Making vibrant electropop with the unmistakable influence of the Ronettes, Cruel Youth is the brainchild of New Zealand pop singer/songwriter/producer Willy Moon (William Sinclair) and English singer/songwriter/actress Teddy Sinclair, formerly known as dance-pop artist Natalia Kills. The project follows two Natalia Kills albums for Interscope (2011's Perfectionist and 2013's Trouble), the first Willy Moon LP (2013's Here's Willy Moon), the couple's marriage in 2014, and a brief stint together as judges on New Zealand's The X Factor (February 2015). After they were cut from the show following outcry over their harsh criticism of a contestant, the pair moved to New York, Natalia parted ways with Interscope, and she legally changed her name to Teddy Sinclair. The Sinclairs formed Cruel Youth in late 2015, sequestering themselves in the studio for nearly three months to write and record. In February 2016, the project's first single, "Mr. Watson," introduced the '60s girl group-flavored indie pop of Sinclair (lead vocals), Tina Hanäé (keyboards), and Lauren Stockner (guitar), with Moon working behind the scenes. The single "Diamond Days" followed two months later, and Cruel Youth's debut EP, +30mg, arrived in September 2016. Cruel Youth was featured on the HOLYWATER dance single "Hush" in mid-2017. ~ Marcy Donelson