The Young Punx
The Young Punx are a gang of musical miscreants, combining various influences and collaborators to create the next level of mash-up culture music, both original and accessible.
At the core of the Young Punx collective is the trio of Hal Ritson, Nathan Taylor and Simon Bettison, who fulfil different roles on stage and in the studio, all the while embodying the electronica that sits at the core of the The Young Punx sound. They surround themselves with an eclectic group who help to make the collective what it is today. Indeed, theirs could well be the only studio where a virtuoso rock guitarist (Guthrie Govan), a leading underground dance producer (Phonat, who co-produced the album), a top US rapper from Memphis (Count Bass D), a London based rock singer (Laura Kidd), an opera singer (Jassy Husk) and a couple of DJs all meet, make music together and enjoy a drink afterwards.
Spokesman and glue of the group, Hal Ritson, describes The Young Punx sound as “Mashpop and Punkstep” - also the title of their second album out this year – a vibrant and eclectic journey through electronica, pop, punk, hip hop, drum and bass and much more, both celebrating and challenging the worlds of dance music and club culture.
The Young Punx music has been described as “like a great party where the music is f***king cool but it’s all about good times and fun”
Starting life as producers, remixers and DJs, The Young Punx have developed a reputation for pioneering new sounds and not being afraid to break the rules – one minute producing filthy electro, the next recording a twenty piece live brass section and then cutting and mashing it up in the studio. Fans have learnt to expect the unexpected from The Young Punx and their fresh approach and wit has won them a strong and loyal global following.
A video introduction to The Young Punx
Headlines in mainstream media as diverse as The Sun, The Mirror, La Stampa and even the BBC’s Newsnight spear-headed a flurry of media interest and helped to raise the group’s profile ahead of their 2007 debut album ‘Your Music Is Killing Me’.
The Young Punx debut album further cemented their reputation as go-to men for innovative, boundary-crossing music, the videos clocking up millions of hits on YouTube and tracks providing the backing in TV shows ranging from Eastenders to The Bionic Woman.
Pioneers in the new musical economy – finding new opportunities and markets in the ‘post-filesharing world’, the band was sponsored in 2009 by German beer giant Warsteiner and performed live band and DJ gigs throughout Germany as part of the ‘Liquid Cube’ creative project bringing together music and design. Current single ‘Ready For The Fight’ is the entry music of choice for IBF Middleweight World Champion boxer Arthur Abraham, was used on Superbowl advertising and ESPN’s Fight Night on US TV, as well as on Sky Sports TV in high profile Premier League games in 2010. The Young Punx have the computer game world on lock down with appearances on the likes of ‘The Sims’, EA Games ‘Fight Night Round 4’.
Such has been their success in finding new outlets and partnerships for their music that Hal recently featured as a speaker on the subject at this year’s MIDEM Conference.
The Young Punx DJ
The Young Punx DJ duo of Nathan Taylor and Hal Ritson, with their blend of the best in underground dance music and a great party atmosphere, are in demand worldwide and have clocked up global dates in the worlds largest clubs, including gigs supporting Tiësto at Privilege in Ibiza, exclusive performances at Pacha in Ibiza for Erick Morillo’s Subliminal Sessions, Ministry of Sound, Womb and AgeHa in Tokyo, Onzieme in Osaka and dates from LA to Shanghai, Moscow to New York. Eccentric frontman Hal has also recently found time to help develop the new DJ Hero game on Playstation®3, and that’s before we get into his work on other projects…
Live Work
The Young Punx live band – a cross between a rock concert and a rave – have toured Europe, USA and Japan, including appearances to tens of thousands at major global festivals including Glastonbury and Japan’s Summersonic and Nano Mugen Festivals.
The Young Punx live band also doubles up as Dizzee Rascal’s live band, with Hal Ritson acting as Music Director for Dizzee’s critically acclaimed show at the BBC Electric Proms. Hal has also been working as Musical Director for Example’s live band, including his recent BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge performance.
Presenting
With over 10,000 loyal regular listeners and growing all the time, The Young Punx podcast, ‘The Young Punx FM’, is proving that Hal, Nathan and Simon are a force to be reckoned with. Also with TV presenting stints on Flaunt TV and recently presenting 23 episodes of the US show ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ on Fox TV in Japan, the Punx are in great demand for their professional style and irreverent humour.
Other Projects
The Young Punx’ ringleader Hal Ritson works behind the scenes on more dance and urban tracks than you could possibly imagine, being listed on albumcredits.com as the musician who appears on more electronic records than anyone else in the world! As well as collaborating on his protégée – Phonat’s – debut album, leading Dizzee Rascal’s live band, and singing the lead vocals on “Tell Me Why” by Supermode, Hal performs or produces behind the scenes on hundreds of hits by artists such as Eric Prydz, Steve Angello, Tinchy Stryder, Lethal Bizzle, Taio Cruz, David Guetta, The Black Eyed Peas, Buy Now, Uffie, Utah Saints, Sugababes, Laidback Luke and many more…
Han Hoogerbrugge
The final member of The Young Punx clan is acclaimed Dutch cult animator Han Hoogerbrugge, whose darkly comic cast of characters have become stars of the unique videos, cover art and live visuals and a major part of The Young Punx brand. Han’s Young Punx videos alone have received over a million views on YouTube and become a regular feature of his own exhibitions.
Recent News
Closing 2009 with a Remix EP featuring work from the likes of Black Noise and Riva Starr and double A-side single ‘Simple Pleasures / Like Dat’, The Young Punx start 2010 with a number of exciting projects under their hats. The release of the exclusive Kneissl Young Punx skis, their new single ‘Ready For the Fight’ and new album ‘Mashpop & Punkstep’ being just some of them. Don’t try and second-guess their next move, just watch this space…
“Talented beat alchemists… Exhilarating stuff” – Music Week
“The new kings of dance music” – Hard to Find Records
“My latest discoveries” – Annie Nightingale, BBC Radio 1
“Brilliant!” – Judge Jules, BBC Radio 1
“Chunky, cheeky, and damn near essential” – Lewis Dene, DJ / Update Magazine
“Skilled cultural pirates” – Front Row, BBC Radio 4
“Their shit’s the bomb! I really like what they do” – The Utah Saints
“The sorta record Fat Boy Slim should have made to follow up ‘We’ve come a long Way Baby’. It’s phat, funky, quirky and in-ya –face and above all fun… expect this totally absorbing debut to make its mark on the end of year ‘best of listings’ – Update
“The Young Punx debut album “Your Music Is Killing Me” is winning plaudits and redefining musical cool” – EQ Magazine
“Breaks, pop, glam rock, disco, drum & bass, opera, and surf are all thrown in to create a giddying bombardment that doesn’t let up once throughout… a good-time party soundtrack ” – IDJ
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Your music is killing me (Blog)
