Marsheaux
Greek synthpop duo formed in Athens in 2003.
Marsheaux is a Greek synthpop duo from Athens, formed in 2003. The group consists of Marianthi Melitsi and Sophie Sarigiannidou, who both sing, write songs, and play keyboards. Their name combines the first syllable of each member’s first name. They sing almost entirely in English.
Both women were born in Thessaloniki and moved to Athens in 2000. They started the band three years later to pursue their love of electronic pop music. In 2015, they told the blog AZLTRON that the idea came from a Depeche Mode party in Athens, where the people from Undo Records bet them they could only play Depeche Mode songs on their synths. To win the bet, they formed a band, made a cover of Gershon Kingsley’s “Popcorn” for a compilation called *Nu Romantics*, and chose a name. If they had lost, they would have had to clean a warehouse for a year.
Their debut single, the “Popcorn” cover, got heavy radio play in Greece and across mainland Europe, bringing them national attention. They later gained an international audience through remixes, notably of “Will I Ever” by In Vox, which they remixed themselves.
Marsheaux signed with Undo Records and released their first album, *E-Bay Queen*, in June 2004. The album reflected their stated influences—OMD, Pet Shop Boys, Sparks, John Foxx, and Depeche Mode—and was well received by critics internationally. Their second album, *Peekaboo*, came out in December 2006 and included covers of New Order’s “Regret” and When in Rome’s “The Promise.” The site Electronically Yours named it Album of the Year 2007. The single “Hanging On” followed in 2007.
Besides original work, the duo has remixed tracks by Depeche Mode, Moby, Sakis Rouvas, Gwen Stefani, and Hurts. In 2008, they recorded a version of OMD’s “She’s Leaving” and released the limited 7-inch vinyl “Ghost,” with the B-side “Bizarre Love Duo.”
Their third album, *Lumineux Noir*, arrived in July 2009 on Undo Records/Out of Line. It came in two editions: a standard 13-track version and a limited edition with a bonus disc of remixes and a new song. Side-Line magazine said it didn’t show a change in sound but did show growing skill in songwriting and production. The music recalled 1980s synthpop and drew comparisons to Ladytron, The Chemical Brothers, and Client. Two singles supported it: “Breakthrough” and “Summer.”
In May 2011, they released the song “Can You Stop Me?”.
Quick Facts
- Landscape
- yes
- Background
- group_or_band
- Origin
- Athens, Greece
- Genre
- Synthpop, electropop
- Years Active
- 2003–present
- Label
- [http: · www.undorecords.com/ Undo Records], Out of Line
- Current Members
- Marianthi Melitsi / Sophie Sarigiannidou
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Marianthi Melitsi and Sophie Sarigiannidou were born in Thessaloniki, Greece. In 2000, they moved to Athens and founded Marsheaux in 2003 to further their appreciation of electronic pop music. In 2015, they explained to a music blog called AZLTRON the origin of the band: they were at a Depeche Mode party in Athens 12 years earlier, and the guys from Undo Records told them they could only play Depeche Mode themes on their synths. So they decided to form a band and make a track for a compilation called Nu Romantics. They did a cover of Gershon Kingsley's 'Popcorn', found a name, and won the bet; otherwise they would have had to clean the warehouse for a year. While their music has been described as evocative and atmospheric, the specific quote attributing 'a certain sort of wispy, melancholic charm' to Andy McCluskey of OMD is not a verified part of established Marsheaux canon.
Reader's Guide
Marsheaux's significance lies in their consistent output of synthpop music that draws on 1980s influences while maintaining a contemporary edge. Their debut album E-Bay Queen (2004) was critically well received internationally, and their follow-up Peekaboo (2006) was rated 'Album of the Year 2007' by the site Electronically Yours. The duo's fifth studio album A Broken Frame (2015) was a cover album of Depeche Mode's 1982 LP of the same name, seen as faithful but with an updated sound. They have performed at festivals including Infest, Pluswelt, Amphi and Exit, and have supported OMD and Róisín Murphy in Greece. Their legacy includes a body of original albums, compilations, and remixes for artists such as Depeche Mode, Moby, and Hurts, as well as a distinctive sound praised by Andy McCluskey of OMD for its 'wispy, melancholic charm'.
Did You Know?
- The name Marsheaux is derived from the first syllable of each band member's name.
- Both members sing almost exclusively in English.
- Their debut single was a cover of Gershon Kingsley's 'Popcorn'.
- Andy McCluskey of OMD said they have 'a certain sort of wispy, melancholic charm'.
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