Calls Station @ 2:30am to announce SPOOKFEST 2010 headliner | date= August 30, 2010 | publisher= Live105 | access-date=September 1, 2010 }} Beginning in February 2010, the songs "Ill Lit Ships", "Bon Voyeurs", "Mouth to Mouth", and "Cold War" premiered through release on radio stations.{{cite web |url=http://live105.radio.com/2010/12/01/blaqk-audio-returns-to-live-105/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223140316/http://live105.radio.com/2010/12/01/blaqk-audio-returns-to-live-105/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-12-23 |title=Blaqk Audio Returns to SF! « LIVE 105 |website=Live105.radio.com |date=2010-12-01 |access-date=2016-06-03 }}
"The Witness" appeared on official soundtrack album of the 2011 movie Abduction, released on September 20.{{cite web |url=http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/abduction-soundtrack-features-train-lenny-kravitz-cobra-starship-more/9049314 |title="Abduction" Soundtrack Features Train, Lenny Kravitz, Cobra Starship + More |website=Artistdirect.com |date=2011-08-30 |access-date=2016-06-03 |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025100657/http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/abduction-soundtrack-features-train-lenny-kravitz-cobra-starship-more/9049314 |url-status=dead }} Another song called "Afterdark" appeared on the official soundtrack album of the video game Batman: Arkham City, released on October 4.
{{cite web |author1=Jason |title=Stream "Afterdark" on AltPress.com NOW! |url=http://www.afinewshq.com/2011/09/stream-afterdark-on-altpresscom-now.html |website=AFI News Headquarters |access-date=14 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928110820/http://www.afinewshq.com/2011/09/stream-afterdark-on-altpresscom-now.html |archive-date=28 September 2011 |date=21 September 2011 |url-status=dead}} Blaqk Audio performed at Subsonic Spookfest 2010, premiering three new songs: "This Is...", "Fade to White", and "Let's Be Honest".{{cite web|url=http://www.brightblackheaven.com/10/2010/103010-san-diego-setlist/ |title=10/30/10 San Diego Setlist |date=2010-10-30 |access-date=2016-06-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114153355/http://www.brightblackheaven.com/10/2010/103010-san-diego-setlist/ |archive-date=November 14, 2012 }}{{cite web|url=http://live105.radio.com/2010/10/28/bay-area-natives-blaqk-audio-spookfest-2010/ |title=Bay Area natives Blaqk Audio @ Spookfest 2010 « LIVE 105 |website=Live105.radio.com |date=2010-10-28 |access-date=2016-06-03}} On November 25, Blaqk Audio posted a song titled "Down Here" on their SoundCloud page.{{cite web|url=http://soundcloud.com/blaqkaudio/down-here |title=Blaqk Audio - Down Here - SoundCloud |access-date=November 24, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130044039/http://soundcloud.com/blaqkaudio/down-here |archive-date=November 30, 2010 }} On January 6, 2011, they performed a show at club Popscene in San Francisco, playing two new songs: "Say Red" and "Everybody's Friends".{{cite web|author=Mary |url=http://www.brightblackheaven.com/01/2011/live-post-blaqk-audio-at-popscene/ |title=LIVE POST: Blaqk Audio at Popscene |date=2011-01-06 |access-date=2016-06-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114153403/http://www.brightblackheaven.com/01/2011/live-post-blaqk-audio-at-popscene/ |archive-date=November 14, 2012 }} On July 23, a previously unheard song called "Bliss" was uploaded to their SoundCloud page,{{cite web|url=http://soundcloud.com/blaqkaudio/bliss |title=Bliss by Blaqk Audio on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free |access-date=August 31, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102184025/http://soundcloud.com/blaqkaudio/bliss |archive-date=November 2, 2011 }} along with "Ill-Lit Ships" and "Mouth to Mouth".{{cite web |url=http://afinewshq.com/2011/07/23/new-blaqk-audio-song-bliss |title=New Blaqk Audio Song: Bliss - AFI News Headquarters |website=Afinewshq.com |date=2011-07-23 |access-date=2016-06-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610174820/http://afinewshq.com/2011/07/23/new-blaqk-audio-song-bliss/ |archive-date=June 10, 2016 |url-status=dead }}
In March 2012, Blaqk Audio toured Australia and New Zealand as a supporting act for Evanescence.{{cite web |title=Blaqk Audio set to tour Australia |url=http://www.bombshellzine.com/blog/2012/01/blaqk-audio-set-to-tour-australia/ |publisher=Bombshellzine |access-date=March 29, 2012 |date=Jan 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404131341/http://www.bombshellzine.com/blog/2012/01/blaqk-audio-set-to-tour-australia/ |archive-date=April 4, 2012 |df=mdy }}
In June 2012, Blaqk Audio announced having been signed to Superball Music, and released Bright Black Heaven on September 11, 2012.
=''Material''=
Starting December 18, 2015, Blaqk Audio starting updating and teasing activity across social media. On February 10, 2016, they unveiled the single "Anointed". The single was available to purchase February 19, 2016. Blaqk Audio released their third studio album, Material, on April 15, 2016.
= ''Only Things We Love'' =
Havok said during an interview with Matt Pinfield that the new album will be out in spring of 2019 and that 69 songs were written to choose from. In January 2019, Havok visited the KITS (ALT 105.3) studios to showcase their brand new single "The Viles". While at the studio, Havok also confirmed the new album's title, Only Things We Love, which was released on March 15, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/AFINewsHQ/status/956533557161316352|title=Record should be out in March 2019 with the first single, "The Viles" debuting January 13th 2019 on altradio 105.3. Davey hopes to tour on the record.|last=Headquarters|first=AFI News|date=2018-01-25|website=@AFINewsHQ|language=en|access-date=2018-03-07}}{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/AFINewsHQ/status/956532909892087808|title=69 songs were written for Blaqk Audio to choose from for the next album.|last=Headquarters|first=AFI News|date=2018-01-25|website=@AFINewsHQ|language=en|access-date=2018-03-07}}
= ''Beneath the Black Palms'' =
On July 24, 2020, Blaqk Audio released a cryptic teaser video on their Instagram page. This was revealed on July 28 to be promotion for the band's fifth album, Beneath the Black Palms, which was released on August 21, 2020. The same day, the band surprise-released a digital EP consisting of the album's first 5 songs, titled Beneath the Black Palms (Side A), which was followed shortly by a visualizer video for the song "Hiss".{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title= Trop d'Amour by Blaqk Audio|url=https://genius.com/albums/Blaqk-audio/Trop-damour |access-date= |website=Genius |language=en}}
= ''Trop d'amour'' =
Blaqk Audio's sixth studio album, Trop d'amour, was released on September 16, 2022.{{Cite web |title=Trop D'amour by Blaqk Audio |url=https://genius.com/albums/Blaqk-audio/Trop-damour |access-date=2022-09-16 |website=Genius |language=en}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" colspan="2" | Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album |
|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;" | US Alt. ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;" | US |
| scope="row" | "Stiff Kittens"
| 2007 | 20 | 38 | CexCells |
| scope="row" | "Faith Healer"
| 2012 | — | — | Bright Black Heaven |
| scope="row" | "Anointed"
| rowspan="3" | 2016 | — | — | rowspan="2" | Material |
| scope="row" | "First to Love"
| — | — |
| scope="row" | "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)"
| — | — | {{Non-album single}} |
| scope="row" | "The Viles"
| 2019 | — | — | Only Things We Love |
| scope="row" | "Blue Cherry"
| rowspan="4" | 2022 | — | — | rowspan="3" |Trop d'amour |
| scope="row" | "Cowboy Nights"
| — | — |
| scope="row" | "Absolute Scenes"
| — | — |
| scope="row" | "Father Figure"
| — | — | {{Non-album single}} |
=Other appearances=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"| Title
!scope="col"| Year !scope="col"| Album |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Stiff Kittens" (Jnrsnchz Blaqkout Remix)
| rowspan="2" | 2009 | Underworld: Rise of the Lycans: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |
| scope="row"| "No New Tale to Tell"
| New Tales to Tell: A Tribute to Love and Rockets |
| scope="row"| "The Witness"
| rowspan="2" | 2011 |
| scope="row"| "Afterdark" |
=Music videos=
Band members
- Davey Havok – lead vocals, lyricist
- Jade Puget – keyboard, synthesizer, backing vocals, composer
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.blaqkaudio.com/}}
- [http://soundcloud.com/blaqkaudio Blaqk Audio] on SoundCloud
{{AFI (band)}}
{{Blaqk Audio}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:American dark wave musical groups
Category:Electronic music groups from California
Category:American electronic body music groups
Category:American electronic music duos
Category:Interscope Records artists
Category:Musical groups established in 2001
Category:Musical groups from Oakland, California
Category:American synth-pop groups