Hailing from New York City, The Heroic Enthusiasts is a thrilling music duo formed by the talents of James Tabbi and Thomas Ferrara. Their collaborative journey, rooted in a shared passion for Brit pop, new wave and post punk influences, showcases a fusion of styles delivered with the scientific precision that reflects their educational backgrounds in computational mathematics and statistical analysis.
Following successful solo ventures, James and Thomas linked up to form The Heroic Enthusiasts, venturing on a musical endeavour that’s won over audiences worldwide. Their partnership has yielded a series of acclaimed releases and remixes via the ECR Music Group imprint, including collaborations with producer Stephen Hague, celebrated for his work with iconic acts like New Order and Pet Shop Boys.
Now they bring us their latest effort, this time giving 60s girl group legend Lesley Goreâs song âYou Donât Own Meâ the remix treatment. Coming off the back of Lesley’s recent resurgence in popularity with a #1 Billboard spot and Calvin Klein ad, The Heroic Enthusiasts take her 2005 version originally produced by music icon Quincy Jones and spin up two new mixes of the track.
Taking the elegant vocal performance and charming songwriting of the original rendition, on the Enthusiastic Mix, The Heroic Enthusiasts filter Lesley’s vocals through a bold dance-focused sound. As her voice ride the clap of a crisp beat, a grooving bassline enters to inject an infectious rhythm as the patter of percussion keeps a steady energy.
Flowing through a colourful and subtly moody soundscape of various synth textures and pulses bass tones, intricate processing and cuts reframe her vocals in a completely new light. Building with playful synth flutters and the ever-present stomp of the beat, the track shifts to close with the graceful piano-backed arrangement of the original, peppered with gently tapping drums for a soothing finale.
With the Heroic Mix, the duo invokes James Bond vibes with a dark wall of stretched synth lines and staccato shots before the familiar twang of the shimmering guitar chord sets up a rhythmic backdrop to carry Lesley’s vocals. Capturing a completely different aesthetic while still paying tribute to the magic of the original version, the second remix serves up an immersive and engaging reimagining of the beloved song. It’s a sensational release that presents a classic artist’s music in an exciting way for a modern audience from an act that continues to go from strength to strength with each move.
Commenting on the new release, James shares, “Weâre honoured to have been selected to remix Lesley Gore’s iconic hit You Donât Own Me. Being entrusted to work on such a prominent, historical song originally produced by the legendary Quincy Jones made us very sensitive about how we should approach the project. We thought it would be amazing to create two versions: a banger anthem for today’s diverse and inclusive generation, and a second track that hints at a Bond theme song with its elegant sophistication led by Lesleyâs powerful voice.”
With Thomas adding, “The message we wanted to come through loud and clear in both versions is, ‘We are young, we are free, and You Don’t Own Me.'”
Listen to You Don’t Own Me (The Heroic Enthusiasts Remixes) below
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