Dragonette
{{Short description|Canadian electronic music band}}
{{for|the surname|Dragonette (surname)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Dragonette
| image = Dragonette 2009-10-01 3.jpg
| caption = Dragonette performing at the MSN.ca Launch Party on October 1, 2009
| image_size =
| landscape = yes
| origin = Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| genre = {{hlist|Electropop{{cite web |url=https://www.spin.com/2016/05/dragonette-lonely-heart-premiere-stream/ |title=Dragonette Wield Electro-Pop to Mend Their 'Lonely Heart' |work=Spin |date=May 24, 2016 |access-date=December 10, 2017}}|synth-pop{{cite magazine |last=Feeney |first=Nolan |url=http://ew.com/article/2016/10/05/dragonette-sweet-poison-video/ |title=Dragonette's Sweet Poison video: Why the clip almost made them cry |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=October 5, 2016 |access-date=December 10, 2017}}|new wave{{cite magazine |last=Diehl |first=Matt |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/martin-solveig-braces-for-stardom-with-u-s-release-of-smash-20120816 |title=Martin Solveig Braces for Stardom With U.S. Release of 'Smash' |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=August 16, 2012 |access-date=December 10, 2017}}{{cite web |last=Savage |first=Emily |url=https://archives.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2010/09/24/folsom-street-fair-tour-de-fat-springsteen-tribute-jared-mees-and-grown-children-arts-expo-and-more |title=Folsom Street Fair, Tour De Fat, Springsteen Tribute, Jared Mees & Grown Children, Arts Expo and More |work=SF Weekly |date=September 24, 2010 |access-date=December 10, 2017}}|dance-pop{{cite web |last=Collins |first=Leah |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/hello+dragonette/6443199/story.html |title=Hello, Dragonette! |work=Dose |date=April 11, 2012 |access-date=December 10, 2017 |via=Edmonton Journal |archive-date=December 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210123916/http://www.edmontonjournal.com/hello+dragonette/6443199/story.html |url-status=dead }}|dance-rock{{cite web |last=Thomas |first=Rich |url=http://www.ocweekly.com/music/dragonettes-dan-kurtz-6600753 |title=Dragonette's Dan Kurtz |work=OC Weekly |date=March 11, 2010 |access-date=December 10, 2017}}}}
| years_active = 2005–present
| label = {{hlist|Mercury|Universal|I Surrender|Dragonette Inc.}}
| associated_acts = {{hlist|The New Deal|Martin Solveig}}
| website = {{URL|http://dragonetteonline.com/}}
| current_members = * Martina Sorbara
| past_members = * Dan Kurtz
- Joel Stouffer
- Simon Craig
- Will Stapleton
- Chris Huggett
}}
Dragonette is the stage name of Canadian singer-songwriter Martina Sorbara. Originally an electronic music band from Toronto, Ontario, formed in 2005,{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dragonette-mn0000656811 |title=Dragonette |website=AllMusic |access-date=December 23, 2010}} the band consisted of Sorbara with her then husband Dan Kurtz{{Cite news|url=http://www.westword.com/music/dragonettes-martina-sorbara-talks-cheatingat-least-in-her-lyrics-5118055|title=Dragonette's Martina Sorbara talks cheating...at least in her lyrics|last=Lamz|first=Cory|date=2012-09-20|newspaper=Westword|access-date=2016-12-09}} as bassist and producer (also in The New Deal) and drummer Joel Stouffer.
Dragonette released a self-titled EP in 2005 before being signed to Mercury Records and relocating to London, where they recorded and released their debut studio album, Galore, in August 2007 to moderate critical appreciation.{{cite web |last=Kraines |first=Talia |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/44p2 |title=Review of Dragonette – Galore |publisher=BBC Music |date=September 21, 2007 |access-date=March 19, 2011}} A second studio album, Fixin to Thrill, was released in September 2009. The group's third studio album, Bodyparts, was released in September 2012 and their fourth, Royal Blues, followed in November 2016.
They performed as a group until 2016, when both Kurtz and Stouffer left the band, with Sorbara continuing under the Dragonette moniker as a solo act.
Dragonette's fifth album, Twennies (and the first as a solo act) was released in October 2022.
History
=2005–2008: Formation and ''Galore''=
Sorbara and Kurtz met at a Canadian music festival{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/arts/the-buzz/2008/09/hey-dragonette-no-thanks-for-oversharing.html |title=Hey, Dragonette: (no) thanks for oversharing! |publisher=CBC News |date=September 9, 2008 |access-date=July 13, 2015}} and formed a duo named The Fuzz,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/staff-blog/hype-monitor-tempo-no-tempo-dragonette-sleigh-bells-20091119 |title=Hype Monitor: Tempo No Tempo, Dragonette, Sleigh Bells |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=November 19, 2009 |access-date=March 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912050124/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/staff-blog/hype-monitor-tempo-no-tempo-dragonette-sleigh-bells-20091119 |archive-date=September 12, 2012 |url-status=dead }} making music together in their basement recording studio for fun. The duo formed Dragonette after these initial recordings, and supported New Order on only their second live performance. In 2005, the band released the six-track Dragonette EP, prior to signing a record deal with UK record label Mercury Records.
Dragonette relocated to London to record their debut studio album, Galore, released on August 6, 2007, and toured the UK supporting local acts, including Basement Jaxx (with whom Sorbara also recorded the track "Take Me Back to Your House") and Sugababes and played headline gigs in small venues across the UK and Canada. British musician Will Stapleton replaced Simon Craig on guitar following the relocation. Dragonette filmed two music videos, one for "Jesus Doesn't Love Me" and another for "I Get Around". The former video leaked onto the Internet, while the other served as promotion for their first single release. "I Get Around" reached number 92 on the UK Singles Chart. A follow-up single release, "Take It Like a Man", fared no better, failing to enter the top 100 of the UK Singles Chart. "I Get Around" was released in the band's home country of Canada where it outperformed the UK release, peaking at number 57 on Billboard{{'}}s Canadian Hot 100. After Galore failed to sell as expected, Dragonette parted ways with Mercury Records.{{cite web |last=Armstrong |first=Denis |url=http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Artists/D/Dragonette/2010/03/31/13419136-qmi.html |title=Dragonette ready to roar |website=Jam! |date=March 31, 2010 |access-date=July 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713220529/http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Artists/D/Dragonette/2010/03/31/13419136-qmi.html |archive-date=July 13, 2015 |url-status=dead }}
Dragonette received a nomination for New Group of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2008.{{cite web |url=http://junoawards.ca/awards/yearly-summary/?group_id=210&category_ids=189&from_year=2008&to_year=2008&submit=Search |title=Yearly Summary |publisher=Juno Awards |access-date=July 13, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713221525/http://junoawards.ca/awards/yearly-summary/?group_id=210&category_ids=189&from_year=2008&to_year=2008&submit=Search |archive-date=July 13, 2015 }} Kurtz and Sorbara co-wrote and co-produced the song "Grab a Hold" for Cyndi Lauper's 2008 album Bring Ya to the Brink.{{cite AV media notes |title=Bring Ya to the Brink |others=Cyndi Lauper |year=2008 |type=CD liner notes |publisher=Epic Records |id=88697065922}} That same year Will James Stapleton left the band, to be replaced by Chris Huggett.
=2009–2011: ''Fixin to Thrill'' and collaborations=
Dragonette's second studio album, Fixin to Thrill, was released on September 29, 2009. The album was nominated for Dance Recording of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.tribute.ca/junoawards/winners.asp |title=2011 Juno Award Winners |work=Tribute |access-date=July 13, 2015}}
Dragonette have collaborated with several house DJs for releases, to varying degrees of success. Although Basement Jaxx's 2006 song "Take Me Back to Your House" only featured Sorbara on vocals, it was promoted by the band as a Dragonette collaborative. The band have since recorded several tracks with French DJ Martin Solveig, including "Boys & Girls" in 2009, "Hello" in 2010, and "Can't Stop" and "Big in Japan" in 2011; all of these tracks appear on Solveig's 2011 album Smash. Solveig and Dragonette won the Juno Award for Dance Recording of the Year for "Hello" in April 2012.{{cite web |last=Chartrand |first=Fred |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2012/04/01/juno_awards_2012_full_list_of_winners.html |title=Juno Awards 2012: Full list of winners |work=Toronto Star |date=April 1, 2012 |access-date=July 13, 2015}} In 2010, the band also collaborated with Kaskade on "Fire in Your New Shoes" and with Don Diablo on "Animale".
A double A-side single containing the songs "Our Summer" and "Volcano" was released digitally on July 27, 2010.{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/our-summer-volcano-single/382468861 |title=Our Summer Volcano – Single by Dragonette |website=iTunes Store |location=United States |access-date=February 1, 2012}} On August 3, 2010, Dragonette released the compilation album Mixin to Thrill digitally, while a limited-edition CD was sold via the band's online store. The compilation contains three new songs—"Volcano", "Our Summer", and "My Things"—as well as several remixes from the previous year. In 2011, Dragonette worked with Girls Aloud member Nicola Roberts, co-writing and producing the single "Lucky Day" for her debut solo album Cinderella's Eyes.{{cite web |url=http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/music/interviews/Nicola+Roberts+interview-99080.html |title=Interview: Nicola Roberts |website=Femalefirst.co.uk |date=September 12, 2011 |access-date=March 26, 2012}}
=2012–2013: ''Bodyparts''=
On June 21, 2012, Dragonette announced the title of their third studio album, Bodyparts, which was released on September 22, 2012.{{cite web |last=Hudson |first=Alex |url=http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/dragonette_announce_bodyparts_album |title=Dragonette Announce 'Bodyparts' Album |work=Exclaim! |date=June 21, 2012 |access-date=July 13, 2015}} The album's lead single "Let It Go" was released on April 2, 2012.{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/let-it-go-single/511445427 |title=Let it Go – Single by Dragonette |website=iTunes Store |location=United States |access-date=July 18, 2012}} "Rocket Ship", a track from the album, was made available as a free download on the band's official SoundCloud page.{{cite web |last=Daw |first=Robbie |url=http://idolator.com/6645622/dragonette-album-bodyparts-song-rocket-ship |title=Dragonette Announce Third Album 'Bodyparts', Release New Song "Rocket Ship" |website=Idolator |date=June 21, 2012 |access-date=July 18, 2012}} The album's second single, "Live in This City", was released on August 7, 2012.{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/live-in-this-city-single/548549945 |title=Live In This City – Single by Dragonette |website=iTunes Store |location=United States |access-date=July 13, 2015}}
In February 2013, Dragonette recorded a version of "Won't You Be My Neighbour?", the theme song to the American children's television series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, for use in Target Canada's first ad campaign.{{cite web |last=Coutts |first=Matthew |url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/dailybrew/target-canadian-launch-feature-theme-mr-roger-neighborhood-161907441.html |title=Target's Canadian launch to feature theme to 'Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood' |website=Yahoo! News |location=Canada |date=February 22, 2013 |access-date=May 23, 2013}}
=2014–2017: ''Royal Blues''=
In 2014, Dragonette collaborated with Dutch producer and DJ Mike Mago on the single "Outlines".{{cite web |last=Stern |first=Bradley |url=http://www.idolator.com/7527169/dragonette-mike-mago-outlines-single-premiere-club-dance |title=Dragonette Teams Up With Mike Mago For Club Cut, "Outlines": Listen |website=Idolator |date=July 17, 2014 |access-date=July 13, 2015}} The band also released the single "Let the Night Fall" on June 16, 2015.{{cite web |last=Adams |first=Gregory |url=http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/dragonette-let_night_fall |title=Dragonette "Let the Night Fall" |work=Exclaim! |date=June 16, 2015 |access-date=July 13, 2015}} The band's fourth studio album, Royal Blues, was released on November 11, 2016.{{cite web |last=Calia |first=Michael |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2016/09/14/dragonette-new-single-sweet-poison/ |title=Listen to Dragonette's New Single, 'Sweet Poison' (Exclusive) |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=September 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914152219/https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2016/09/14/dragonette-new-single-sweet-poison/ |archive-date=September 14, 2016 |access-date=September 14, 2016}}
During the promotion of Royal Blues, Sorbara and Kurtz revealed that they had separated in 2013, shortly after performing at the ET Canada New Year's Eve Show,{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=ETCanada com |date=2016-05-30 |title=Dragonette's Married Couple Separate |url=https://etcanada.com/news/45825/dragonettes-married-couple-separate/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616174546/http://etcanada.com/news/45825/dragonettes-married-couple-separate/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 16, 2016 |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=ET Canada |language=en-US}} leaving Dragonette as just Sorbara.{{Cite web|url=https://www.womeninpop.com/news-home/interview-dragonette-return-with-first-studio-album-in-six-years-twennies|title=INTERVIEW: Dragonette return with first studio album in six years 'Twennies': "I want this to be what my sound is - this is what I am"|date=November 1, 2022|website=Women In Pop}}
= 2020–present: Solo singles and ''Twennies'' =
In October 2020, Dragonette released cover version of Sam Roberts Band song "We're All In This Together".{{Citation |title=We're All in This Together |date=2020-10-02 |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/22iNH2Z5vT7ZuS2SJAWjed |language=en |access-date=2022-10-29}}
In 2021, Dragonette featured on a number of singles including "Phantom" with Gianni Kosta; "Summer Thing" with Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano; and "Slow Song" with The Knocks.
In August 2022, Dragonette released "New Suit", which would become the lead single from her fifth album Twennies, released in October 2022.
Discography
=Studio albums=
=Compilation albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" style="width:8em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:17em;"| Details |
|---|
| scope="row"| Mixin to Thrill
|
|
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" style="width:8em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:17em;"| Details |
|---|
| scope="row"| Dragonette EP
|
|
=Singles=
==As lead artist==
==As featured artist==
==Promotional singles==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" style="width:21em;"| Title
! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Album |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Come On Be Good"{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/come-on-be-good-single/335097122 |title=Come On Be Good – Single by Dragonette |website=iTunes Store |date=8 October 2009 |location=United States |access-date=July 14, 2015}}
| 2009 | Fixin to Thrill |
| scope="row"| "Merry Xmas (Says Your Text Message)"{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/ca/album/merry-xmas-says-your-text/577618848 |title=Merry Xmas (Says Your Text Message) – Single by Dragonette |website=iTunes Store |date=January 2012 |location=Canada |access-date=July 13, 2015}}
| 2012 | {{n/a|Non-album single}} |
=Guest appearances=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" style="width:14em;"| Title
! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col" style="width:8em;"| Album |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Can't Stop" {{small|(with Martin Solveig)}} | 2011 | Smash |
| scope="row"| "Get Some Freedom" {{small|(Big Data featuring Dragonette)}} | 2015 | 2.0 |
| scope="row"| "Neck and Neck"{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/neck-and-neck-feat-dragonette/1160425257?i=1160425617|title=Northern Lights - Album by Zeds Dead|website=iTunes Store |location=United States |access-date=November 26, 2018}} {{small|(Zeds Dead featuring Dragonette)}} | 2016 |
=Music videos=
See also
Notes
{{notelist-ua}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Dragonette}}
- {{Official website|http://dragonetteonline.com/}}
- {{AllMusic|id=dragonette-mn0000656811}}
{{Dragonette}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2005 establishments in Ontario
Category:Canadian dance music groups
Category:Canadian musical trios
Category:Canadian new wave musical groups
Category:Canadian synthpop groups
Category:Dance-rock musical groups
Category:Juno Award for Dance Recording of the Year winners
Category:Mercury Records artists