Meet Mindi Jackson. She’s the new lead vocalist for the Rogue Traders.

Some of my fellow Van She fans that read this website might find Jackson’s voice a little familiar; in 2007, under the name Melinda Jackson, Michael and Nicky from Van She Tech took her track “Fall In Love” and gave it a corker of a re-swizz which ended up in my years-end best-of lists.

But now, Melinda is Mindi, and her first release with the Rogue Trader crew is the drum ‘n bass hybrid-pop stomper, “Love Is A War,” which sounds like Lene Lovich having it off in a dark alley-way with No Doubt’s back catalogue. Never a bloody bad thing.

Double hand-claps? CHECK. Amazing outfit? CHECK. Excellent hair-styling? CHECK. Non-offensive rap? CHECK. Ability to dance in very high heels and look effortlessly fabulous? CHECK. Of course, the less said about the food fight scenes the better; I have this incredible phobia of food touching my skin. Don’t ask.

I am COMPLETELY on board for this next, exciting phase of the Rogue Traders journey. I think that, perhaps the most exciting part, is the fact that Mindi looks more than comfortable in the group, whether it be in the clip or on the (usually) painstakingly boring Sunday Sunrise in an interview situation. There’s a star quality about her and yet, she’s – at the moment – not exactly a household name. The last time around, James and Co HAD a star already; but this time it’s that much different, and a whole lot more exciting.

What’s even more thrilling is the obvious appreciation both Mindi and James have for each other as artists, an appreciation that shows during that Sunrise interview – it’s effortless, there’s not a cringeworthy moment shared between the two of them, which speaks volumes I think, about the kind of guy James is, but also the kind of woman that Mindi is.

I can’t wait for the album, which is happening next year at some point. I know a few people are a bit sketchy on the track (from what I’ve read on Twitter through fellow bloggers posts, anyway) but, as per usual, there’s always something that strikes a chord with listeners on a Rogue Record. Even if you’re not necessarily keen on this first single, I can guarantee there will be something you’ll LOVE on the album. James recently told me they were working on a track that was a little bit early Sugababes. Bonza bonza bonza.

Extreme Rogue Traders/Mindi Jackson Appreciation Mania starts here.