More Info on PnauSimilar Pop & Rock MusicSearch Artistopia
Biography
Use dmy dates|date=October 2011Use Australian English|date=October 2011Infobox musical artist| name = Pnau| image = Pnau Sir Stewart Bovell Park January 2012.jpg| image_size =| landscape = yes| alt = Upper body shot of two men performing. Man at left is shown in right profile, he is holding a microphone in his right hand and singing with his eyes closed. He wears a dark blue shirt, dark pants. At his right hip in his belt is an electronic device. The second man is partly obscured, he leans in close to the first. He is singing and playing a 12-string guitar with his left hand high on the fret board. His right hand holds the guitar pick as he strums the strings. His eyes are open and looking at the first man.| caption = Pnau – Nick Littlemore (left), Peter Mayes (right) – performing at Sir Stewart Bovell Park, Busselton, Western Australia|Busselton , January 2012.| background = group_or_band| alias =| origin = Sydney , New South Wales , Australia | genre = Electronic dance music|Electronic dance , Wonky pop | years_active = start date|1999–present| label = Sony Music|Sony | associated_acts = Teenager (band)|Teenager , Ladyhawke (musician)|Ladyhawke , Empire of the Sun (band)|Empire of the Sun | website = URL|www.pnau.net/| current_members = Nick Littlemore Peter Mayes | past_members = Pnau is an Australian Electronic dance music|dance music duo originating from Sydney, Australia|Sydney , Australia. The duo consists of musicians Nick Littlemore (vocals, production) and Peter Mayes (guitar, production).cite web | url = Allmusic|class=artist|id=p509057|pure_url=yes | title = Pnau > Biography | author = Wesolowski, David Peter | work = Allmusic | publisher = Rovi Corporation | accessdate = 2 April 2010 The pair have achieved multiple successes throughout their career with their award-winning debut album Sambanova ,cite web | url = http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp? interpret=Pnau& titel=Sambanova& cat=a | title = Pnau Sambanova | publisher = Hung Medien | work = Australian charts portal | accessdate = 2 April 2010 cite web | url = http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php? year=2000 | title = ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 2000: 14th Annual ARIA Awards | publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) | accessdate = 2 April 2010 their universally acclaimed 2008 release Pnau (album)|Pnau ,cite web | url = http://www.ministryofsound.com.au/music/artist/pnau/ | title = PNAU at Ministry of Sound | publisher = Ministry of Sound | accessdate = 26 August 2010 their breakthrough side-project Empire of the Sun (band)|Empire of the Sun ,cite web|url= http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupageshttpwww.aria.com.aupagesARIACharts-Accreditations-2010Albums.htm|title=ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2010|accessdate=2010-05-20cite web|url= http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx|title=Certified Awards Search|publisher=BPI |accessdate=2010-05-20cite web|url= http://www.walkingonadream.com/t/aria|title=Empire of the Arias|publisher=Empire of the Sun Official |accessdate=2010-05-20 and their multiple chart-topping singles. Pnau is also recognized for their heavily publicized apprenticeship under musician Elton John , who signed the duo after listening to their record Pnau (album)|Pnau .cite news | url = http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/elton-signs-aussie-band-pnau/story-e6frfn09-1111117066700 | title = Elton John signs Aussie Band PNAU | publisher = News.Com.Au | accessdate = 26 August 2010 | date=31 July 2008 A number of projects featuring Elton's involvement with the band are currently in development, such as Pnau's new album Soft Universe cite web|url= http://www.nme.com/news/empire-of-the-sun/47587|title=Empire Of The Sun's Nick Littlemore writing with Elton John|publisher=NME |accessdate=2010-05-20 and an album featuring Pnau recreations of Elton John's hits.cite web|url= http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/special-features/tired-big-day-out-performers-ready-to-party-in-perth-after-final-aussie-gig/story-fn7bdca5-1226001589684|title=Tired Big Day Out Performers Ready To Party In Perth After Final Aussie Gig |publisher=Perth Now|accessdate=2011-02-11
Biography
Pnau formed in Sydney, New South Wales by Nick Littlemore and Peter Mayes. The two met at secondary school and began performing together in the mid-1990s, initially playing acid, house, and trance music. Littlemore recalled meeting Mayes when he was 10; "He tripped me over. We hated each other for a couple years and then we started sneaking out and going to raves when we were about 13 and we formed a bond over intense music." Littlemore and Mayes created their first album when they were in their mid-teens. "It was called Fractured Geometric Spaces Made of Light," Littlemore remembers, "Which is probably why it was never picked up."cite web | url = http://cms.cougar.nineentertainmentco.com.au/celebrity/cosmo-celeb-chat/2011/11/cosmo-chats-pnau/ | title = Cosmo Chats: PNAU | publisher = Cosmopolitan Austrailia | date= 23 November 2011 | accessdate = 11 March 2012
In 1999, Pnau officially released their debut album Sambanova under the independent Record label|label Peking Duck. It was recorded in a bedroom studio and they only expected to sell a few thousand copies.cite web | url = http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/review/album/s978904.htm | title = Pnau Again | publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) | work = Triple J | date= 31 March 2003 | accessdate = 16 April 2010 The album turned out to be a surprise success when it won Best Dance Release at the ARIA Music Awards . A week later, however, the album was pulled from record stores for using uncleared sampling (music)|samples . In a 2003 interview with The Age , Mayes recalled that they had no understanding of sample clearances due to their naïveté in the music business.cite news | url = http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/10/16/1065917534693.html? from=storyrhs | title = Pnau and then | work = The Age | publisher = Fairfax Media | last = Drever | first = Andrew | date = 17 October 2003 | accessdate = 16 April 2010 | location=Melbourne Mayes claimed that the album's recall did seriously affect their commercial sales. Littlemore later contested "They screwed us over for $300,000. Warners didn't; another third party did. But that happens. We're still here, we're still doing it."cite web | url = http://www.fhm.com.au/interview-pnau.htm | title = Interview: PNAU | publisher = FHM Magazine | date= 23 November 2011 | accessdate = 11 March 2012
In subsequent years Pnau went on to make many live appearances at music festivals like Big Day Out in 2001 and Homebake in 2002. During this time, they garnered a reputation for their lively performances.cite news | url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/11/14/1037080847952.html | title = Cookin' | newspaper = The Sydney Morning Herald | publisher = Fairfax Media | last = Tomas | first = Juan-Carlo | date = 15 November 2002 | accessdate = 16 April 2010 Amidst this era, Pnau released their second album, Again (Pnau album)|Again in 2003.cite web | url = http://www.discogs.com/Pnau-Again/master/194972 | title = Pnau – Again (CD) | publisher = Discogs | accessdate = 26 August 2010 The album was not a commercial success and Littlemore was later quoted as Again (Pnau album)|Again being "the worst record I’ve ever done".cite web | url = http://ruthbailey.com.au/? p=11 | title = Australian Interview - PNAU | publisher = Ruth Bailey | accessdate = 26 August 2010 Littlemore has since retracted the statement. When asked if he still considered Again to be his worst record, Littlemore responded, "Well next to Soft Universe . They're sort of on par." Littlemore further explained that a lot of his opinion is formed around the albums' commercial success, which is an easy headspace for him to get into since "everyone loves Empire of the Sun (band)|Empire of the Sun , it's sold 1.1 million records." Despite the seemingly unfavorable album response, several tracks received considerable acclaim - the most noteworthy being We Love The Fresh Kills which was a significantly popular single for the duo at the time.cite web | url = http://www.ministryofsound.com.au/music/artist/pnau/ | title = PNAU at Ministry of Sound | publisher = Ministry of Sound | accessdate = 12 July 2011 However, because of Again (Pnau album)|Again s lackluster success the pair parted ways for some time to work with other artists such as Robbie Williams , Van She ,cite web | url = http://www.discogs.com/artist/Nick+Littlemore | title = Nick Littlemore discography | publisher = Discogs | accessdate = 26 August 2010 and Lost Valentinos .cite web | url = http://www.discogs.com/Lost-Valentinos-Miles-From-Nowhere-EP/release/1058281 | title = Lost Valentinos* - Miles From Nowhere EP at Discogs | publisher = Discogs | accessdate = 26 August 2010
When the two reunited in 2007 they wrote over two-hundred songs together and started to lay down an entire album. They sent a work-in-progress track to long-time friend and collaborator Luke Steele (musician)|Luke Steele , who sent back the track with his own vocals. After receiving the track Littlemore and Mayes decided to scrap everything they had laid down to focus on a more vocally centered album.cite web | url = http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=5Z17Uyv4lMs | title = PNAU - Behind The Scenes | publisher = Ministry of Sound | accessdate = 26 August 2010 The track became known as With You Forever and the finalized album was released under the self-titled name Pnau (album)|Pnau . The album not only featured vocal work from Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore himself, but also had many guest appearances such as Ladyhawke (musician)|Ladyhawke , Nik Yannika from Lost Valentinos and Michael DeFrancesco from Van She.cite web | url = http://www.pnau.net/bio/pnaubio.pdf | title = Pnau Biography | publisher = Pnau.net | accessdate = 26 August 2010 The album was released to high critical acclaim and gained unexpected favorable attention from Elton John,cite web | url = http://crushable.com/entertainment/elton-john-loves-pnau/ | title = Elton John Loves PNAU | publisher = Crushable | accessdate = 26 August 2010 cite web | url = http://www.undercover.com.au/News-Story.aspx? id=3633 | title = Elton John Joins The PNAU Fan Club | publisher = Undercover | accessdate = 26 August 2010 cite web | url = http://jasontreuen.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/rolling-stone-pnau-interview/ | title = Rolling Stone: Pnau interview | publisher = Rolling Stone | accessdate = 26 August 2010 declaring it to be the greatest record he'd heard in ten years.cite web | url = http://www.timeoutsydney.com.au/music/pnau--nick-littlemore.aspx | title = PNAU - Nick Littlemore - Music | publisher = Time Out Sydney | accessdate = 26 August 2010 cite web | url = http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=qxqfwaXHV2g | title = PNAU Baby (live on Sunrise), With the Talent Zone Dancers | publisher = Talent Zone | accessdate = 26 August 2010
Inspired by their track "With You Forever", Pnau began work on a collaboration with Luke Steele.cite web | url = http://www.pnau.net/bio/pnautracks.pdf | title = PNAU Tracks | publisher = Pnau.net | accessdate = 26 August 2010 Originally titled Steelemore, Empire of the Sun (band)|Empire of the Sun made its debut on 4 October 2008 with Walking on a Dream . Nick Littlemore and Luke Steele took the roles of bandmates, while Peter Mayes assumed the role of producer. Some critics where quick to note that the band sounded more like a work of Pnau than Luke Steele's band The Sleepy Jackson .cite web | url = Allmusic|class=album|id=r1448205|pure_url=yes | title = Walking On A Dream Review | publisher = Allmusic | accessdate = 26 August 2010 Empire of the Sun has achieved international success having been certified 2x platinum in Australia and gold in the United Kingdom, as well as winning eleven ARIA awards. Pnau makes it clear on their Myspace numerous times that not only is Empire of the Sun a side project of theirs, but that they are also the producers.cite web|url= http://www.myspace.com/pnau|title=Pnau Myspace|publisher=Myspace |accessdate=2010-05-20 Regarding Empire of the Sun, in early 2009 news began appearing that Nick Littlemore had disappeared.cite web|url= http://exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx? csid1=136& csid2=844& fid1=41381|title=Empire of the Sun’s Nick Littlemore MIA for Five Months; Luke Steele May Be Forced to Play Duo’s First-Ever Live Shows Minus His Right-Hand Man |publisher=Exclaim News |accessdate=2010-05-20cite web|url= http://www.take40.com/news/17295/empire-of-the-sun's-nick-littlemore-leaves-band-and-goes-missing!|title=Empire Of The Sun's Nick Littlemore Leaves Band And Goes Missing!|publisher=Take 40 |accessdate=2010-05-20 The reality had been that Nick Littlemore had left Empire of the Sun to begin work on the fourth Pnau album along with Elton John .
In 2011 Pnau released Soft Universe . Littlemore has described it as a very "emotional" album, inspired by the break up with his long-time girlfriend.cite web|url= http://www.themusicnetwork.com/music-news/artists/2010/11/26/littlemore-discusses-empire-sequel-and-pnaus-emotional-new-album//|title=Littlemore discusses Empire sequel and Pnau's "emotional" new album |work=The Music Network|author=McNamara, Tim|accessdate=2010-11-26 With input from Elton John , the album features Littlemore singing all the vocals on the album along with tracks co-written with fellow Aussie artist Martin Craft and producer Mark Saunders .cite web|url= http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/musicnews/s3079613.htm//|title= Nick Littlemore joins the circus|work= Triple J |accessdate=2010-11-29 The album was positively received, although mainly critics expressed discontent with the lack of the "endearing weirdness of previous Pnau and Empire releases."cite web|url= http://www.musicomh.com/albums/pnau_0212.htm|title=Pnau - Unite Us|publisher=Music OMH |accessdate=2012-03-11
On March 10, 2012, the first remix track from the anticipated, upcoming Elton John rework album commissioned for Pnau was leaked, initially airing on Pete Tong's BBC Radio 1 broadcast. cite web|url= http://www.beatmyday.com/2012/03/10/pete-tong-essential-selection-09-03-2012/|title=Pete Tong - Essential Selection - 09-03-2012|publisher=beatmyday |accessdate=2012-03-11 It was also revealed the remix album will feature eight tracks and is currently set for a April 2012 release.cite web|url= http://stoneyroads.com/first-taste-of-pnau-and-elton-john-collab/|title=First Taste of Pnau and Elton John Collab|publisher=Stoney Roads |accessdate=2012-03-11
New album and 2011 tour
Pnau's new album titled Soft Universe was released on 22 July 2011. The accompanying small Australian tour of the same name will at this stage cover only four dates, visiting Melbourne, Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle.
Pronunciations
One accepted pronunciation of Pnau is "pah-now".cite web|url= http://dancemusic.about.com/od/reviews/fr/PnauAgain.htm|title=PNAU-Again|publisher=About.com |accessdate= 24 October 2010 The name is commonly accented to simulate the sound of a gunshot. Nick Littlemore explained the name was the result of an instance when he was Glossolalia|speaking in tongues . After shouting gibberish for half an hour, Littlemore decided Pnau would be an appropriate band name.cite web|url= http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=o_gFWSeZvgw& p=828CE5377F9C208B& playnext=1& index=25|title=Vera Meets PNAU |accessdate=24 October 2010
Another theory on the pronunciation, according to one interview with the pair, is "pah-nyeow". The group has on other occasions explained that the name "rhymes with meow".
Awards
In 2000 they won an ARIA Award for Best Dance Release.
The Song "Wild Strawberries" placed at #100 in the Triple J Hottest 100, 2007
The Song "Embrace" placed at #12 in the Triple J Hottest 100, 2008
The Song "Baby" placed at #54 in the Triple J Hottest 100, 2008
The song "The Truth" placed #80 in the Triple J Hottest 100, 2011
Discography
Albums
Sambanova (July 1999, Peking Duck) #39 AUS
Again (Pnau album)|Again (October 2003, Warner Music)
Pnau (album)|Pnau (January 2007, ETCETC) #31 AUS
Soft Universe (July 2011) #13 AUS
Singles
"Need Your Lovin' Baby" (2000, Warner Music)
"Sambanova" (2000)
"Follow Me" (2001, Warner Music)
"Blood Lust" (2002, Warner Music)
"Una Noche" (2002, Kompact)
"Baby" (2008, ETCETC) #34 AUS
"Embrace" (2008, ETCETC)#55 AUS http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20081120-0000/issue973.pdf ARIA Report 973. Retrieved 2011-02-16
"The Truth" (2011)
"Solid Ground" (2011)
"Unite Us" (2011)
"Epic Fail" (2012)
EPs
''Need Your Lovin' Baby (2001)
Enuff Enuff (2005)
Wild Strawberries EP (2007)
References
Reflist
External links
official website| http://www.pnaupnau.com/
http://www21.sbs.com.au/alchemy/index.php? pg=ct& ct=1& sc=2& id=637 Pnau Interview with Alchemy SBS Radio 2008-4-30
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/10/16/1065917534693.html? from=storyrhs "Pnau and then", The Age , 17 October 2003
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Pnau Discogs entry for Pnau
http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/PNAU/video/x7czga_pnau-social-club-before-rencontres Video from the PNAU live in France for the before of the Trans Musicales festival
Nick LittlemoreDEFAULTSORT:Pnau Category:ARIA Award winners Category:Australian electronic music groups Category:Electronic music duos Category:New South Wales musical groups Category:Australian musical duos Category:Australian indie pop groups
es:Pnau fr:Pnau it:Pnau pl:Pnau
Copyright Citations
This article is licensed under the GNU License
Click here for original article: Pnau
