Milk Inc.

Milk Inc.

Regi Penxten (Left) and Linda Mertens (Right)
Background information
Origin Belgium
Genres Eurodance
Dance
Techno
Electronic
Years active 1996 present
Labels ARS Entertainment
Antler Subway
Zooland Records
Members Regi Penxten
Filip Vandueren
Linda Mertens
Past members Ivo Donckers
Nikkie van Lierop
Sofie Winters
John Miles Jnr.
Ann Vervoort

Milk Inc. (previously known as Milk Incorporated and briefly known as La Vache in France) is a dance band that formed in the commercial dance-scene in Belgium in 1996.[1][2] The Discography of the band includes a total of seven studio albums and thirty-nine singles (as of 21 June 2013.)[3][4] In 2006, to celebrate their 10th anniversary, Milk Inc. decided to surprise fans with a two-hour live concert at the Sportpaleis Arena in Belgium. They performed many of their well known hit songs as well as songs from the album Supersized. Concerts are performed annually by Milk Inc. at Sportpaleis.[5]

History

Milk Inc. released their first single "La Vache" in April 1997. At first they were only successful in Belgium and the United Kingdom, but are now available in many European countries and in the United States. Milk Inc. have had several tours throughout Europe. Their music is characterized by a specific emotional mood, which is created through the use of appropriate synthesizers. In its early days Milk Inc. the band had also had a guitarist and harpist, John Miles Jr., which is an unusual instrument to be used in dance music. The band also experimented different genres such as death-metal, punk and opera, but their music was unsuccessful in these genres.

The band has had many line-up changes throughout the band's history. The band has found much success in Europe, with many of their singles charting in countries such as the Netherlands, United Kingdom, France and Spain. They are most successful in their native country Belgium, where they have twenty-seven hit singles which have been in the Ultratop Chart, twenty-two of them being inside the top ten and four of them being number ones.[6] Further more, All of their seven albums have charted there, with two of them reaching number one.[7] The band are the current record holders for the number of TMF Awards in Belgium and the Netherlands, with a total of 17 awards received.

Members

Current

Linda Mertens

Linda was born on 20 July 1978 in Wilrijk,[8] Belgium. From her early years Linda dreamt of becoming a performing artist, she studied Art and after high school spent two years studying Hairdressing. In 2000 Linda went to a club with some friends where Regi was deejaying, whilst there she asked him if he needed a singer for any of his projects and was asked to audition. At the time she did not know that Regi was looking for a new singer for Milk Inc, she has been the lead singer for Milk Inc ever since.

Regi Penxten

Main article: Regi Penxten

Regi was born on 4 March 1976 at Hasselt in Belgium. At the age of 12, he got his first computer connected with a synthesizer. This marks the beginning of his passion for music. He studied at the music academy to learn to read music and he also played the guitar on an early age.

Regi Penxten decided to make music as his career after, at the age of 18, he released some Underground and Trance EP on the Dance Opera and Illusion Label. Despite this, his parents wanted him to have a good education, thus he studied Telecommunication-Electronics in Belgium. His success in the music industry started with "La Vache" in 1996 which was a big hit in France.

The Milk Inc. project was not enough for him, so he has more music projects ongoing with several singers and other producers.[9] Regi's first solo album Registrated went gold before its release date. It is a compilation of various Belgian artists.

Filip Vandueren

Filip Vandueren co-produces Milk Inc. with Regi Penxten, and plays keyboards in the band's full live shows and concerts.

Vandueren works as a producer under several names, including Philip Banks and Jedidiah Albertson. He started as a hard trance and underground producer at the DanceOpera Label. He has different projects to his name, such as K-Lab (known for Reunion — old school trance with a happy late-nineties feeling), The Klan, Karnak-X (Sky-Trance), Vidts and Vandueren with Quality Trance at the Oceanic Records label, and Dj Jan vs Vandueren with progressive and hard trance with remixes for Dj Tiësto and Dj Esteem.

Ivo Donckers

As co-founder and from the start of the project Milk Inc, till 2000. Studio technition at Antler Subway ( EMI ), he was responsible for many projects and remixes such as RMX for 2Unlimited, Ace Of Base, 2 Fabiola, etc.. The gimmyc in La Vach was piece of vocal from a previously recording from Ivo Donckers & Sven Maes, used pitched up. Ivo Donckers left the project, after he was ripped by Reggy Penxten.

Nikkie Van Lierop

Born 7 March 1963 in Simmern, Germany, Anita Dominika Cornelia van Lierop, better known as Nikkie Van Lierop, and by her artist name "Jade 4U" and as a co-founder of Lords of Acid. In the spring of 1997 Praga Khan produced a remix of the song "La Vache". Since then the singer Nikkie along with Praga Khan contributed parts in lyrics and melody. In the music video "La Vache" that was filmed in England, Jade 4U can be seen. After the resounding success of the songs she sang in the performances during the first tour of Milk Inc. in France and Corsica, conflicts between her region and the former dancer Tamara occurred. She left the band, in order to concentrate on Praga Khan and Lords of Acid which had gained a cult following in the United States.

Sofie Winters

Sofie Winters was born 22 May 1976 in Leuven, Belgium. She replaced Van Lierop for a few months. During her time at Milk Inc., Winters was a singer in the song "Free Your Mind". Winters was then, and still is today a model and actress.

Ann Vervoort

Graphic designer Ann Vervoort (10 March 1977 22 April 2010) was a dancer for Pat Krimson before she joined Milk Inc. She was brought in by Regi Penxten in 1997 as a replacement for Sofie Winters as a singer for appearances. Karine Boelaerts, a Belgian studio singer, who was already working for other projects such as 2 Fabiola was hired to record all the songs.[10]

In the middle of September 2000, Vervoort left Milk Inc. and moved to Ibiza with her boyfriend Patrick Claesen (alias Pat Krimson) producer of 2Fabiola, Nunca and Leopold 3, where they founded the record label, Beni Musa Records. Vervoort was replaced by Linda Mertens. On 22 April 2010, Vervoort was found dead at her house in Houthalen-Helchteren. According to the newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, an amount of alcohol and drugs were involved.[11][12]

John Miles Jr.

John Miles Jr. is the son of the renowned musician John Miles. Miles studied pop music at Newcastle College and worked as a guitarist already known as "Popmusikern", including Debbie Harry, Bryan Ferry, Joe Cocker and Andrea Bocelli. Miles co-wrote songs with Regi Penxten and Filip Vandueren when he became a group member in 1997 and performed as their guitarist on stage. The first single he was involved in making: "In My Eyes", was a commercial success. That was partly Miles' merit, his influence as a songwriter and the new style of the music effect he brought to the group. This in combination with the voice of Karin Boelaerts brought the music to a new level. All the songs he co-wrote were published during his time at Milk Inc. At the same time Vervoort stopped as playback, Miles wanted to leave Milk Inc. as well. He accompanied the group until the beginning of 2001. In 2000, the group had two top ten hits in the UK with "In My Eyes" (UK #9) and "Walk On Water" (UK #10). In the years 20062008, he rejoined Milk Inc. as a guitarist on their Supersized and Forever shows at the Antwerp Sportpaleis. Miles has since gone on to join another Belgian dance act, Sylver.

Discography

Albums

Year Title Chart positions Certifications
(Ultratop)[13]
BEL
(VL)
UK
[14]
DUT
[15]
1998 Apocalyps(e) Cow 5
2000 Land Of The Living 26 58
2001 Double Cream 39
2002 Milk Inc. 47
2003 Closer 11
2004 Best Of Milk Inc.
2005 Essential
2006 Supersized 3
  • Platinum
2007 Best Of 2
  • Gold
2008 Forever 1
  • 2x Platinum
2011 Nomansland 1
  • Gold
15 - The Very Best Of 4
2013 Undercover 1

    Singles

    Year Song Album Chart positions
    BEL
    (VL)

    [6]
    BEL
    (WL)

    [16]
    BEL
    (Dance)
    UK
    [17]
    NLD
    [18]
    GER FRA
    [19]
    SWE
    [20]
    AUS
    [21]
    SPA
    1996 Cream Apocalypse Cow Vinyl Only
    La Vache 24 18 23 86 3 26
    1997 Free Your Mind 19 54
    1998 Inside Of Me 6 62
    1999 In My Eyes 2 2 9 29
    Promise 3 3
    Oceans 8 2 8
    Losing Love Land Of The Living 2 1 4
    2000 Walk On Water 1 1 10 3 47 1
    Land Of The Living 2 2 18 16 7
    2001 Livin' a Lie 3 3 44 56 4
    Don't Cry Promotional Single Only
    Never Again 17 2 69 1
    Wide Awake Closer 2 9 50 1
    2002 Sleepwalker 6 2 5
    Breathe Without You 7 7 45 92 5
    2003 Time 10 4
    The Sun Always Shines on T.V. 5 2 82 71
    2004 I Don't Care
    (featuring Silvy)
    3 7 66
    Whisper Supersized 1 14
    2005 Blind 5 2
    Go To Hell 4 7
    2006 Tainted Love 7 2 37
    Run 7 14 56
    No Angel 10 12
    2007 Sunrise Forever 3 13
    Tonight 6 44
    2008 Forever 7 91
    Race 18 10
    2009 Blackout Nomansland 1 67 - 84 -
    Guilty Forever Canadian Digital Single Only
    2010 Storm Nomansland 1 7 3
    Chasing The Wind 10 17
    2011 Fire 5
    Shadow 42
    I'll Be There [La Vache] 15 - The Very Best Of 6 86
    2012 Miracle Undercover 16
    2013 Last Night a D.J. Saved My Life 3 32 48
    Sweet Child O' Mine 5
    Imagination 3
    2014 Don't Say Goodbye 7

    Filmography

    Music Videos

    Year Title Director
    1997 La Vache Caswell Coggins
    Free Your Mind
    1998 Inside Of Me
    1999 Oceans Steven Buyse
    2000 Land Of The Living Filip Vandueren
    2001 Walk On Water Frank Schneider
    Livin' A Lie Peter van Eyndt
    Never Again
    Wide Awake
    2002 Walk On Water Stuart Fryer
    In My Eyes Damian Bromley
    Land Of The Living Andreas Tibblin
    Sleepwalker Peter van Eyndt
    Breathe Without You
    2003 Time
    The Sun Always Shines on T.V. Alex Diezinger
    2004 I Don't Care Raf Verbeemen
    Whisper Peter van Eyndt
    2005 Blind
    Go To Hell
    2006 Tainted Love The Black Sheep
    Run Peter van Eyndt
    No Angel
    2007 Sunrise
    Tonight
    2008 Forever Alex Diezinger
    Race
    2009 Blackout Peter van Eyndt
    2010 Storm Peter van Eyndt
    2010 Chasing the Wind
    2011 Fire
    2011 Shadow
    2012 Miracle

    DVDs

    Year Title Notes BEL DVD
    Chart
    2004 Milk Inc. - The DVD
    3 [22]
    2006 Milk Inc. - Supersized
    • Contains footage of a concert.
    4 [23]
    2008 Milk Inc. - Forever in Sportpaleis
    • Footage of a Concert in Sportpaleis.
    1 [24]

    Awards

    Year Award
    2010
    • MIA Award Beste Dance/Elektro
    2009
    • MIA Award Beste Dance/Elektro
    • Kids Awards 2009
    • TMF Awards Belgium Best Dance Act National
    • TMF Awards Belgium Best Live Act National
    2008
    • MIA Award Beste Dance/Elektro
    • TMF Awards Belgium Best Dance Act National
    • TMF Awards Belgium Best Live Act National
    • TMF Awards Belgium Best Album National
    2007
    • TMF Awards Belgium - Best Dance Act National
    2006
    • TMF Awards Belgium - Best Dance Act National
    2005
    • TMF Awards Belgium - Best Dance Act National
    • BelgaDance Awards Belgium - Best Producer Regi Penxten
    2004
    • TMF Awards Belgium - Best Dance Act National
    • TMF Awards Belgium - Life Time Achievement
    2003
    • TMF Awards Belgium - Best Dance Act National
    2002
    • TMF Awards Belgium - Best Dance Act National
    2001
    • Hitkrant The Netherlands - Best International Artists
    • Hitkrant The Netherlands - Best International Single "Walk On Water"
    • TMF Awards The Netherlands - Best Dance Act International
    • TMF Awards Belgium - Best Dance Act National
    • TMF Awards Belgium - Best Video "Never Again"
    2000
    • Top Radio Awards Belgium - Best Vocalist Ann Vervoort
    • Radio Donna Awards Belgium - Best Holidaysong of the year "Oceans"
    • TMF Awards Belgium - Best Single National "Walk On Water"
    1999
    • Radio Donna Awards Belgium - Peper Award "In My Eyes"
    • Move X Dance Awards Belgium - Best Dance Single "In My Eyes"
    • TMF Awards Belgium - Best Dance Act National

    References

    1. "Euro house - definition of Euro techno by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia". Thefreedictionary.com. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
    2. "Official Milk Inc. Website". Milkinc.be. 2008-11-11. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
    3. "Milk Inc.: Go To Hell (Live @ Sportpaleis, 2009)". YouTube. 2011-04-19. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
    4. "Official Milk Inc. Website". Milkinc.be. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
    5. Karine Sanche. "The Eurodance Encyclopaedia - M". Eurokdj.com. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
    6. 1 2 "Ultratop Belgian Charts". ultratop.be. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
    7. "Ultratop Belgian Charts". ultratop.be. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
    8. "Linda Mertens official site". Retrieved 2009-05-04.
    9. "The official Regi Penxten site". Retrieved 2009-05-04.
    10. "Milk Inc « DanceVibes". Dancevibes.be. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
    11. "Milk Inc. singer dies of drug overdose - Milk Inc. news at". Side-line.com. 1999-02-22. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
    12. "Voormalige zangeres van Milk Inc. (33) overleden" (in Dutch). HLN.be. 2010-04-24. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
    13. "Ultratop Belgian Charts". ultratop.be. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
    14. "Milk Inc - Milk Inc". Chart Stats. Archived from the original on 2012-07-22. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
    15. Steffen Hung. "Dutch charts portal". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
    16. "Ultratop Belgian Charts". ultratop.be. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
    17. "Milk Inc". Chart Stats. Archived from the original on 2012-07-22. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
    18. Steffen Hung. "Dutch charts portal". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
    19. Steffen Hung. "Les charts français". lescharts.com. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
    20. Steffen Hung. "Swedish Charts Portal". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
    21. Steffen Hung. "Australian charts portal". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
    22. "Milk Inc. - The DVD [DVD]". ultratop.be. 2004-10-16. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
    23. "Milk Inc. - Supersized - Live At Sportpaleis [DVD]". ultratop.be. 2006-12-23. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
    24. "Milk Inc. - Forever - Live At Sportpaleis [DVD]". ultratop.be. 2008-11-29. Retrieved 2012-01-04.

    External links

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