Clean Bandit

Biography

Clean Bandit is an English electronic music group that was formed in Cambridge in 2008. The current members are Grace Chatto and brothers Jack and Luke Patterson. The band is known for its unique blend of electronic music with classical elements from composers like Mozart and Shostakovich, and they frequently collaborate with guest vocalists.

Formation and Early Years

The original members of Clean Bandit—Grace Chatto, Jack Patterson, Luke Patterson, and Neil Amin-Smith—met while studying as undergraduates at the University of Cambridge. Chatto and Amin-Smith were part of a string quartet at the time. Jack Patterson began to remix their classical recordings with electronic beats, which led to the formation of the group. The name "Clean Bandit" is a translation of a Russian phrase, meaning "complete bastard." Their first single, "A+E," was released in 2012, followed by "Mozart's House" in 2013, which reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart.

Breakthrough with "New Eyes"

Clean Bandit achieved mainstream success in 2014 with their single "Rather Be," featuring Jess Glynne. The song became a global hit, reaching number one in the UK and number ten on the US Billboard Hot 100. It went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording. This single was part of their debut album, "New Eyes," released in June 2014, which also featured the successful single "Extraordinary" and was certified Gold in the UK.

"What Is Love?" and Continued Success

In October 2016, violinist and pianist Neil Amin-Smith announced his departure from the band. Shortly after, the remaining trio released "Rockabye," featuring Sean Paul and Anne-Marie. This became their second UK number-one single and was the Christmas number one in 2016. They followed this with another number-one hit, "Symphony," featuring Zara Larsson, in 2017. Their second album, "What Is Love?," was released in November 2018 and featured a wide range of collaborations with artists like Demi Lovato, Ellie Goulding, and Rita Ora.

Musical Style and Collaborations

Clean Bandit's sound is characterized by the fusion of electronic, dance-pop, and classical crossover genres. They are particularly known for their collaborations with a diverse array of vocalists. Some of their most notable collaborations include:

• "Rather Be" ft. Jess Glynne
• "Rockabye" ft. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie
• "Symphony" ft. Zara Larsson
• "Solo" ft. Demi Lovato
• "Tears" ft. Louisa Johnson
• "I Miss You" ft. Julia Michaels
• "Tick Tock" with Mabel ft. 24kGoldn

Recent Activity

Clean Bandit continues to release new music, with recent singles including "Higher" featuring Iann Dior, "Drive" with Topic featuring Wes Nelson, and "Cry Baby" with Anne-Marie and David Guetta. After parting ways with Atlantic Records, they signed with B1 Records/Ministry of Sound. The group remains a trio consisting of Grace Chatto, Jack Patterson, and Luke Patterson.