So Lonely - The Video

I'm so fucking excited! In late December I wrote a post about the making of Chris Sorbello's "So Lonely" video clip and after 3 long months, the damn thing has finally hit the net. At first I was almost too scared to watch it. I love Chris and really didn't want to test the boundaries of our friendship by trashing her video (if it wasn't any good). It's a huge relief to report that "So Lonely" is utterly fabulous. Which is a little surprising given the simple premise. Basically, Christina performs a series of robotic dance moves in increasingly quirky costumes in an abandoned warehouse with only a strobelight and smoke machine to keep her company. Not exactly "Telephone" then but director James Littlemore does a great job of capturing the song's subtlety and sparse beauty. I love the smoke effects - shadow puppets are so 2010! - and the crazy outfits. Particularly the hot disco tranny look at 1:15 minutes and the amazing knit dress at the end. Chris does a brilliant job with the choreography and holds everything together with her intensity and unique style. It's kind of surreal to see the finished product given that I spent most of the shoot chatting to the diva about September (don't ask) and stealing food from the caterers. Check out the video below and let me know what you think!

See my behind the scenes pics from the video shoot here!

Chris Sorbello's ARIA Debut

The Chris Sorbello juggernaut has finally taken off. In the most stunning chart development since Dannii's "Touch Me Like That" rocketed all the way to #96 on iTunes, Australia's latest dance sensation makes her ARIA debut this week. At #36 on the Club Chart. Smash! I've been raving about "So Lonely" to anyone who would listen for ages, so I'm ecstatic that it's starting to build some serious momentum. The Hook N Sling mix is absolutely phenomenal and I'm confident the track will continue to win over clubbers in the lead up to its April release date. Listen to the remix on the diva's freshly overhauled Myspace or better yet, score a free download by pre-ordering "So Lonely" here. Chris has been a very busy girl over the past few months but I'm holding off a proper update until her video drops - which I'm told will be any day now. Stay tuned!

Chris Sorbello - "So Lonely" Video Shoot

I was lucky enough to crash be invited to the set of Chris Sorbello's "So Lonely" video shoot on Monday night and thought I'd post a couple of happy snaps. After the recent digital release of her taster EP (Hint: I'm told the free download will be taken down at any moment), Australia's latest electro-pop sensation is busy putting the finishing touches to her official debut single. "So Lonely" will be released by Ministry of Sound in February/March and has been given a complete overhaul by the brilliant Sam La More. I love the dreamy new mix. The icy beats come thick and fast without strangling the fragility and vulnerability that made the original leaked version a Myspace favourite. Given the hot line-up of DJs contributing remixes (Van She and Hook N Sling), expect to hear "So Lonely" burning up a dancefloor near you in the not too distant future.

Rehearsals

Ok, back to the video clip. I think it's going to be amazing. The sparse, futuristic look suits the song perfectly and I'm glad the PVC clad backing dancers from the showcase are making a return appearance. Chris looked absolutely stunning and nailed the dance routine take after take. In fact, I saw it so many times I think I know all the moves by heart! The great thing about Chris is the fact that she's not scared of pushing the envelope and some of her outfits will give Roisin Murphy couture envy. I also haven't seen that many pairs of crazy stilettos (below) since The Drag Bag closed down - the gays truly have a new icon! In all seriousness, noone else is making this kind of music in Australia at the moment or paying this much attention to styling and image, so I really hope it all pays off. I can't wait to see the finished product.

Chris Sorbello - Sydney Showcase

The thing I love most about Chris Sorbello is the fact that she gets it. And by it I mean the brave new world of pop music where having a pretty face and a handful of decent songs doesn't cut it anymore. To make a real impact you need to be the complete package and stand out from the crowd - be it by focusing on image a la Lady Gaga, creating a new character (see Beyoncé's Sasha Fierce) or simply by recycling and reinterpreting the sounds of those that have gone before you in a new and interesting way like La Roux and Ladyhawke. It's a hard formula to get right but if last night's performance is any indication, Chris Sorbello is well and truly on her way. The costumes and choreography were faultless, she sounded amazing and the songs were all top notch. I've been to a lot of showcases in Sydney and London over the past couple of years and this definitely ranks as one of the most audacious and impressive.

From the moment a pair of PVC clad dancers carried the microphone on stage in a series of robotic dance moves, it was pretty clear that this wasn't going to be your standard industry event. Last night was all about putting on a show and introducing the audience to Chris Sorbello the artist. It debuted her hot new look and demonstrated how far she's come as a performer. The opening number definitely highlighted latter. Chris' version of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love" is usually a highlight of her live shows but I was completely distracted by the sexy costumes and intricate choreography (courtesy of Ramon Baynes and Marko Panzic - Beyoncé and Britney). The backing dancers were phenomenal and Chris didn't miss a beat. I managed to pull myself together for the preview of her soon to be released debut single "So Lonely", which has been given a radical overhaul by Sam La More (Empire Of The Sun, Sneaky Sound System and Pnau). I love the edgy new mix and I'm confident it will be burning up dancefloors across Australia all summer long.

The icy electro beats continued to flow with "Symbiotic". I have to admit the song never really appealed to me in the past but last night's arrangement was brilliant and suited the staging and choreography perfectly. It seemed only fitting that Chris close the show with "Dangerzone". After all, it is the title track of her recently unveiled free promo EP! I still think "Dangerzone" has huge potential and could have been a hit with a bit of polish by the right producer but I'm glad it's finally getting a release - no matter how low key. The song sounded amazing live and allowed Brisbane's finest to show off her voice and hot dance moves. As someone who has followed Chris from the start it was staggering (and more than a little touching) to see how far she's come. I can't wait for the release of her official debut single but make sure you check out "Dangerzone" in the meantime. It's too good to ignore!

Chris Sorbello: Electropop Diva

Ok, I admit it. I occasionally suffer from pop envy. It seems like every second ho in Europe owns a keyboard and spends their time churning out brilliant pop tunes. Meanwhile, in Australia, the pickings are comparatively slim. Bucking that unfortunate trend is the amazing Chris Sorbello. This Sydney based diva is making serious waves with her killer electropop anthems. Imagine Kylie mixed with Lady GaGa (perhaps with a sprinkling of Little Boots thrown in for good measure) to get some idea of her sound.

Chris first appeared on my radar last year with the fabulous "Danger Zone". It's the kind of song that slowly crawls under your skin. It took a couple of listens but I eventually fell for the crisp synths, icy vocals and poptastic chorus. For me, this ranks right up there with Isabel Guzman's "There Must Be Something" as the best unreleased pop track of 2008. New remixes continue to appear, so there's still a chance that "Danger Zone" might see the inside of a record store yet. Make sure you check out this gem below:



Danger Zone

Since "Danger Zone", Chris' sound has evolved to a whole new level. Her music is now darker, edgier and much more electronic. However, she is still wholeheartedly and unashamedly POP. The diva has a bunch of new tracks streaming on her Myspace and they all deserve your attention. My favourite is probably "So Lonely", which wouldn't sound out of place on Kylie's "X". The production is pure Bloodshy & Avant, while the chorus is pop bliss. The intro reminds me of "The Glamorous Life" but that could just be my Melissa Tkautz obsession raring its ugly head.

I also highly recommend "Ten Minutes Longer" - a floaty, pretty pop track that showcases Chris' softer side - and the slightly dirty "2 Seater Ride". This is the new anthem for backseat bitches across Australia! I'm less taken with the cool, robotic beats on "Symbiotic" and "Love Spam" makes me laugh for all the wrong reasons but even it's still fierce in a Lady GaGa gone wrong kind of way.

Chris Sorbello is definitely an electropop diva to watch in 2009. I have a feeling you'll be hearing a lot more from her in the near future.