Biography
We formed in 2003. Tired and bored of the same old indie guitar bands and whining lyrics, Breezy (vocals), Ross(drums), Matt(bass) and Lewis(guitar) hooked up in South London's Scream Studios and the journey began. We soon realised that we had stumbled into something a little bit special and a little bit different.
When Joe (keys) joined the band a few months later the rhythm section was completed. Bit by bit we gained recognition for out grooves and original songs.
We've always had a problem with genre, some funk, a bit of reggae, some pop, a dash of rock and even some classical on occasion. For some reason we don't know, this always makes record labels cower in fear but the crowds in the clubs and festivals love it.
In the inimitable words of our Breezy
“Sticking to one style always ends up boring in the end. F*** that. We play what we want and you'll probably like it.' ”
Whereas most bands will spend an entire album coming up with the same flows, we love to take you on a genre twisting journey in a single set. Because of this the reception on the party circuit is always ecstatic.
Matt the bassman:
“ We understand that not everyone loves the funk, but then they might like some ska, or some latin,or some D&B, er, or some burlesque style weird music, have what you want really. ”
We did the whole pub gig thing for a couple of years, honing the sounds and stage craft. Along the way we picked up a sax player (chesca) and a trombone (Felix). Joe also remembered he could play a bit of horn, so did.
It's probably important to tell you a bit about the lead singer now.
As the shining light that the band revolves around and probably worships as little short of the reincarnation of the Mousai...the greek goddess of music (you have my account number breeze x). She does command the stage and the mic with a style and soul that is as exquisite as it is rare.
Breezy (her real name, nothing but realness here), grew un in south london and didn't have the easiest of times to put it mildly, but music gave her the release and direction she needed and she metamorphosed into the stage goddess you see before you.
She's been compared to every new singer that comes out and a lot of very good old ones. She writes all the lyrics and the melodies.
At times she is sweet like a summers afternoon, and at other times she can be very bad. If she doesn't like it she'll tell you. and believe me she will tell you. On balance though, when you've got such a powerful backing band you need to have something extra so as not to get sidelined by the instrumentalists.
Anyway, the story continues, the next chapter begins in a dingy cellar in Shoreditch, East London, and a crazy french guy called Yvan Serrano.
Early in 2006 we played at Favela Chic for the first time at an audition for Raison d'etre.
“” London's Premier Swingin Party! Time out
Again, a little magic occured and Yvan took us on to play places like Cargo, the Jazz Cafe, KOKO, we've played Glasto twice with Yvan and stomped all over last year's Stokefest to an audience of thousands on a beautiful summer's day.
Yvan is Sizenine's God father, along with his exquisite partner in crime, Crystal. A man of his word and a man entirely devoted to the propagation of good music and the best partys. These are not qualities you find very often in the music industry and it is a testament to Raison d'Etre's openness and faith that we are still here and still Funking out.
During the last couple of years Sizenine have added a few new members to the family. Hannah, our very own Amazon queen trumpeter, Amanda, our blond bombshell Saxophonist joined international man of mystery, Felix 'the bonecollector' Shepherd to complete the Natural Horn Killers, who we think are the Uk's only mixed sex horn section.
Then James 'BabyJ' Okeefe shredded his way into our hearts and records. At 19 years old, the best all round guitarist in london and getting better every day.
BabyJ is the strongman!
“In your faces suckers! ”
He'll make you cry with his playing and could probably snap you in two with his bare hands.
A slightly inebriated Felix at a gig, when asked if he though another band's guitarist was better than James:
“ Let anyone try and steal our instruments, go on, I dare them. ”
The Recordings
Sizenine are and always will be a live band and we're at out best when we're doing just that. We have however, recorded a few times over the years.
The first good one was with the legend that is Gwyn Mathias. This is a guy that recorded Marley and a whole load of big 70's and 80's bands. We stayed pretty close to an original 70's sound but some of the energy that typifies the live show was lost somewhere along the way.
After this we worked with Matt 'Sketch' Nicholson at his very own Stormont studios. Here we went for a more commercial sounds and Matt wrote some beautiful string arrangements that added the icing to the cake.
'Something's Afoot ' was well received by the fans and a couple of excellent remixes by Blue movies and Louis Subsoul have been released. There are even rumours that Pokes and Mala of Dubstep fame are working on a remix of 'How wrong'.
We are currently working on a new 14track album, out in the next few months. Produced by Yvan Serrano and recorded at the antique Gizzard Studios in Bow with soundman Ed.
We've been lucky enough to have the Uk's premier percussionist, mark 'Snowboy' guest on a couple of tracks, Snowboy was the original Incognito percussionist and has worked with everyone from the James Taylor Quartet to Mark Ronson. A certain Miss Hinda Hicks also dropped into help with the B.V's. A huge talent, she had success in the 90's as an R&B singer but is now persuing a more jazz influenced groove.
Matt the bassman
“Argh, she's lovely, I think I need to have a cold shower. ”
What the Future Holds
We are currently carving out a new funk scene with bands like Ballalouda, Something Simple, Junkyard Scientists and Back to the Rhythm. We will be giggin all round London and the UK in 2009 and will be releasing our new album in the next few months.
We are all very excited about this and hope that the industry will recognise that the NewFunk scene is a genuine movements and start releasing the music that the masses obviously want!
New Album out in the next few months. Be Ready. The revolution approaches.