Client (band)

Lore & Background

The original band members were formerly known only anonymously as Client A and Client B, to the extent that their faces were not shown on any publicity photos; it has since been revealed that they are Kate Holmes (as Client A) and Sarah Blackwood (Client B). Holmes, formerly of Frazier Chorus and Technique, later started the fashion label Client London, and is married to Alan McGee (founder of Creation Records and discoverer of Oasis). Blackwood is the lead singer of Dubstar. AllMusic lists David Bowie, Joy Division, Kraftwerk, the Human League, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and X-Ray Spex among their influences.

In late 2005 a new member, Client E, joined the group. This was Emily Mann, who was a contestant on the Channel 5 reality show Make Me a Supermodel, an artist, and an active DJ, usually performing as Emily Strange. Client E left the band in June 2007. In November 2007 Charlotte Hatherley joined the band as Client C, to fill the vacant role of bassist on their European and Scandinavian tours. Client was the first act signed to Depeche Mode member Andy Fletcher's record label, Toast Hawaii. They have toured with Depeche Mode and Erasure.

Client have collaborated with several high-profile musicians and directors. Their video for "Pornography" was directed by French director Jamie Deliessche from video production company Schmooze. It features Carl Barât (of The Libertines and Dirty Pretty Things) on vocals. The song "Down to the Underground" features Pete Doherty, also of The Libertines, and frontman of Babyshambles. The song "Overdrive" features Martin L. Gore of Depeche Mode. The song "Where's the Rock and Roll Gone" features Tim Burgess of The Charlatans. Client have collaborated with Die Krupps, Moonbootica and Replica on selected tracks and also have done a special duet, "Suicide Sister" with Douglas McCarthy of Nitzer Ebb.

Reader's Guide

Client emerged in 2002 as an anonymous duo whose visual identity—airline hostess and fetish fashion uniforms—became their trademark. Their sound, described as harsh electronics reminiscent of early electronic manipulation and new wave, found a particular audience in Germany, where they achieved limited commercial success. As the first act signed to Depeche Mode's Andy Fletcher's label Toast Hawaii, they toured with Depeche Mode and Erasure, and collaborated with notable figures including Martin L. Gore, Pete Doherty, Carl Barât, Tim Burgess, and Douglas McCarthy. The band underwent several lineup changes, with members adopting lettered pseudonyms (Client A, B, E, C, N). After releasing five studio albums between 2003 and 2014, Client has been on an indefinite hiatus since 2014. Their legacy lies in their distinctive fusion of fashion and music, their role as a bridge between underground electronic and mainstream pop, and their connections to the broader British music scene through members' other projects and collaborations.

Did You Know?

• The band's original members were known only as Client A and Client B, with their faces hidden on all publicity photos.
• Client's song 'Down to the Underground' features Pete Doherty of The Libertines and Babyshambles.

The Anonymous Aesthetic

Client emerged from London in 2002 as a deliberately faceless electronic duo, known only as Client A and Client B. Their publicity materials never revealed their identities, and their visual identity became inseparable from their sound. Rather than the typical rock or pop presentation, the pair paired airline hostess uniforms and glossy fetish-inspired outfits with a glamour-girl sensibility, all set against a backdrop of harsh, manipulated electronic textures. This combination evoked the early experiments in electronic sound and the angular energy of new wave. The uniforms eventually became their unmistakable trademark, a visual shorthand that set them apart in the electronic music landscape. Their sound drew from a wide palette of influences, including David Bowie, Joy Division, Kraftwerk, the Human League, OMD, and X-Ray Spex, blending cold synthesis with melodic hooks. The group found their most devoted audience in Germany, where they achieved a degree of commercial recognition that eluded them elsewhere.

The People Behind the Faces

The anonymity that defined Client's early image eventually gave way to public knowledge of who stood behind the uniforms. Client A was Kate Holmes, a former member of Frazier Chorus and the synth-pop duo Technique, who later launched the fashion label Client London and married Alan McGee, the founder of Creation Records and the man who discovered Oasis. Client B was Sarah Blackwood, who also fronts the band Dubstar. The group's roster shifted over the years. In late 2005, Emily Mann—known as Emily Strange, a former contestant on Channel 5's Make Me a Supermodel, an artist, and an active DJ—joined as Client E before departing in June 2007. Charlotte Hatherley then filled the bassist role as Client C for European and Scandinavian tours in November 2007. In December 2010, Blackwood's departure was confirmed, and in July 2011, Holmes announced that Xan Tyler, her former Technique collaborator, would take over live lead vocals, though this arrangement never materialized. In September 2013, Nicole Thomas, billed as Client N, was introduced as the new frontwoman.

Collaborations and Industry Ties

Client's orbit in the music world was remarkably well-connected. They became the first act signed to Toast Hawaii, the label run by Depeche Mode member Andy Fletcher, and went on to tour alongside both Depeche Mode and Erasure. Their collaborative work stretched across genres and generations of British and European music. The video for "Pornography," directed by French filmmaker Jamie Deliessche of Schmooze, featured Carl Barât of The Libertines and Dirty Pretty Things on vocals. "Down to the Underground" brought in Pete Doherty, also of The Libertines and frontman of Babyshambles, while "Overdrive" showcased Martin L. Gore of Depeche Mode. Tim Burgess of The Charlatans contributed to "Where's the Rock and Roll Gone." Beyond these high-profile guest appearances, Client worked with industrial act Die Krupps, Moonbootica, and Replica on selected tracks, and recorded a special duet, "Suicide Sister," with Douglas McCarthy of Nitzer Ebb. These partnerships underscored the group's position at the intersection of electronic, post-punk, and industrial music.

Career Arc and the Long Pause

From their 2002 formation in London, Client steadily built a catalog of five studio albums: Client (2003), City (2004), Heartland (2007), Command (2009), and Authority (2014). They also released compilation albums including Going Down, Metropolis, and Untitled Remix, along with live recordings from Club Koko, Porto, and Hamburg. Their label situation evolved significantly: after parting ways with Toast Hawaii in October 2006, they spread their releases across multiple regional imprints—Out of Line in German-speaking Europe, SubSpace Communications in Scandinavia, Metropolis Records in North America, Noiselab in Latin America, and their own Loser Friendly Records in the UK and Ireland. Their fifth and final studio album, Authority, arrived on 21 March 2014 on Out of Line Music, featuring new member Nicole Thomas. Since that release, Client has been on an indefinite hiatus, leaving their story open-ended and their legacy defined by a distinctive fusion of glamour, electronics, and anonymity.