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MP#.Zone Session (3)

Session three artists: Letterbox Lambs, Seven, and Cloudboy.

***Click HERE to listen to the music of Cloudboy.

[Note: the track we played on the night was called "cloudboy" but since, they band has realeased another (to borrow a term from Chris Knox) "gawgiss" single called "pretty".

Who they are:

• Cloudboy don’t suit labels but, according to their own description, play live and record lush CDs.

• Demarnia Lloyd is the singer for the band and she brings an intimately fragile voice that is blended with various electronicae, acoustic instruments and amplified rhythms to produce an elusive feeling of dream-tinged, sometimes claustrophobic charm.

Artist history:

Cloudboy were formed in 1994 by singer Demarnia for the recording of the ornate “cloudboy” EP, this studio project, a creative tangent of select Mink members, quickly turned into one of dunedin/new zealand’s favourite underground bands. 

Preferring to keep a low profile but playing the odd lounge bar and sporadically appearing on compilations, hit discs and flying nun singles (as well as topping the national student radio charts whenever a new song is unleashed), this band is currently recording their first full-length album - three years in the making! - and completing a video to pre-released single “pretty” (from arc - music of dunedin).

Group members:

• demarnia sings, writes, sequences and samples; 
• johannes records, mixes and plays bass and guitar; 
• craig plays guitar, violin and electric piano and also arranges; 
• heath plays drums. 

Review:

• “Sultry nerve-pop lullabies for those ears too abused by a mud of current musical practice” 
• 
  (Roy Colbert, 1996)

• ***Click HERE to listen to the music of Letterbox Lambs.

• Letterbox Lambs are a four piece Wellington band, formed in 1995.
• Over the past few years of consistent live performance and recordings steadily built a strong national following with a solid support base of fans. 
• Soon to release their debut album, Letterbox Lambs are working towards becoming household names to fans of independent New Zealand music. 
• They have taken to stages alongside the likes of Shihad, the 3Ds, Dirty Three and Yo La Tengo.
• The efforts and standing of the band have on several occasions been recognised by the Wellington and New Zealand music industries. They were named 'Alternative Band Of The Year' at the 1996 Wellington Music Awards, and in 1997 were selected by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) from hundreds of applicants to be one of three bands to take part in their Recording Artist Development Scheme, earning recording time and the release of the resulting song.
• Since their self-released debut cassette EP 'Box Of Fluffies' in 1996, Letterbox Lambs have made a series of single song releases on collective projects.
• Most recently, they appeared on the 1997 Wellington music compilation 'Infocity Overground', the Recording Artist Industry Association of New Zealand's first and only 'Recording Artist Development Scheme' EP, Shihad's 'Yr Head Is A Rock' EP, and last year's 'Radio Active 89FM 21st Anniversary Compact Disc'. 
• The as-yet-untitled album will be released in February 1999.

***Click HERE to listen to Seven.

• SEVEN formed in late 1997 out of the eclectic North Coast music scene, centred around Lismore’s Southern Cross University and  quickly rose to become one of the regions most popular live bands. 
• Their music is a clever combination of heavy rock and hard funk
• The single “For Want Of A Better Name” was first played by Triple J on Richard Kingsmill’s ‘Oz Music Show, who cited the band as “one of the best new talents to emerge in 1998”. The song has since received ‘spot-play’ by other DJ’s. 
• In the live arena, Seven’s shows have been described as “unparalleled in tightness and intensity”. SEVEN have appeared on the Vans Warped Tour, The Surf, Skate & Slam and TeePee Festivals, playing alongside GRINSPOON, DEFTONES, BLINK 182, FRENZAL RHOMB and the SUPERJESUS. 
• SEVEN tracks have been included in a number of compilation CD’s and surf/skate videos. The song “For Want Of A Better Name” was included free of charge on Australia’s ‘Big Backyard’ program, whereby it will be promoted with other Australian music overseas. 
• SEVEN (by their own admission) are undoubtedly one of the most original and ‘fresh’ sounding bands to emerge out of Australia. 
• In 2000 expect SEVEN to make it huge as they move towards recording new material and touring everywhere.