Biography
Born in Germany on 19 December 1973, DJ Frank Popp launched the Frank Popp Ensemble as a solo endeavor devoted to reviving the northern soul and funk of the late 1960s. Working also as a graphic designer, he produced sleeves and flyers for Unique Records, yet quickly leveraged computer technology to secure a deal for the track “High Voltage” with the same imprint. Balancing club DJ sets on weekends with weekday studio sessions, he supplied vocals for the EP The Catwalk. Warner Brothers Records then licensed “High Voltage” for inclusion in the 2001 film Swordfish after recognizing its cinematic potential. Around the same period Popp composed “Hip Teens Don’t Wear Blue Jeans,” featuring Sam Leigh-Brown on vocals, and issued his debut album Ride On! the following year. The single entered a Coca-Cola advertising campaign and climbed into the German Top 20. Additional advertising commissions prompted the 2005 UK release of the EP The Swinging Library Sounds Of The Frank Popp Ensemble. A self-titled album appeared soon afterward as a revised reissue of Ride On, showcasing the five-piece group and returning guest vocalist Leigh-Brown on the track “Goo Goo Muck.”