Many Escalator acts and artists from the Eastern region have received national press coverage, radio play and have had high profile festival appearances. Here are a few of the success stories so far:
Selected for 2009:
True Adventures
True Adventures is the brainchild of Mia Vigar. Mia has been making music since 2001. With the grant from the Arts Council she has recorded an album which will be released in 2010.
Adriano Adewale
Rooted in the musical traditions of Nigeria, Angola and Brazil and infused with contemporary European classical and jazz styles, percussionist and composer Adriano Adewale’s music is a global fusion of musical influences that explores issues of history, identity and nature.
“Adriano Adewale boasts an imposing collection of firepower yet deploys it with rare restraint.” The Times
Adriano was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil. For many years he was known as Adriano Pinto, a colonial name he received at birth. It was after he visited to Africa (Nigeria and Benin Republic) to discover his roots that he changed his name to Adriano Adewale Itauna, from the Yoruba-Nigeria and Tupi Guarani-Brazil respectively. He moved to England in 2000 and formed his first UK band Sambura, which released one album, Cru. Performing in various festivals and venues, Adriano was introduced to Antonio Forcione and soon became part of the Antonio Forcione Quartet who perform all over the world. He has shared the stage with Seu Jorge, Modeste Hughes, Netsayi Chigwendere, Oliver Mtukudzi (Zimbabwe), Tcheka (Cape Verde) and Jools Holland.
Joby Burgess
One of Britain’s most diverse genre trashing percussionists, Joby is best known for his virtuosic, often lissom performances, daring collaborations, extensive education work, and regularly appears throughout the UK, Europe and beyond.
Joby commits much of his time to three chamber music projects - Powerplant, New Noise and Ensemble Bash - of which, he is either the artistic or co-artistic director.
Dedicated to the development of the percussion repertoire, often in combination with electronics, Joby spends much of his time commissioning and recording new music. Recent highlights have included premiere performances of major multimedia from works from Gabriel Prokofiev and Graham Fitkin, releases of Steve Reich’s Electric Counterpoint on Signum, Peter Maxwell Davies’ Ave Maris Stella with Gemini on Metier and a retrospective of British electronic music Recovery/Discovery for the British Council.
Future plans include cinema performances of sound artist Martin Parker’s new opera, with vocalist Phil Minton, and a new collaboration with Polar Bear drummer, Seb Rochford to celebrate the percussion music of Max Roach.
The Brownies
2 Banks of 4
2 Banks of 4 are Dillip Harris and Robert Gallagher. Their music has been remixed by artists such as Four Tet, Herbert and Derrick Carter, while 2BO4 have themselves provided remixes for Faze Action and Koop. They have used their Escalator funding to produce ‘Under A East Coast Moon’, an album of songs and stories that have been culled and collected from the East Anglian coast of Suffolk (reaching as far north as Southwold, inland to Rendlesham and Butley, then south as far as the shingle mounds of Orford).
Mary Epworth
Mary Epworth is an engaging new artist who makes music influenced by traditional English song, 60s west coast Psychedelia, and Greek Progressive Rock, tying these things together with a knack for writing effortlessly classic sounding songs, and a love of winding harmonies.
Inspired by Forteana, wild beasts both real and unreal, and the work of visionary artists, Mary uses familiar folk instrumentation in an unfamiliar way. Electric Autoharp, Banjo, Synths and many layered vocals combine in an attempt to capture the indescribable.
I Am Error
The world is changing….. I am error is a non-conformist musical project, securing the voice of the individual in the process of change. Written from an individual perspective about the inner and outer surrounding world, our songs give voice to the current experience of social uncertainty, addressing the urgent need for individual empowerment and real freedom. This is music for the present day, for the conscious people.
Cevanne
Cevanne is a harpist and pianist graduate of the Guildhall School of Music who has worked on several world music collaborations. For her Escalator project she is recording her first album of her own material exploring her multi-cultural influences supported by Kuljit Bhamra.
Fuzzy Lights
Fuzzy Lights combine both folk purity and psychedelic noise with echoes of more traditional blues/Americana via the wide-open spaces of East Anglia. Their debut album “A Distant Voice” is an album to get truly lost in and has received glowing praise.
“…the nine tracks veer from widescreen violin-led majesty to garage rock noise-outs and ambient waves of sonic sandpaper…a huge, cinematic record of varied beauty…” Clash Magazine
“Just perfect…moody rock with violin that’s part hushed classicism and part crumbling intensity. Sometimes words aren’t needed.” Plan B
The Fuzzy Lights album “Twin Feathers” will be released on the 16 August 2010 by Little Red Rabbit Records. One of the tracks has already been played on BBC 6 music by Guy Garvey.
Laura Cannell
Laura Cannell is a recorder and self-taught fiddle player from Norfolk, UK. After graduating from the London College of Music and Media in 2001 with 1st Class Honours in Performance, Laura was elected as a Woodwind Fellow. She then went on to continue her studies at the University of East Anglia and graduated with a Masters in Performance Studies in 2003.
Laura is the founder member of the highly acclaimed contemporary folk & early music group Horses Brawl who have released two albums.
She also collaborates regularly with other performers in the fields of traditional, baroque and contemporary music.
Laura was also a research assistant to the author Jennifer Westwood on her book ‘The Lore of the Land: A Guide to England’s Legends, from Spring-heeled Jack to the Witches of Warboys’. An incredible guide to the folklore and legends of England’s counties.
YT
The Suffolk town of Ipswich is not where you would expect to find the next big thing in UK reggae, but this is the reality of the youth called Mark Hull aka YT. 2006 saw YT firmly establish himself as one of the UK’s hottest reggae artists.
A string of hit singles including international smash hit ‘Wicked Act’, a thought provoking account of 7/7 London bombings, and chart topping ‘England Story’ .Both of these tracks were included on YT’s debut album ‘Straight Outta Britain’ which saw his career and international recognition rise to a next level culminating in him winning the U.M.A. award for best UK Reggae Artist and becoming widely established as one of Europe’s leading Reggae Dancehall artistes.
Currently YT is in great demand touring all over Europe and beyond as he prepares for the release of his second album due for release in 2009. Working with leading UK Reggae producer Curtis Lynch JR and J.D. aka Dreadie among others this promises to be an album which will continue where `Straight Outta Britain` left off. Reggae-based but with a little eclectic UK flavour including collaborations with international Dub icon ‘Zion Train’, Million Stylez, Mr Williams, Blackout JA, Skinnyman , Daddy Freddy and Shola Ama.
The funding has enabled YT to press 2000 CDs, print posters and hold a launch event in Sheffield with over 400 people in attendance (with one planned for London in 2010). He also plans to press some vinyl in the New Year.
Selected for 2008:
Sargasso Trio
Sargasso Trio first met in Norwich’s very own 40 piece marching samba band but now are established as a more manageable three piece. They bring together their shared loves of country, Latin and 80s electro. Sargasso Trio have created a truly contemporary English folk sound where vocal harmonies, country guitars and Casio keyboards create songs of sublime beauty. Since starting out, the band have played sessions on BBC 6Music, for Gideon Coe’s show and Stuart Maconie’s Freak Zone, and released an EP and album recorded at Penny Lane studios and The Mill in Diss.
Escalator Music funding has enabled Sargasso Trio to record a new album which should be released early in 2010.
E.A.R
English Audio Refinery is owned and run by Richard English. A self styled self taught sound specific ambience guru currently living on the flatlands of England, he has kept one finger in the post modern dance pie since the early 1990s, composing titles including Evolving Paradigm, Relative Shift, Critical Mass, Trio, Torsion, and Naked, for the acclaimed international companies: Russell Maliphant Company, Ballet Boyz, Ricochet Dance Company, The Batsheva Ensemble and the Lyon Opera Ballet. aka Titch and in previous incarnations: Halfway Jackson, Nova Pillbeam’s The Threesome and Stanley Twobricks. He has previously worked with Apes In Control, Felcher Club, Tonka Sound System and Horace X as composer, guitarist, DJ and producer.
alto45
Lab-coat wearing lo-fi popsters, supplying small town melancholia, to anyone with five minutes to spare. Brought together by a shared love of car boots sales, robots, Daniel Johnston and the mid-range audio frequencies. An eclectic mix of lo-fi pop, downbeat and experimental electronica in the vein of Grandaddy, Leonard Cohen and Add n to (x), if you will.
Originally from the countryside, alto45 release records on their own Happy Capitalist Recordings along with other releases on Sickroom GC.
Fever Fever
Along with numerous radio plays on Radio 1, 6Music and XFM, they have a single released on Cherryade Records and are appearing at Great Escape Festival 2009.
The Neutrinos
The electrically charged Neutrinos fused at the turn of the century and became a force to be reckoned with by 2004 when they released Sick Love. This emotive, Paul Sampson (Primitives, Catatonia) produced first album, was voted number 1 album of the year by readers of E-Zone magazine. These former Peel favourites come heavily recommended as a band to catch up close! Taut bluesy garage guitar music fronted by the never less than attention grabbing, audience hooking, incendiary Karen Reilly. They have been likened to a female Nick Cave fronting The Queens of the Stone Age, to a female David Bowie tugging at your eyes, your ears, your organs but they are never less than themselves, never losing identity or direction.
International ambassadors of bluesy garage art-rock, The Neutrinos have played at Toronto’s 3-day North By North East Festival 2007, Berlin’s British Music Week 2007, Exit Festival (Serbia) 2008 and Strawberry Fair 2009.
Timothy Victor’s Folk Orchestra
Regular collaborator with Cambridge favourites The Broken Family Band, Timothy has long been searching for a vehicle to combine his love of Eastern European folk music and US acoustic roots (and a good excuse to rope in several musicians he wanted to work with in one go). The band’s influences range from Hank Williams and bluegrass to klezmer and European folk, via the wonderful middle ground of Camper Van Beethoven, The Violent Femmes and The Tigerlillies.
This odd hybrid of sounds, best described as Country & Eastern, fits Timothy’s bawdy Essex songwriting like an oil slick fits a penguin - it ain’t necessarily the way nature intended but it works surprisingly well. The band was recently described as ‘Leonard Cohen meets Chas ‘n’ Dave’ - high praise indeed.
Mira Calix
Mira Calix is signed to Warp Records, she began her musical adventures by djing and as a support to a wide range of artists from Boards of Canada to Radiohead.
More recently she has been working on theatre, film and installation pieces mixing her distinctive style of organic electronics with classical instruments.
Funding through Escalator Music has enabled Mira to work with Larry Goves and Tansy Davies at Aldeburgh.
You can follow her progress at www.exchangeandreturn.com
Bearsuit
Already championed by the likes of Steve Lamacq, Huw Stevens, Phill Jupitus, XFM, the NME, Artrocker, The Guardian and Plan B, the six piece are making a name for themselves with their unique brand of shouty-pop-fun. With a live show including flute, guitars, keyboards, samples, cornet, singing, bells, accordion, theremin, drums, and a keytar plus a variety of outlandish stage gear - blood soaked prom dresses, marching bands, ‘nurses of death’ outfits, spacemen and silver bear-bot wear to name but a few - Bearsuit are certainly a band to catch live!
The Bears have played the Latitude Festival 2008, SXSW (Austin Texas) 2009, Great Escape Festival 2009 and Woolfire 2009.
Bearsuit have used their funding to record a new album with Gareth Parton (producer of The Go Team! Pete and the Pirates, Foals and the Breeders).
Femi Temowo
Guitarist and composer Femi is long time collaborator of Soweto Kinch and formerly Amy Winehouse, he has recently been developing his own compositions in a fusion of modern jazz and early Yoruba folk music. Having substantial experience working in both of these genres improvisation forms a large part of both styles. Femi will be collaborating with Nigerian musicians on his new work.
Swai
Mike Swai has spent 10 years collaborating with Ghana based musician Mac Tontoh, founder of Afro-rock pioneers Osibisa. Guitarist Mike has recently taken his Ghana experience, introduced his own angle and made an album of his own compositions. In partnership with Senegalese djembe master Makhou N’Diaye the result promises to be unique.
Aldrin in the Eagle
James Booth takes the lead on keyboards and vocals but will introduce a panoply of other sounds to reflect his cosmic vision. Taking space as its theme and a dash of fun thrown in, be sure not to miss this great new musical talent.
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Maria Uzor’s songs are a celebration of music without any unnecessary pomp and ceremony, an uncanny mix of the minimal and the dark-hearted, wrapped tightly in a jagged electro-acoustic blanket and held together with rhythmic duck tape. Likened to PJ Harvey, Siouxsie Sioux and Skin, her songs are tales for the restless soul.
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Since releasing their acclaimed debut album in October 2005, Horses Brawl have been causing quite a stir with their original take on folk and early music. They have been heard on BBC Radio 3 and featured as editors’ picks in the national press as well as touring throughout England. The summer tour included performances at The Windsor Festival, The Whitechapel Gallery and The National Theatre, and the duo are embarking on their autumn and winter tours, with a date at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall supporting the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (22nd Nov), then at Bungay’s recently opened Fisher Theatre (24th Nov) then back to London for lunchtime concerts at the prestigious St James’ Piccadilly and St Anne’s Lutheran churches.
Horses Brawl have used their funding to record a new album ‘Wild Lament’ and will be embarking on a 9 date UK tour in 2010.
Transept
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Transept are Alexander Sanders (Electronics/Piano/Voice/Gongs), Phil Archer (Guitar) & Liam Wells (Electronics/Gongs). Each member of the group has a range of experience and expertise in music, sound art/design, visual arts and design, and this accounts for the eclectic influences on the band.
Transept combine elements of disco, epic prog, romantic ballad, minimalism, drone and noise: Jean-Michel Jarre and Vangelis; Pompeii-era Pink Floyd; La Monte Young and Charlemagne Palestine; Merzbow, Goblin and ELO. Live, they generally play long-form improvisations—with varying instrumentation—around pre-composed songs. They try to create unique, site-specific, performances each time.
Previous years:
Hamfatter
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The band was formed in 2002 when Eoin O’Mahony (Vocals, Piano, Bass Guitar, Double Bass) and James Ingham (Guitar, Backing Vocals) were both studying music at Cambridge University and met drummer Mark Ellis at a gig. Such lofty beginnings needed a balance and ‘Hamfatter’ (meaning a ‘third rate minstrel’) fit the bill.
The band describe themselves as ‘Coldplay with amphetamines sprinkled in their tea’. Other times, they reflect, it is just “indie for people who actually, really like music.”
They recently entered into the Dragon’s Den and walked out with a cool £75,000 deal with Dragon Peter Jones, in return for 30% of profits. Their single ‘The Girl I Love’ subsequently reached number 1 in the play.com download charts; they’ve been all over TV and radio and you’ll no doubt be hearing much more of them in the future!
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Not many bands can claim Shrek as a major influence, but for Urban Myth Club, Mike
Myer’s green ogre changed the course of events which led to a Best Album nomination,
appearances at Glastonbury and The Big Chill as well as the debut single gate-crashing the
iTunes Top 30 purely on word-of-mouth.
The Club formed when electronica artist Dezz met Hollywood film composer Stephen
Barton, who had recently returned to the UK having worked on blockbusters such as
Gladiator. The duo created the downtempo tracks that plotted the future course of the
Club. When LA called with the offer to write the music for Shrek 2 and Narnia, Stephen
took a sabbatical from the Club and the idea of a collective was born.
Dezz hooked up with enigmatic producer Ian Sanderson (whose infamous Cuckooland
samples have been used on film, TV and by hundreds of artists including Massive Attack,
Lemon Jelly, the Prodigy and Beastie Boys) and Urban Myth Club’s rocket left orbit.
Additional members of the collective soon followed including renowned vocalists Clare
Szembek (Captain, The Funky Lowlives) and Rowan Godel. Other celebrity members
remain confidential.
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Daphna Sadeh is a composer and a Double Bass player.
Her compositions reflect and integrate the diversity of musical cultures she has experienced as a musician. The inspiration for her music is rooted in Jewish, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern music.
Daphna brings together performers from contrasting backgrounds and traditions, creating a seamless musical tapestry of cross-cultural dialogue. One of the main aims in her musical creativity is to create a way of dialogue between cultures in conflict.
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He wrote his first boogie woogie track by the age of six. At 10 he led a full calypso backing band to play a cover of Europe’s the Final Countdown while on holiday in Barbados. A couple of years later and he was being chased by the Russian Secret Police.
By his late teens he had scored rave reviews in the NME with former band Ovahead, and went on to write a book for children about mental health, illustrated with photos of his own body parts. Oh, and he holds a personal best for eating 24 bags of crisps in one sitting.
Add to that playing football with Maxi Priest, flirting with Emmy Lou Harris, and calling Dave Grohl ‘Dad’ and you start getting an idea why Master Solo’s song ideas come thick and fast.
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Get Cape Wear Cape Fly’s debut album, The Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager, has been described as an indie/emo fusion, suggesting that it blends the line between emo rock and indie music. The album was very well received by critics and even made the top 100 albums of 2006 lists of Q and NME.
In January 2007, Duckworth was nominated for best solo artist at the annual NME Awards, up against Lily Allen, Jamie T, Jarvis Cocker and Thom Yorke, although he did not win.
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The Lost Levels began as a collaborative project between Chris on keyboards and Iain on guitar - with both sharing the vocal duties - in late 2003.
Sharing a love of computer games, the duo began penning a collection of songs based on the concept of game design and interaction.
They invited bassist Owen along with drummer and percussionist Steve - the rhythm section from the city’s respected hip-hop outfit Def Tex - to join them in February 2005. As a foursome, they worked to complete the five-track record, a process which had begun in 2004.
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Award winning songstress Shahin badar has without a doubt emerged as one of the most accomplished and outstanding crossover commercial female Asian vocalists in the burgeoning UK and Asian music scene. Her innovative musical collaborations has seen her team up with respected Mainstream and Asian producers such as A.R Rahman and acts like the electronic big beat giants The Prodigy on 3 UK No.1 albums emanating from Shahin’s distinctive Alaap chants on the controversial international Smash Hit “Smack My Bitch Up” to Get Up Get Off.
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Introducing a fresh baby-faced 19 year old singer, writer and emceeing prodigy. At first glance, Destiny possesses a sweet and cheeky image, but her raw talent introduces a whole new level of persona. Her emceeing style has been said to be “a much needed breath of fresh air to the over-populated MC garage scene”. Standing in her own market , with two feet on the ground and in a combating stance, Destiny certainly stands out from the rest of the other female UK artists purely on her unique image and distinctive sound.
She has appeared and worked with a wide variety of acts including Ms. Dynamite, Estelle, Sticky, Dreem Teem, Skitz, Rodney P, Normski, Mark Force/Bugz In The Attic, Dane Bowers, Matt Jam Lamont, L Double, 2Play, Emma Feline, Deekline & Hyperactive and many more.
She is currently working hard in the studio on this with a diverse range of Dubstep/Electro producers and artists including Wonder, Benga, Crazy D (Kiss 100), Mark Force/Bugz In The Attic, Roll Deep and Jack Beats.
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The over-whelming response to Joanna’s self-penned second album My Open Eye has taken her into a different phase in her career. With new management, meetings at record companies, some serious press (Mojo:- “beauty and broken glass all at once”), some serious gigs – like supporting Jamie Cullum and Nerina Pallot in front of an audience of 10,000 at Audley End, airplay on Radio 2, and seeing her album on sale in supermarkets; Joanna’s feet have hardly touched the ground!
She dedicates “My Open Eye” to her family – especially her husband Charlie and four-year-old daughter Drousha. ‘She’s given me so much – not least she’s taught me to value my time. The whole album has been a kind of therapy – finding “me” again and addressing all my relationships through the eyes of a mother.”
