Trans-X
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Founder | Pascal Languirand |
| Headquarters | Montreal , Canada |
| Products | Synth-pop music, Hi-NRG music |
Trans-X is a synth-pop group originating from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, recognized internationally for their hit single "Living on Video".
History
The inception of Trans-X traces back to Canadian artist Pascal Languirand, who is the son of Jacques Languirand. Prior to forming the band, Pascal was noted for his contributions to ambient, cosmic, and space music styles. The band’s name was inspired by Kraftwerk’s 1977 track "Trans-Europe Express", symbolizing the musical path Languirand intended to pursue. In 1982, he collaborated with Montreal-based keyboardist and programmer Steve Wyatt to create a demo that led to a recording deal for the single "Vivre sur Vidéo".
Steve Wyatt played synthesizer and handled programming on "Vivre sur Vidéo", composed the B-side and maxi-single track "Digital World", and performed all instrumentation on that piece before his departure in late 1983.
The English-language adaptation, "Living on Video", launched in May 1983, rapidly gained popularity in Canada and eventually sold two million copies. It secured Top Ten positions across the UK and European charts by 1985.
Subsequent singles such as "Message on the Radio" and "3D-Dance" were released in 1983 but failed to chart. These songs were included on Trans-X’s first album Living on Video, which was titled Message on the Radio within Canada. Anne Brosseau provided backing vocals during studio sessions but opted out of live performances; thus, Laurie Ann Mc Gill, affiliated with synthpop ensemble Nudimension, assumed vocal duties for tours and promotional appearances up until 1985.
Following the lack of commercial success of their sophomore album On My Own (1988), which did not chart beyond Canadian borders, Languirand disbanded Trans-X and redirected his focus toward a solo career centered on new age, ambient, and space music. During this interval, he collaborated with songwriter Joe Caccamise in producing for other artists while also developing new Trans-X material.
In 1994, Languirand revived Trans-X for live shows alongside Nadia Sohaei. He issued updated versions of their signature hit including "Living on Video 2003" and "Living on Video 2k6" (2006), as well as releasing The Drag-Matic Album, produced by Michel Huygen of Neuronium.
By 2010, Languirand had relocated to Mexico. From 2004 forward, he worked with Italo disco vocalist Truc Quynh ("TQ") and between 2008 and 2015 collaborated extensively with singer Corina Lawrence. Their joint projects featured the single "I Want To Be With You Tonight" (2010), the album L.O.V. 2011, and the Mexico-exclusive release Hi-NRG in 2012. In 2013, Languirand appeared on TQ’s song "My Fascination" from her 2014 album Out of the Shadows, representing a side project rather than core Trans-X work. Over time, Languirand expanded his involvement beyond Trans-X as a producer and collaborator in multiple ventures.
In 2012, Mexican musicians Luis Broc (drums) and Ramón Serratos (SFX, synthesis, DJ) became part of Trans-X’s live lineup. The group toured South America in 2016 promoting the Hi-NRG genre alongside the documentary film "Discolocos", which features Trans-X and includes their soundtrack album Discolocos, Vol. 1 (2018). This release honors classic ’80s Hi-NRG and Italo disco sounds through collaborations with artists such as Willie Chambers, Claudja Barry, Tobias Bernstrup, Stephan Groth, Cynthia Manley, Eskil Simonsson, Conrad Kaneshiro, Christina Criscione, and J.D. Hall.
On February 9, 2021, Trans-X unveiled Dreams Are Made of Fantasies via Cleopatra Records with production by Ramón Serratos in Mérida, Yucatán. Later that year on November 11, they released Psy Energy under Skypark Records again produced by Serratos.
Band personnel
- Pascal Languirand – lead vocals, keytar, synthesizers, keyboards, and drum machines (1982–present)
Current live performers
- Luis Broc – electronic drums (2012–present)
- Ramón Serratos – DJ, synthesizers (2014–present)
- Luana Viana de Souza – vocals, guitars (2020–present)
Past members and touring artists
- Steve Wyatt – synthesizers, programming (1982–1983)
- Anne Brosseau – backing vocals (1983)
- Laurie Ann Mc Gill – backing vocals (1983–1985)
- Eulalia Batlle Vives – vocals, choreography (1994–2004)
- Nadia Sohaei – backing vocals, synthesizers (1994–2004)
- Corina Lawrence – backing vocals (2008–2012)
- Julia Manrique – vocals (2016)
- Lily Contreras – backing vocals (2018–2020)
- Aletz Franco – electronic drums, percussion (2018–2020)
Studio albums
- Living on Video (also known as Message on the Radio) (1983)
- On My Own (1988)
- Trans-X'Xcess (1995)
- 010101 (2001)
- The Drag-Matic Album (2003)
- L.O.V. 2011 (2011)
- Hi-NRG (2012)
- Anthology (2014)
- Discolocos, Vol. 1 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2018)
- Dreams Are Made of Fantasies (2020)
- Psy Energy (2021)
- Teyolia (2022)
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | BE | GER | IRE | NL | QUE | SPA | SWI | UK | US | ||
| 1983 | "Vivre sur Vidéo" | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — |
| "Living on Video" | — | 13 | 3 | — | 16 | — | 3 | 2 | 77 | — | |
| "Message on the Radio" | — | 30 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "3-D Dance" | — | — | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1985 | "Living on Video" (radio remix version) | 40 | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 61 |
Musical Collaborations
| Song | Album | Artist | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Amor Soy Yo with Tessa Ía | Lo Que Me Haces Sentir | Zemmoa | 2021 |
Pascal Languirand's Solo Discography
- Minos (1978) (available on LP only)
- De Harmonia Universalia (1980) (LP release exclusively)
- Vivre Ici Maintenant (1981) (LP format only)
- Gregorian Waves (1991)
- Ishtar (1993)
- Renaissance (2002)
- LSD (credited to Cybernium; a joint effort with Michel Huygen) (2003)
- Incanta (2005)