Neoncity

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Neoncity
Background information
Origin London/Russia
Genres Dance
Years active 2020
Labels XS Records
Members Connor Wilder (Producer)
Jayden Wilder (Vocals / Producer)
Lena Moskalyova (Vocals)

Neoncity is an electronic pop dance trio consisting of brothers Connor and Jayden Wilder, and Russian vocalist Lena Moskalyova. They released their debut single, "City Lights", in May 2020. It entered the UK Singles Chart at #2, selling more than 365,000 copies. Their follow-up single, "Summer Days", charted at #5, and has sold in excess of 450,000 copies.

The group released their debut album, Blue, in August 2020. The dance-pop album tells the story of the band's journey through the fictional metropolis of Neoncity on Planet Blue. It peaked at #3 in the United Kingdom and sold more than 700,000 copies. Their second album, Christmas in Neoncity - a holiday-themed release - entered the UK Albums Chart at #1 on December 18, 2021.

In 2021, Neoncity released their third studio album, Growing Pains. The album was a commercial success, charting at #1 in the UK, alongside three number-one singles: "No Hard Feelings", "Smile", and "How Can I Make It OK?". In 2022, they launched a world tour, whilst continuing to promote the album oversees. On July 22, 2022, Connor also released his debut solo single, "Heat", which peaked at #2 on the UK Singles Chart.

In 2023, the group continued to explore solo projects, with both Lena and Jayden releasing their debut solo albums.

Group History[edit | edit source]

Beginnings[edit | edit source]

The group was founded in early 2020 by brothers Connor and Jayden Wilder, who write and produce Neoncity's material. The brothers had built up a fanbase while DJing across the UK in 2019. They approached Moskalyova to sing with the group, after connecting with her via Facebook. "She was a friend of a friend," Connor said in an interview with NME in May 2020, "We'd been admiring Lena from afar for a few months, we came together via Facebook and started eating shit food and recording together."

Blue and Christmas in Neoncity (2020-2021)[edit | edit source]

In January 2020, Neoncity were the first act to sign with the newly formed London-based record label XS Records. The group then began recording their debut album, which was initially scheduled for release in April 2020. Plans for the album's release were initially slightly delayed by the global the COVID-19 pandemic, however the promotional campaign resumed in May 2020 with the release of their debut single "City Lights". The single received considerable airplay and entered the UK Singles Chart at #2, selling more than 365,000 copies during its chart run. Their follow-up single, "Summer Days", charted at #5, and has sold in excess of 450,000 copies.

The group released their debut album, Blue, in August 2020. The dance-pop album tells the story of the band's journey through the fictional metropolis of Neoncity on Planet Blue. It peaked at #3 in the United Kingdom and sold more than 700,000 copies.

Following the release of Blue, Neoncity released a third and final single from the album, "Stars", which was released on September 25, 2020.

On November 11, 2020, Neoncity announced plans to release a holiday-themed album, titled Christmas in Neoncity. Recordings for this album began "as a joke" according to Jayden, who had written a Christmas song during a heatwave earlier in the year. The album was promoted by two singles, "Get Behind Me, Santa" and "Alone On New Year's Day", which both peaked within the Top 5. Christmas in Neoncity entered the UK Albums Chart at number-one on December 18, 2020, where it spent two consecutive weeks. In its first week of release the album sold 165,073 copies and in its second week of release the album sold 229,112 copies - the highest weekly sales of any album in 2020.

Growing Pains and touring (2021-2022)[edit | edit source]

On January 4, 2021, it was announced that Lena had collaborated with Indigo Peak on a song titled "Bad Son", for their upcoming album, Never Really Gone. The song was later remixed and released as a single in April 2021, with Lena revealing she had signed a solo recording contract and was working on solo material.

Plans for Lena's solo album were later paused by XS Records, who were unhappy with the "strange and unnerving"[1] results of her recording sessions. WIth Lena's solo album on pause, Neoncity recommenced recording as a group for their third studio album. During these studio sessions, they began experimenting with live instruments and a "heavier, rockier sound, a departure from their dance-pop beginnings.

Group Members[edit | edit source]

Connor Wilder (Producer)[edit | edit source]

Connor Wilder (born 25 May, 1998) is an English DJ, musician, and music producer from London. He is the older brother of Jayden Wilder.

Jayden Wilder (Producer)[edit | edit source]

Jayden Wilder (born 4 June 1999) is an English DJ, musician, vocalist, and music producer from London. He is the younger brother of Connor Wilder.

Lena Moskalyova (Vocalist)[edit | edit source]

Lena Moskalyova (born 11 April, 1994) is the lead vocalist and frontwoman of Neoncity. She is originally from the small Russian town of Torzhok.

Discography[edit | edit source]

Albums[edit | edit source]

Title Album details Chart Peak Certifications Sales
Blue
  • Released: July 31, 2020
  • Label: XS Records
  • Formats: CD · Digital download · LP
#3 Gold 710,217
Christmas in Neoncity
  • Released: December 11, 2020
  • Label: XS Records
  • Formats: CD · Digital download · LP
#1 Platinum 901,732
Growing Pains
  • Released: December 3, 2021
  • Label: XS Records
  • Formats: CD · Digital download · LP
#1 Platinum 1,400,000+

Singles[edit | edit source]

Title Year Chart Peak Certifications Sales Album
"City Lights" 2020 #2 Gold 365,000 Blue
"Summer Days" #5 457,569
"Stars" #3 400,854
"Get Behind Me, Santa" #2 Silver 243,835 Christmas in Neoncity
"Alone On New Year's Day" #5 Gold 332,642
"No Hard Feelings" 2021 #1 Gold 398,803 Growing Pains
"Smile" 2022 #1 Gold 458,570
"How Can I Make It OK?" #1 Gold 434,051
  1. "Lena Moskalyova Delays Plans For Solo Album To Reunite With Neoncity" - NME (June 11, 2021)