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Blaqk Audio

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Blaqk Audio
Blaqk Audio performing live in 2007. From left to right: Davey Havok and Jade Puget.
Blaqk Audio performing live in 2007. From left to right: Davey Havok and Jade Puget.
Background information
OriginOakland, California, United States
Genres
Years active2006–present
Labels
Members
Websitewww.blaqkaudio.com

Blaqk Audio is an American electronic music duo, formed by current AFI members Davey Havok and Jade Puget under Interscope Records.

Their debut album, CexCells, was released on August 14, 2007, and reached number eighteen on the Billboard 200. The band's second album, Bright Black Heaven, was released on September 11, 2012, under Superball Music's imprint Big Death.[2] The first single from Bright Black Heaven, "Faith Healer", was released August 14, 2012. Their third album, Material, was released on April 15, 2016, and became their third consecutive album to debut at number one on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart.

Three additional albums, Only Things We Love, Beneath the Black Palms, and Trop d'amour were released in 2019, 2020, and 2022 respectively.

History

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Origins

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Havok and Puget started writing music for Blaqk Audio around 2001, but they were too busy with AFI to devote enough time to the project.[3] They returned to the project only in 2006,[3] and the debut album CexCells was put out in August 2007.

AFI have increasingly included synthesized elements into their recent albums; 2003 release Sing the Sorrow and 2006 release Decemberunderground credit Puget with 'programming and keyboards'.[4][5] These synthesized elements are particularly apparent on songs such as "Death of Seasons" and "37mm". In the August 2006 edition of Guitar World, Puget states that AFI songs "37mm" and "Love Like Winter" were both originally intended as part of the Blaqk Audio side project.[6] Elements of programming, however, can be found as early as 2000s The Art of Drowning, which featured a drum machine on "The Despair Factor".[7]

CexCells

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Blaqk Audio entered the studio to record several songs for their first album in January 2007.[8] Puget kept fans apprised with updates through his blog, before the Blaqk Audio Myspace was created in February 2007. By July 27, they had filmed footage for the music video for their debut single "Stiff Kittens", but the video was never finished. The album, CexCells, was released on August 14, 2007. Also in 2007, Puget collaborated with the German band Tokio Hotel, contributing a remix of "Ready, Set, Go!" called "Ready, Set, Go! (AFI/Blaqk Audio Remix)" to the American version of Scream. On January 12, 2008, Puget uploaded a new song to the Blaqk Audio Myspace titled "The Ligature".

Instrumental versions of the songs, "Between Breaths" and "The Love Letter" were used in trailers and on the official website for the 2008 film The Eye. In response to the buzz it created, Puget suggested at a possible public release of all the CexCells songs in instrumental form.

Bright Black Heaven

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In July 2009, Blaqk Audio contributed a cover of "No New Tale to Tell" to the tribute album for Love and Rockets, New Tales to Tell: A Tribute to Love and Rockets.[9]

While promoting AFI's new single "Medicate" on KROQ, Havok said that Blaqk Audio's second album was already completed, but they were focused on AFI as they felt "if all of a sudden we're doing two Blaqk Audio records in a row people will think AFI is not happening or something."[10] Puget revealed that the name of the album as Bright Black Heaven.[10] Despite the album being finished, the band continued working on new material.[10][11] Over thirty songs were recorded for the album.[12] Beginning in February 2010, the songs "Ill Lit Ships", "Bon Voyeurs", "Mouth to Mouth", and "Cold War" premiered through release on radio stations.[13]

"The Witness" appeared on official soundtrack album of the 2011 movie Abduction, released on September 20.[14] Another song called "Afterdark" appeared on the official soundtrack album of the video game Batman: Arkham City, released on October 4.[15] Blaqk Audio performed at Subsonic Spookfest 2010, premiering three new songs: "This Is...", "Fade to White", and "Let's Be Honest".[16][17] On November 25, Blaqk Audio posted a song titled "Down Here" on their SoundCloud page.[18] On January 6, 2011, they performed a show at club Popscene in San Francisco, playing two new songs: "Say Red" and "Everybody's Friends".[19] On July 23, a previously unheard song called "Bliss" was uploaded to their SoundCloud page,[20] along with "Ill-Lit Ships" and "Mouth to Mouth".[21]

In March 2012, Blaqk Audio toured Australia and New Zealand as a supporting act for Evanescence.[22]

In June 2012, Blaqk Audio announced having been signed to Superball Music, and released Bright Black Heaven on September 11, 2012.[2]

Material

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Starting December 18, 2015, Blaqk Audio starting updating and teasing activity across social media. On February 10, 2016, they unveiled the single "Anointed". The single was available to purchase February 19, 2016. Blaqk Audio released their third studio album, Material, on April 15, 2016.

Only Things We Love

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Havok said during an interview with Matt Pinfield that the new album will be out in spring of 2019 and that 69 songs were written to choose from. In January 2019, Havok visited the KITS (ALT 105.3) studios to showcase their brand new single "The Viles". While at the studio, Havok also confirmed the new album's title, Only Things We Love, which was released on March 15, 2019.[23][24]

Beneath the Black Palms

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On July 24, 2020, Blaqk Audio released a cryptic teaser video on their Instagram page. This was revealed on July 28 to be promotion for the band's fifth album, Beneath the Black Palms, which was released on August 21, 2020. The same day, the band surprise-released a digital EP consisting of the album's first 5 songs, titled Beneath the Black Palms (Side A), which was followed shortly by a visualizer video for the song "Hiss".[25]

Trop d'amour

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Blaqk Audio's sixth studio album, Trop d'amour, was released on September 16, 2022.[26]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[27] 		US
Alt.
[27] 		US
Dance
[27] 		AUS
[28]
CexCells 18 5 1 86
Bright Black Heaven
  • Released: September 11, 2012
  • Label: Superball, Big Death
  • Formats: CD, Vinyl, digital download
 43 12 1 —
Material
  • Released: April 15, 2016
  • Label: Blaqknoise/Kobalt Records
  • Formats: CD, vinyl, digital download
 — 21 1 —
Only Things We Love
  • Released: March 15, 2019
  • Label: Kobalt Records
  • Formats: CD, vinyl, digital download
 — — 12 —
Beneath the Black Palms
  • Released: August 21, 2020
  • Label: BMG
  • Formats: Vinyl, digital download
 — — — —
Trop d’amour
  • Released: September 16, 2022
  • Label: Blaqknoise
  • Formats: Vinyl, digital download
 — — — —

Singles

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Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Alt.
[27] 		US
Dance
[27]
"Stiff Kittens" 2007 20 38 CexCells
"Faith Healer" 2012 — — Bright Black Heaven
"Anointed" 2016 — — Material
"First to Love" — —
"You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" — — Non-album single
"The Viles" 2019 — — Only Things We Love
"Blue Cherry" 2022 — — Trop d'amour
"Cowboy Nights" — —
"Absolute Scenes" — —
"Father Figure" — — Non-album single

Other appearances

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Title Year Album
"Stiff Kittens" (Jnrsnchz Blaqkout Remix) 2009 Underworld: Rise of the Lycans: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
"No New Tale to Tell" New Tales to Tell: A Tribute to Love and Rockets
"The Witness" 2011 Abduction: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
"Afterdark" Batman: Arkham City – The Album

Music videos

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Title Year Director(s)
"If Only" 2007 Josh Stern and Blaqk Audio[29]
"Faith Healer" 2012 Daniel Raschko[30]
"Ill Lit Ships" 2014 Travis Kopach[31]
"Anointed" 2016 Unknown
"First to Love" 2016 Adam Mason
"The Viles" 2019 Adam Mason
"Bird Sister" 2020 Unknown
"Cowboy Nights" 2022 Adam Mason

Band members

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References

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  1. ^ "Blaqk Audio at the Grand Ballroom « Life in a Bungalo". Archived from the original on October 11, 2008. Retrieved February 24, 2008.
  2. ^ a b "Blaqk Audio sign with Superball Music; release free download of new song - News - Alternative Press". Altpress.com. June 12, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Davey Havok (February 27, 2007). "Like a Quadruped Comin' Atcha!". Myspace. Archived from the original on July 8, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  4. ^ Sing the Sorrow CD Booklet
  5. ^ Decemberunderground CD Booklet
  6. ^ Guitar World, "The Shape of Punk to Come" August 2006
  7. ^ Lash, Jolie. "AFI Go Electronic". Rolling Stone. September 4, 2003.
  8. ^ "So I Must Apologize For My Tardiness". January 9, 2007. Archived from the original on November 14, 2009. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
  9. ^ Paul, Aubin (June 30, 2009). "Blaqk Audio contribute to Love And Rockets Tribute". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  10. ^ a b c Gary Graff (November 2009). "AFI Duo Ready To Go With New Blaqk Audio". Billboard.
  11. ^ Justin Crites (March 2010). "An Exclusive Interview with Davey Havok of AFI". ReaxMusic.com. Archived from the original on March 17, 2010.
  12. ^ "Davey Havok Really Loves UNDERWORLD: Calls Station @ 2:30am to announce SPOOKFEST 2010 headliner". Live105. August 30, 2010. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
  13. ^ "Blaqk Audio Returns to SF! « LIVE 105". Live105.radio.com. December 1, 2010. Archived from the original on December 23, 2010. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  14. ^ ""Abduction" Soundtrack Features Train, Lenny Kravitz, Cobra Starship + More". Artistdirect.com. August 30, 2011. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  15. ^ [1][dead link]
  16. ^ "10/30/10 San Diego Setlist". October 30, 2010. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  17. ^ "Bay Area natives Blaqk Audio @ Spookfest 2010 « LIVE 105". Live105.radio.com. October 28, 2010. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  18. ^ "Blaqk Audio - Down Here - SoundCloud". Archived from the original on November 30, 2010. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
  19. ^ Mary (January 6, 2011). "LIVE POST: Blaqk Audio at Popscene". Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  20. ^ "Bliss by Blaqk Audio on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free". Archived from the original on November 2, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2011.
  21. ^ "New Blaqk Audio Song: Bliss - AFI News Headquarters". Afinewshq.com. July 23, 2011. Archived from the original on June 10, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  22. ^ "Blaqk Audio set to tour Australia". Bombshellzine. January 29, 2012. Archived from the original on April 4, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  23. ^ Headquarters, AFI News (January 25, 2018). "Record should be out in March 2019 with the first single, "The Viles" debuting January 13th 2019 on altradio 105.3. Davey hopes to tour on the record". @AFINewsHQ. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  24. ^ Headquarters, AFI News (January 25, 2018). "69 songs were written for Blaqk Audio to choose from for the next album". @AFINewsHQ. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  25. ^ "Trop d'Amour by Blaqk Audio". Genius.
  26. ^ "Trop D'amour by Blaqk Audio". Genius. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  27. ^ a b c d e Peak chart positions in the United States:
  28. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 33.
  29. ^ "Blaqk Audio – If Only". Google. YouTube. June 12, 2007. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  30. ^ "Blaqk Audio – "Faith Healer"". MTV. Viacom Media Networks. October 29, 2012. Archived from the original on December 6, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  31. ^ "Blaqk Audio Ill Lit Ships". Travis Kopach. Archived from the original on June 7, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
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