Departure Lounge with Andy Van

Madison Avenue are Australia’s iconic 90’s dance music and pop duo, featuring legendary DJ and producer: Andy Van and singer and lyricist: Cheyne Coates. 

 

They tattooed their place in the music industry with their hit anthem: ‘Don’t’ Call Me Baby.’ The track skyrocketed on the Australian music charts in November 1999, including gravitating across oceans, selling over one million copies and topping the UK, European and U.S Billboard Dance Charts in the early 2000’s!

 

The artist relationship between Andy Van and Cheyne Coates came into fruition via their love of music inside nightclubs.  Initially, the duo collaborated as writers on a track: ‘Fly’ with Kellie Wolfgram as the vocalist, until Cheyne Coates was established as the front woman of the duo, with the release of Madison Avenue’s number one hit song: ‘Don’t Call Me Baby’ which was picked up by DJs everywhere and added to radio stations globally. 

 

In 2000, Madison Avenue released their debut Album ‘Polyester Embassy’ featuring the number #1 tracks: ‘Don’t Call Me Baby’ and follow-up single: ‘Who the Hell Are You?’ (debuting in Australia at #1 one week after ‘Don’t Call Me Baby’ reached #1 in the UK) as well as a cover version of the Little River Band’s song: ‘Reminiscing.’  

 

The music accolades for Madison Avenue continued, thus winning the ‘Best Dance Artist’ at the International Dance Awards in 2001 in Miami, an award that nominated international superstars such as: Destiny's Child, Madonna, *NSYNC and Britney Spears.  Back home in Australia, they won 6 ARIA Awards, including: ‘Record of the Year,’ ‘Best New Artist Single,’ ‘Highest Selling Single’ and 2 ‘Best Video’ Awards (where Madison Avenue drew with themselves).

In 2019, it’s time to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Madison Avenue’s international number one track: ‘Don’t Call Me Baby’ which is a true testament to the successful longevity in the Australian dance and pop music scene.  The duo now work separately in the music industry, Andy Van continues to work as a successful DJ / Producer & Record Label Owner at Vicious Recordings and Cheyne Coates is a songwriter writing tracks for other Artists. 

 

It’s time to flashback to the 90’s and early 2000’s & to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Madison Avenue’s iconic hit: ‘Don’t Call Me Baby!’

Andy checked into the Departure Lounge with Stampsy and Josh to talk about the success of Madison Avenue and that infamous ARIAS moment (remember the glass on stage?).