Emerging on the Melbourne music scene at the turn of the millennium with a novel, foolproof fusion of ‘90s pop sensibilities with the funk-inflected, sample-based instrumentation of nu disco, Australian duo Madison Avenue formed in 1998 for a highly successful, albeit short-lived career. Comprising producer Andy Van Dorsselaer and singer-songwriter Cheyne Coates, the group initially trialled a different formation, with Coates solely serving as a lyricist and guest vocalist Kelli Wolfgram taking up the mantle on their little-known debut single, “Fly”. The pair’s eureka moment came when Coates laid down a reference track for the song “Don’t Call Me Baby”, which Van Dorsselaer liked so much that he insisted she became their lead vocalist. This proved to be sage advice; the group soon landed a deal with Virgin imprint VC and subsequently struck gold in October 1999 with the single, which topped the UK charts and was later certified triple platinum in their home country. They promptly followed it up with a second single, 2000’s “Who the Hell Are You?”, which marked a career high of sorts for the duo, reaching #1 in Australia. Their debut album, entitled The Polyester Embassy, arrived before the end of the year, peaking at #4, achieving ARIA platinum certification, and yielding two more top-ten hits for the pair. They ultimately split in 2003, with Coates pursuing a solo career and Dorsselaer founding the electro house outfit Vandalism alongside his wife, Cassie. “Don’t Call Me Baby” has continued to enjoy an enduring legacy, with a plethora of EDM heavy-hitters including Armin Van Buuren, Mousse T, Motez and Patrick Topping having reimagined the track over the years.
