Mandy Kane

Australian solo artist Mandy Kane brings something new to the international platform with a rebellious - very danceable - electro/pop/rock tune called "(UK) HANKY PANKY", available now on iTunes, Mazar and KarmaDownload.com (Unsigned).

Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, this young singer/songwriter/producer is a former Warner Music artist with three Australian Top 30 hits and a critically acclaimed debut album under his belt.

Since launching his debut single "Stab" (which entered the ARIA charts at #18) in mid-2003, MK has had his fair share of controversy.

No-one could pigeonhole this unique artist who was a solo performer but nothing like Ben Lee, called himself Mandy but was nothing like Marilyn Manson, wore a bit of make-up but was nothing like a goth, and wrote undeniably catchy pop tunes but was nothing like ?. well, nothing like anything from Australia.

MK spent most of his teenage years in his home studio, writing and recording songs inspired by a variety of rock icons from bygone eras - from David Bowie (in his Ziggy Stardust era) and Alice Cooper to The Beatles and Pink Floyd.

Seeking other outlets to develop his musical and theatrical sensibilities, he joined local drama groups and rallied fellow outsiders to be his back-up band, with whom he cut his teeth on the live circuit, playing at local venues.

His eventual signing to Warner Music after a local booking agent saw him jetting to Los Angeles to re-record his songs with producers Chris Vrenna (Nine Inch Nails) and Joe Chiccarelli (Frank Zappa).

When he returned to Australia, it was agreed between MK and the label that the re-recorded material had lost something in the transition and they decided the best approach was to have someone mix the original home demos he had produced.

Tony Espie (The Avalanches, New Buffalo, Architecture In Helsinki) was the perfect choice to bring new vitality to the songs Mandy had already breathed into life.

MK then collaborated with Scandinavian studio supremo Valgeir Sigurdsson (Sigur Ros, Bjork) on the darkly electronic track "Apparition", then the album "Tragic Daydreams" was mastered at The Exchange in London.

The result was three Top 30 hits (the energetic, electro-pop hit "Stab"; the shamelessly bratty "Billy Bones" and the sweetly melodic "Stupid Friday") and his debut album "Tragic Daydreams", which when released in 2004 received praise from reviewers for its originality and diversity in a climate of reality TV-driven muck.

Although the album did not achieve the hoped-for commercial success, it did open up a whole new world for MK, and through a couple of years of touring with his band (including successful supports for Marilyn Manson and Australia's notorious party band Machine Gun Fellatio, who proudly espouse that MK and his troupe were the only support act ever to be able to keep up with their pace) he discovered many new facets of life that would inspire some of his most intense and knowing songs, which will feature on his forthcoming second album which he plans to release through his own label, Mummy's Boy Records in 2006.

His latest - and first independently released - single (UK) HANKY PANKY is about hedonism and sexual promiscuity and their consequences, but most of all it's about unity - no matter what your race, age or sexual persuasion. MK's distinctive vocals and trademark infectious melodies leap out of this bold, twisted track, with candid lyrics that are bound to become the anthem of a new generation of rebellious youth. Additional production on the track is provided by Jarrad Rogers.

MK also produced a remix of (UK) HANKY PANKY, a dark, dirty electronic journey through the (very) late night dance floors of the last decade. He calls it the "STD mix" (Sonically Transmitted Disease) and plans to include it on the single's follow-up EP, in early 2006.

A multi-instrumentalist, his live shows are these days conducted solo, and see MK deliver a compelling semi-acoustic production (with the occasional input from his laptop) which has the impact of a live band.

And living up to his home town reputation as a hard working artist who's clearly in it for the long haul, MK will star in and write the score and theme song for a locally-made, privately funded short film called "EleVate", scheduled to commence production in January.

With his mission to remain a fresh and uncompromising entertainer, this celebrated Mummy's Boy is set toraise a few more eyebrows along his way.

As one wise reviewer put it "He winks, and we wink back."