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Blonde Electra (formerly Blonde Electric) are a British pop music, pop duo consisting of British-German sisters Jasmina "Jazzy" King (born 19 February 1990) and Natalia "Ruby" King (born 7 May 1992). They formed the group in 2013 in Düsseldorf, Germany, after leaving their previous band King (pop band), KING.
The two sisters have been making music from an early age and have worked as songwriters in Europe and the United States. They are best known for their performances in the The X Factor (UK series 11), eleventh UK series of The X Factor (UK TV series), ''The X Factor'' in the 'Group' category, mentored by Louis Walsh. The duo reached the finals and took part in the first live show. They have lived in London since 2014.
On 6 February 2017 they registered the Private company limited by shares, private limited UK company 'Toy Machine Limited' at Companies House, with both sisters listed as the Board of directors, directors.
When Jazzy and Ruby King turned 15 and 13, now living in Slovakia, they left their family to stay on their own and to sing in a night club, after their oldest brother Michael had already quit the band in 2003. The five siblings reunited in 2006 and started outside their father's control the band King Family, supported by the German producer Dieter Falk. They were soon given a record deal by EMI Group, EMI and published two singles and one album. In 2009 the band was invited to Nashville, Tennessee by Doc McGhee (the manager of Kiss (band), KISS and Bon Jovi) and the siblings decided to emigrate to the United States. They parted ways with EMI and renamed their band to King (pop band), KING. They moved from a camping ground in Cologne to Los Angeles in June 2009.
At the end of 2013, KING released the music video "B.O.M.B.", directed by Nicholaus Goossen, in which Jazzy and Ruby King featured.
Blonde Electra were the first auditionees to be shown in the 2014 series. They performed the song "Do It like a Dude"by Jessie J and were accepted to go on with three 'yes' votes from Cowell, Louis Walsh and Mel B and one 'no' vote from Cheryl (singer), Cheryl. At the bootcamp the group sang "I Love Rock and Roll" by Joan Jett and at the judges' houses, which took place in Bermuda, they performed "Gold Digger (Kanye West song), Gold Digger" by Kanye West. Walsh, their mentor, selected them as the first act to perform in the live shows, after which Jazzy King told the show host that they needed to succeed because they did not have "a plan B" and they "don't function in the outside world, this is all we can do.".
During their time on ''The X Factor'', the group decided to change their name from Blonde Electric to Blonde Electra shortly before the live shows because the old name was too descriptive. According to Jazzy King the new name should "represent who we are and what we stand for. When we think of Blonde Electra, we imagine a strong, independent woman that doesn't take no for an answer".
Although the duo did not advance to the second week, the choreography (with ''X Factor'' creative director Brian Friedman) and fashion style of their live performance stood out. Head stylist Gemma Sheppard, responsible for the outfits, called them the most fearless with fashion, willing to push boundaries and having a vision. At ''The X Factor'' finals, the two sisters aroused controversial attention when they kissed each other on stage during their performance of the opening number with the other contestants.
Early life
The parents of the two sisters, British-born Michael Jaffray King and his German wife Irmgard (also known as Joanna), left India in 1991 and travelled with their children as Christian Missionary, missionaries in a travel trailer, caravan through Europe and the United States. They moved about 80 times and lived mostly under poor circumstances, especially during their nine-year stay in Ukraine, which they described as living in a ghetto without running water or a shower. All children were homeschooling, home-schooled and grew up under their father's strict rules without being allowed toys or to watch TV or listen to popular music.Ladies What Brunch with Blonde Electra by Hoxton Radio 10 November 2014 (archived at mixcloud.com under /HoxtonRadio/ladies-what-brunch-with-blonde-electra/ - accessed 5 May 2017)Musical career
King Family
Jazzy and Ruby King started to sing on the streets at an age of one or two at their father's instigation. He later formed with his five oldest children the Christian band The King Family and they toured through the world performing religious music as street musicians, in clubs, churches, schools and prisons and on TV shows. In 1998 they were offered a $4 million record deal by Word Records/Warner Music Group (US) which was refused by their father because of the young age of the children.
When Jazzy and Ruby King turned 15 and 13, now living in Slovakia, they left their family to stay on their own and to sing in a night club, after their oldest brother Michael had already quit the band in 2003. The five siblings reunited in 2006 and started outside their father's control the band King Family, supported by the German producer Dieter Falk. They were soon given a record deal by EMI Group, EMI and published two singles and one album. In 2009 the band was invited to Nashville, Tennessee by Doc McGhee (the manager of Kiss (band), KISS and Bon Jovi) and the siblings decided to emigrate to the United States. They parted ways with EMI and renamed their band to King (pop band), KING. They moved from a camping ground in Cologne to Los Angeles in June 2009.
At the end of 2013, KING released the music video "B.O.M.B.", directed by Nicholaus Goossen, in which Jazzy and Ruby King featured.
''The X Factor''
After differences with their siblings Jazzy and Ruby King left the band KING and started their own group called Blonde Electric. They were based in Düsseldorf, Germany, at that time and decided to move to England and audition for ''The X Factor'' after they heard that Simon Cowell had been back on the judging panel. They were earning their living with nannying and waitressing jobs and increased their initial combined assets of about only £150 to over £10,000 in only a few months.
Blonde Electra were the first auditionees to be shown in the 2014 series. They performed the song "Do It like a Dude"by Jessie J and were accepted to go on with three 'yes' votes from Cowell, Louis Walsh and Mel B and one 'no' vote from Cheryl (singer), Cheryl. At the bootcamp the group sang "I Love Rock and Roll" by Joan Jett and at the judges' houses, which took place in Bermuda, they performed "Gold Digger (Kanye West song), Gold Digger" by Kanye West. Walsh, their mentor, selected them as the first act to perform in the live shows, after which Jazzy King told the show host that they needed to succeed because they did not have "a plan B" and they "don't function in the outside world, this is all we can do.".
During their time on ''The X Factor'', the group decided to change their name from Blonde Electric to Blonde Electra shortly before the live shows because the old name was too descriptive. According to Jazzy King the new name should "represent who we are and what we stand for. When we think of Blonde Electra, we imagine a strong, independent woman that doesn't take no for an answer".
Although the duo did not advance to the second week, the choreography (with ''X Factor'' creative director Brian Friedman) and fashion style of their live performance stood out. Head stylist Gemma Sheppard, responsible for the outfits, called them the most fearless with fashion, willing to push boundaries and having a vision. At ''The X Factor'' finals, the two sisters aroused controversial attention when they kissed each other on stage during their performance of the opening number with the other contestants.
Performances during the show
Family connections
While participating in ''The X Factor'', the sisters revealed in interviews that they are related to then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Chancellor George Osborne, whose father is a cousin of their father. Their paternal grandmother Helen Queenie Horn married Rodney Stewart King, the son of Lt. Col. Stewart William King, an officer in the British Indian Army. Her sister Mary Horn married as her second husband Sir George Francis Osborne, 16th Baronet, Sir George Francis Osborne, the grandfather of George Osborne. Their sister Marieangela King married on 1 December 2013 the musician and artist Elijah Blue Allman, the son of singer and actress Cher.Filmography
Discography
Singles
References
External links
* * * {{Authority control English electronic music duos English synth-pop groups Musical groups established in 2012 Pop music groups from London Sibling musical duos British women company founders English women in electronic music 2012 establishments in the United Kingdom Female musical duos Electronic music groups from London