Luke Haines is a singer-songwriter from Walton-on-Thames, in the United Kingdom. He is known for work in indie and Britpop, and for writing songs that mix pop, hip-hop and electro-indie influences with sharply written lyrics.

Career

Haines first comes to wider attention as a member of The Servants, The Auteurs and Black Box Recorder, and he is also associated with Baader Meinhof, The North Sea Scrolls, The Black Arts and Keith Top of the Pops & His Minor UK Indie Celebrity All-Star Backing Band. He then continues as a solo artist.

Songwriting and themes

His lyrics often focus on obscure English subjects, criticism of modern society and the arts, and reworked 1970s nostalgia, with self-aggrandising humour also appearing in the material. Songs mentioned in this vein include “The Mitford Sisters”, “Freddie Mills is Dead”, “The Death of Sarah Lucas”, “Christ”, “Leeds United” and “Here’s to Old England”.

Live work

He develops a reputation for a dark public image, but his live performances are also described as self-deprecating and full of between-song banter. His songs are usually very short, which means his sets can be brief even when the number of songs is not.