Formed in 2001 by David Steele (b. 8 September 1960, Cowes, Isle of Wight, England; guitar, ex-the Beat; Fine Young Cannibals) and Jonte Short (b. New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; vocals). Steele first saw ex-gospel singer Short performing at the New Orleans Jazz Festival and realised she was perfect for a project he had been planning for over five years. The singer had been struggling to raise a family while singing in local jazz clubs, but it was the soulful inflection of her untrained voice that caught Steele’s ear. Naming the project Fried after traditional southern American cooking, the duo recorded their debut album in New Orleans and London. The retro soul and R&B style on the self-titled 2004 release was the perfect template for Short’s soaring vocals. Released on the London label, the album received strong reviews on both sides of the Atlantic but was overlooked by record buyers. Undeterred, Steele and Short recorded three new songs and signed a new contract with RCA Records. Renamed Things Change, the album was re-released in summer 2007.