ARTISTAnd One

And One is a German synth-pop group formed in Berlin in 1989. Steve Naghavi and Chris Ruiz had met the previous year at a local dance club and shared an interest in early industrial acts including Front 242 and Nitzer Ebb. Their subsequent approach, built around two synthesizers and a beatbox, drew on Depeche Mode. After signing with the fledgling Machinery label, And One released its debut single, Metal Hammer, in 1990; it became a significant club hit. The group completed its first full-length album, Anguish, with contributions from newly added third member Alex Two.

In 1991, And One released Aus der Traum, a techno-inspired charity single produced to benefit Greenpeace and originally titled Saddam Hussein. Flop! followed months later, after which Ruiz left to pursue a solo career. With new drummer Joke Jay, the group recorded the EP Monotonie, returning to electronic body music influences associated with its early work. The 1993 album Spot took a more accessible direction and generated the pop hit Life Isn't Easy in Germany. Alex Two departed soon afterward and was replaced by keyboardist Rick Schah.

With Schah, And One recorded I.S.T. in 1994. Ruiz later guested on the 1995 single Deutschemaschine, which marked the end of the group’s long association with Machinery. After signing with Virgin, And One released Nordhausen in 1997 and 9.9.99. 9 Uhr the following year; the latter scored the hit Get You Closer. Following Virgin Superstar, Joke Jay resigned. Ruiz returned full-time in 2001 and appeared on the MP3-exclusive single Amerika Brennt. Aggressor followed in 2003, and Bodypop was released in 2006.