Meaning "red-haired one" in French, La Roux is the synth pop project of flame-haired singer/songwriter Elly Jackson and keyboardist/producer Ben Langmaid. Before they collaborated, Jackson grew up listening to folk legend Nick Drake, and drew inspiration from his sound for her early music. Meanwhile, Langmaid went to school with Faithless' Rollo Armstrong, and the pair recorded as house duo Huff & Puff in the mid-'90s; Langmaid also recorded as Atomic and as one half of Huff & Herb for Armstrong's label, and was a songwriter for the group Kubb. Jackson and Langmaid began working together in 2006, when they were introduced by a mutual acquaintance. Initially, they called their project "Automan" and wrote largely acoustic music before scrapping that name and sound for the sleek, Prince, David Bowie, and the Knife-inspired style they pursued as La Roux. Their debut single, "Quicksand," was released by Kitsune in fall 2008, and earned the band acclaim from the BBC and the Guardian. La Roux supported Lily Allen on her 2009 U.K. tour and were expected to release their first album later that year. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide