{{Short description|American indie pop band}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Cardiknox | image = Cardiknox on VOA.png | caption = Cardiknox on the Voice of America, August 2016. | image_size = | landscape = | alias = | origin = Seattle, United States | genre = {{Flatlist | *Pop *indie pop *dance}} | years_active = 2013–2018 | label = Warner Bros. | current_members = {{Plainlist | * Lonnie Angle * Thomas Dutton}} | past_members = | associated_acts = {{flatlist | * Betty Who * Carly Rae Jepsen * The Knocks * Bleachers}} }} '''Cardiknox''' was an American indie pop band. Formed in 2013, the duo consisted of Lonnie Angle (vocals) and Thomas Dutton (backup vocals and keyboard). The group's singles were reviewed by magazines and newspapers including ''Billboard'', MTV, ''The A.V. Club'', and ''The Guardian''. Cardiknox signed with Warner Bros. Records in 2015 and released their debut album ''Portrait'' in March 2016; they also reached number 13 on the ''Billboard'' Spotify Viral 50 chart with the song "Wild Child".<ref name=Jspace /><ref name=Chart />
==History== Both Lonnie Angle and Thomas Dutton grew up in the suburbs of Seattle. They were introduced through a mutual friend.<ref name=Michigan /> Angle was a theater major and singer, while Dutton was a musician and the lead singer of Forgive Durden. Dutton had written a concept album called ''Razia's Shadow'', and the duo started working together to adapt it into an off-Broadway theater production with The Public Theater. The musical was a success, but the duo made the decision to leave it behind and form a band in 2013.<ref name=Paste>{{cite web |url = http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/09/video-premiere-cardiknox---doors.html |title = Video Premiere: Cardiknox - "Doors" |author = Dacey Orr |publisher = Paste |date = 29 September 2015 |accessdate = 22 April 2016 |archive-date = April 23, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160423110821/http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/09/video-premiere-cardiknox---doors.html |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name=Jspace>{{cite web |url = http://www.jspacenews.com/exclusive-interview-recording-artist-cardiknox/ |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160202105159/http://www.jspacenews.com/exclusive-interview-recording-artist-cardiknox/ |url-status = usurped |archive-date = February 2, 2016 |title = Exclusive Interview with Recording Artist Cardiknox (Warner Bros. Records) |publisher = Jspace News |date = 1 February 2016 |accessdate = 22 April 2016}}</ref><ref name=Fuse>{{cite web |url = http://www.fuse.tv/videos/2014/08/lollapalooza-2014-cardiknox-interview |title = Cardiknox Recall Meeting While Making a Musical |publisher = Fuse.tv |date = 5 August 2014 |accessdate = 22 April 2016}}</ref> The band name is a play on Dutton's mother's maiden name of Cardinaux.<ref name=Idolator /><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhlWfBdOKMY&t=76 Behind The Band: Cardiknox], Lonnie Angle explains the meaning of the band name (Lifeminute interview, posted to YouTube on Mar 4, 2016)</ref>
Two of the band's singles made the Hype Machine Top 10 in 2013. "Technicolor Dreaming" became an "under-the-radar" hit,<ref name=Teen>{{cite web |url = https://www.teenvogue.com/story/cardiknox-on-my-way-music-video |title = The Best New Music Video of the Year (So Far) Was Filmed In Just One Take |author = Ella Ceron |publisher = Teen Vogue |date = 6 January 2016 |accessdate = 22 April 2016}}</ref> with its video premiering on ''The A.V. Club''.<ref name=AVClub>{{cite web |url = http://www.avclub.com/article/dive-into-the-world-of-hand-drawn-vhs-art-with-a-n-105047 |title = Dive into the world of hand-drawn VHS art with a new video from Cardiknox |author = Marah Eakin |publisher = The A.V. Club |date = 1 November 2013 |accessdate = 22 April 2016}}</ref> With "Technicolor Dreaming", the band moved in the direction of synth and 1980s sound.<ref name=Idolator>{{cite web |url = http://www.idolator.com/7623376/cardiknox-interview-synth-pop-duo-album-portrait-john-shanks |title = Cardiknox Interview: The Synth-Pop Duo Discuss Making Debut Album 'Portrait' With John Shanks |author = Robbie Daw |website = Idolator |date = 12 February 2016 |accessdate = 21 April 2016}}{{dead link|date=August 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
Throughout 2015, Cardiknox played at big festivals in the United States, Canada, and Europe, including Lollapalooza, Firefly, Sasquatch, Reading, Leeds, and Pukkelpop. The band signed with Warner Bros. Records.<ref name=Jspace /> In November, Cardiknox released "On My Way", a "dance-y pop banger". Its video, a mash-up of vintage fashion runway footage, was premiered by ''Vogue''.<ref name=Vogue>{{cite web |url = http://www.vogue.com/13367503/cardiknox-new-video-runway-footage/ |title = Exclusive! Watch Cardiknox's Runway-Inspired New Video |author = Jacob Brown |work = Vogue |date = 3 November 2015 |accessdate = 22 April 2016 |archive-date = 8 March 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160308035408/http://www.vogue.com/13367503/cardiknox-new-video-runway-footage/ |url-status = dead }}</ref>
Before releasing their debut album, Cardiknox published four singles from the album: "Doors", "On My Way", "Wild Child", and "Into the Night".<ref name=Windy /> "Wild Child" reached number 13 on the Spotify Viral 50 chart.<ref name=Chart>{{cite web |url = http://www.billboard.com/artist/6889559/cardiknox/chart?f=2206 |title = Cardiknox: chart history |publisher = Billboard |date = 5 March 2016 |accessdate = 22 April 2016 |archive-date = 20 December 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161220143228/http://www.billboard.com/artist/6889559/cardiknox/chart?f=2206 |url-status = dead }}</ref> After six months spent at Henson Recording Studios in Hollywood,<ref name=Jspace /> the album ''Portrait'' was released on March 11, 2016.<ref name=Aquarian>{{cite web |url = https://www.theaquarian.com/2016/03/22/cardiknox-theyre-back/ |title = Cardiknox: They're Back! |author = Rachael Ciccone |work = The Aquarian Weekly |date = 22 March 2016 |accessdate = 21 April 2016}}</ref> It was produced by Grammy-winning producer John Shanks<ref name=Idolator /> and the cover was designed by street artist Tristan Eaton.<ref name=Billboard>{{cite magazine |url = https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6874909/cardiknox-wild-child-song-premiere-portrait-album-exclusive |title = Listen to Carly Rae Jepsen Tourmates Cardiknox's Effervescent New Song 'Wild Child': Exclusive Premiere |author = Luis Polanco |magazine = Billboard |date = 12 February 2016 |accessdate = 22 April 2016}}</ref>
The band went on tour in early 2016, first touring with The Knocks and then joining Carly Rae Jepsen on her Gimmie Love Tour.<ref name=Idolator /> They also toured with Bleachers.<ref name=Windy>{{cite web |url = https://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/MUSIC-Its-a-hard-Cardiknox-life-for-dance-music-duo/54424.html |title = It's a hard Cardiknox life for dance-music duo |author = Jerry Nunn |work = Windy City Times |date = 1 March 2016 |accessdate = 22 April 2016}}</ref>
On December 7, 2018, the band released "Back in L.A." and announced on social media that it was the end of their work together.<ref name=Breakup>{{cite web |url = https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/cardiknox-breakup-final-song-back-in-la-8489237/ | title=Cardiknox Announce Breakup With Final Song 'Back in LA' | date=7 December 2021 | publisher=Billboard | author=Nicole Engelman | access-date=30 August 2021}}</ref> The band's website, cardiknox.com, ceased to exist during the summer of 2019.<ref name=WayBackMachine>{{cite web |url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190901000000*/http://cardiknox.com |title = Internet Archive |accessdate = 30 August 2021}}</ref>
==Musical style== The music of Cardiknox has been described as dance-pop. The duo cites Peter Gabriel, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, and Drake as influences.<ref name=Jspace /> ''Vogue'' commented that they "give the impression of having one foot in the indie world and one in the pop world. But they are leaning pop."<ref name=Vogue /> Angle herself described their sound as "indie, electronic, epic, cinematic, nostalgic, and even a little eighties-inspired."<ref name=Blog>{{cite web |url = https://blogcritics.org/music-review-cardiknox-portrait/ |title = Music Review: Cardiknox – 'Portrait' |author = Tan The Man |publisher = Blogcritics |date = 8 March 2016 |accessdate = 22 April 2016}}</ref>
''Portrait'' mixed 1980s beats with modern pop elements. The album has been described as "edgy and innovative", with "inventive and experimental" tracks.<ref name=Michigan /> The songs' subject matters include relationship breakup ("Souvenirs"), youthful rebellion ("Wild Child"), rejection ("Doors"), and family breakup ("Shadowboxing").<ref name=Blog />
Reviewing the appearance of Cardiknox at CMJ Music Marathon, ''The Guardian'' described their sound as "glittering, skittering electro-pop (...) with songs in the vein of bands like Chvrches and The Naked and Famous."<ref name=Guardian>{{cite web |url = https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/oct/17/cmj-2015-car-seat-headrest-porches-palehound |title = CMJ 2015 day two and day three: Car Seat Headrest hit their stride |author = Melissa Locker |work = The Guardian |date = 17 October 2015 |accessdate = 22 April 2016}}</ref> Commenting their single Wasted Youth, MTV said Angle sounded "like a mix between Icona Pop and Sky Ferreira with an electro-pop/dub jones."<ref name=MTV>{{cite web |url = http://www.mtv.com/news/2307066/cardiknox-wasted-youth/ |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161220063811/http://www.mtv.com/news/2307066/cardiknox-wasted-youth/ |url-status = dead |archive-date = December 20, 2016 |title = Why We Love Cardiknox's Song Of The Summer Front-Runner, 'Wasted Youth' |author = Luke O'Neil |publisher = MTV |date = 17 April 2014 |accessdate = 22 April 2016}}</ref>
The duo has very different musical backgrounds: Angle had classical piano training, while Dutton's first musical education was punk rock.<ref name=Michigan>{{cite web |url = https://www.michigandaily.com/section/arts/cardiknox-music-notebook |title = Cardiknox finds a new voice on 'Portrait' |author = Catherine Baker |publisher = The Michigan Daily |date = 28 March 2016 |accessdate = 21 April 2016}}</ref>
==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ Albums ! scope="col" style="width:17em;" | Title ! scope="col" style="width:17em;" | Details |- ! scope="row"| ''Portrait'' | * Released: March 11, 2016 * Label: Warner Bros. * Format: Digital download |}
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| Billboard Spotify 50<ref name=Chart /> |- ! scope="row"| "Hold Me Down" | rowspan="2"| 2013 | — | rowspan="3" style="background: #ececec; color: #2C2C2C; vertical-align: middle; font-size: smaller; text-align: center; " class="table-na"| Non-album single |- ! scope="row"| "Technicolor Dreaming" | — |- ! scope="row"| "Wasted Youth" | 2014 | — |- ! scope="row"| "Doors" | rowspan="2"| 2015 | — | rowspan="4"| ''Portrait'' |- ! scope="row"| "On My Way" | — |- ! scope="row"| "Into the Night" | rowspan="2"| 2016 | — |- ! scope="row"| "Wild Child" | 13 |- | colspan="20" style="font-size:85%"| "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |}
===Music videos=== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! Title ! Year ! Director |- ! scope="row"| "Hold Me Down" | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"|2013 | David Kalani & Thomas Dutton |- ! scope="row"| "Technicolor Dreaming" | Thomas Dutton |- ! scope="row"| "On My Way" | 2016 | Edgar Obrand |}
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
Category:Indie pop groups from Washington (state) Category:2013 establishments in Washington (state) Category:Musical groups from Seattle Category:Warner Records artists