Sophie Ellis-Bextor had her first breakouts as the frontwoman for the ‘90s Britpop act TheAudience and as a duet partner for Manic Street Preachers. Yet the English singer—who was born in the London suburb of Hounslow in 1979—found her true calling as a dance-pop diva when she contributed vocals to “Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love)”, an ebullient house track by DJ Spiller that became a No. 1 single in 2000. Ellis-Bextor continued her momentum with 2001’s “Murder On the Dancefloor” and many more hits that showcased her irresistible blend of wit, effervescence and vulnerability, along with her unabashed love of disco. Her penchant for old-school grandeur is just as strong on later releases like 2019’s The Song Diaries, a collection of newly recorded orchestral versions of her hits, including a take on “Groovejet” that’s worthy of a James Bond soundtrack.