The songwriting team of Alicia Perrone and Victor James (aka Ann-Margrock Music) are best known for their 2008-2009 single “Hot Sahara,” which received national attention on the dance charts climbing to #23, as well as featured spots on television shows The L Word (in a scene so steamy, it’s now referred to by L Word fanatics as “The Hot Sahara Scene”,) Community, Ugly Betty, The Hills, and Samantha Who? “Hot Sahara” and the related album, Twist of the Banshees, were also on the prelist of nominations for two Grammy awards in the electronic dance category last year.

Their newest collection of songs (collaborating with songwriter Allen Chiu,) is the EP Head Go Whoosh featuring “Lola Like This” and “Hush Madame X” was released last August and is now available everywhere. The lead track, “Lola Like This,” was remixed by Energy 92.7’s Trevor Simpson from San Francisco, Haki from Mexico City who scored a big hit last year on Mexican radio with his remix of FOJC’s “Hot Sahara,” Rod Carrillo, the influential program director from Phoenix’s Energy 92.7 who was an early fan and supporter, and LA’s Dave Audé, the Grammy-nominated go-to pop dance remixer of the year.  These remixes are available on Lola Like This: The Apache Dance Remixes.

Currently in 2010, Perrone and James have a project going with Lucas Arts, assisting orchestral composer Mark Griskey with the new Star Wars video game launching soon.  The theatricality of their tracks lends itself well to the big screen as well.  The Miramax film “Diamonds” featured their song “Fringe Authority” and an actual cameo from the performers in the hit motion picture starring Dan Aykroyd, Kirk Douglas, Lauren Bacall, and Jenny McCarthy.  Similarly, their own version of the song “Jamie Smiles” from the hit movie “Just Friends” starring Ryan Reynolds and Anna Faris was chosen as a winning submission by New Line Cinema and Myspace.

With popular media like Dancemusic.About.com championing them, their songs have received awards and nods for both “Global Domination,” and “Top 10 Dance Record.” After faring well with the dance crowd (even the purists,) their out-of-the-box, alternative dance sounds gained them an invitation to speak on the “Clubland’s Hitmakers” panel at DJ Times-sponsored DJ Expo 2008 in Atlantic City alongside dance acts Lady GaGa & Jes. 2009 brought newest EP “Head Go Whoosh” featuring first single “Lola Like This” alongside “Hush Madame X,” “Hearts R Mustangs,” and “International.” Both Hot Sahara & Dirty Little Love Train were again featured on television in the hit show “Community.”  Now in the wake of Haiti’s tragedy,they are working side by by side with Windows 7 & Reverb Nation launching a “Hot Sahara for Haiti” campaign on “Playlist 7″ in the wake of Haiti’s tragic earthquake.

In their earlier songwriting years, while still mostly influenced by modern rock, their song “French Connection” was featured as “Single of the Week,” at which time it charted at #96 of Top 100 Itunes albums overall and #15 of the Top 100 alternative albums.   “French Connection” was also featured on the Itunes Anniversary Staff Picks album in the same year. AOL & Netscape Radio also took notice adding “French Connection” and the song “Madame X” to their “Best of ‘o4″ Station.   They were the only independent songwriters played on the station.  They were featured in print as well with Alternative Press Magazine charting their track “Dead On” as the 4th most downloaded new alternative song at mp3.com.

When Ric Ocasek from The Cars signed on with Elektra as executive A&R, he offered up a deal to the songwriters right before the unfortunate folding of Elektra into Atlantic.  This left  Perrone & James to forge a new path from modern rock songwriting into the alternative dance arena which is where they excel today.