User:Engblu/sandbox/Suzerain (Band)

Suzerain (Band) Are a five piece Rock Electronic Band formed in 2008 in and around South London UK. SUZERAIN were wowing crowds and winning hearts at London’s best venues for over 4 years. An alternative rock band with a punk edge, they produce (according to Subba-Cultcha.com), “High octane New Wave rock, delivered with aplomb”

Since forming in 2006 they’ve gigged tirelessly across London. The influential promoters Feedme Music describe them as “Probably the finest act we have seen since launching” and this reputation for being a first-class live acts has got them a raft of very good gigs along the way – Wireless Festival, IndigO2, Koko, The Garage, Scala, LA2, 100 Club, Camden Barfly, and Clothes Show Live to name a few and playing to a crowd of thousands in Trafalgar Square during Pride 2009. They were named the Best UK Alternative Act at The Metro’s prestigious Indy Awards "Suzerain (who seemed to have filled the entire venue with their fans) snatched the Best Alternative Act

Their sound has been variously described as ‘New Wave Rock’’, “Electro Indie Disco’ and even “Electro-band revival, reborn with a new contemporary sound.” Guitarist Rich Summers explains the band’s musical ethos, “Our aim was to produce the most awesome danceable rock possible. We used to hang out at Indie clubs like Trash, seeing people like Erol Alken each week, that was a big influence on us.”

Having established themselves as ones to watch on the London circuit, SUZERAIN set their minds on spreading their influence further afield. As well as earning themselves an enviable reputation across the UK, they are also making excellent headway in Europe  - gathering fans and achieving industry interest after a string of high profile dates including: headlining Angra Rock Festival in the Azores, as well as playing a host of European festivals includeing NRJ in the Park (Munich, with Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party, Reeperbahn_Festival Hamburg, Rock in Roma, and Boccadilo Festival Sicily.

The band were signed to Czech / London Label Brainzone for their second Album "Identity" and supported Berlin based band Livingston October 2014. A Follow up Central Italian tour was completed in 2015 and the Brighton Great Escape Festival.

Timeline of Gigs and Tours

 * Pride Festival Trafalgar Square 2009
 * Nrj in the Park (Munich Germany, supporting Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party.
 * Angra Rock Festival Azores ( AZOR WAVES - Produção de Espectáculos, Lda )
 * Boccadilo in Sicily
 * Camden Rocks Festival 2015
 * Reeperbahn_Festival Hamburg
 * Rock in Roma
 * Support tour Germany with Livingston October 2014
 * Central Italy tour 2015
 * The Great Escape Festival 2016

Album Recordings

 * Early Demos led to a chance meeting with Steve Lyon, Music Producer - Recording Enginneer at a gig and rehearsals started in Kingston over a few months between gigs. Studio time was arranged across a number of London Studios he knew well, The Strongroom, Miloco and Livingston Studios where early songs for the "Apocalypse disco EP" were recorded and mixed. Steve with the band decided to record the rest of the songs in Wales at a house and set up a recording environment with Steve's equipment. A remote house in Crugnant, Pennant, Llanbrynmair in the middle of a forest. It worked beautifully and in a week the album was recorded, with one extra acoustic track recorded at Steve's house in Twickenham. Mixing was completed in London.


 * Rich the band's guitarist mentioned Platt's Eyot a Thames River Island in Hampton South London where an old warehouse had been partly converted into a makeshift studio. The second album was written and rehearsed there over a number of months leading to a number of recording sessions. Steve took over the Studio and named in PanicButton Studios. The sessions led to a large number of songs recorded and worked on over an 18 month period. The special individuality of the Island and it's atmosphere ebbed into the DNA of the album and it's quite unique development. This led directly to the band being signed to Brainzone, a label based in Prague and London.

Personnel
Suzerain
 * Tom Pether – guitar, six-string bass, vocals, production, sleeve art direction.
 * Rich Summers – guitar, six-string bass, keyboard, sleeve art direction.
 * Ben Howe – percussion, drums.
 * Mike Smith – bass guitar.
 * Matt Constantine – keyboards, Cello, Fx.

Technical


 * Steve Lyon – production, engineering, mixing
 * Ian Cooper – mastering