Sunday, September 18, 2011

Kaleidophone


Kaleidophone is a four-piece alternative rock band from Maidstone, England, which formed in 2007. Instead of playing music right away like most bands, the band decided to do something more unique.

“The first thing we did as a band was building our own recording studio,” the band said. “After a few months doing this we began making music and working towards creating the sound that we have today.”

The band is influenced by artists such as The Wombats, Friendly Fires and Vampire Weekend.

“We wanted to create fun and good music that was melodic and uplifting,” the band said. “We think we have a great debut album and that the songs on the album say quite a bit about Kaleidophone. A career in music is a journey and we are loving every step.”

The debut album, “What’s Your Tonic?” was released in May 2011 and received some positive feedback according to the band.

“What’s Your Tonic?” is related to the eclectic nature of the record – people are all different, and every track on our record has its own identity,” the band said. “It’s really a celebration of diversity.

“Having the studio which we built was invaluable as we didn’t have the usual time constraints that many bands have to work with when hiring some studio time,” the band said. “We were able to utilize the amazing talent within the band and self-produce our record and the label gave us the freedom to do that.”

The band likes the songs on its latest album.

“From a production point of view, we’re proud of ‘Wrecking Ball’ and also as the lead track for the album it has received a lot of radio play,” the band said. “From a musical, lyrical and sentimental point of view, ‘Hometown’ holds a special place in our hearts."

In the future, the band hopes to tour the U.K. as well as the U.S. and start working on its second album.

“To us, music is a two-way street and we want to join in and make a true connection with those who like what we’re about,” the band said.

Wrecking Ball - Kaleidophone from Rob Sampson on Vimeo.



The band members include:
Mark Wells - Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar
Al Holland - Lead Vocals and Lead Guitar
James Holland - Bass
Mark Thompson - Drums


 

Interview with Kaleidophone:
Where are you from and how and when did the band get its start?
We are from a town called Maidstone, near London.  The band started back in 2007, but the first thing we did as a band was building our own recording studio! After a few months doing this we then began making music and working towards creating the sound that we have today.
Who are the members of your band and what do they play?
Mark Wells Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar
Al Holland Lead Vocals and Lead Guitar
James Holland Bass
Mark Thompson - Drums
How did you come up with the name Kaleidophone?
We made a conscious decision to try and write uplifting/melodic tunes. Kaleidophone breaks into two words for us: Colour and sound. Thats our sonic philosophy.
What are your major influences?
The Wombats, Bombay Bicycle Club, Friendly Fires, Vampire Weekend.
What artists are you currently listening to?
The Vaccines, Tame Impala, Everything Everything
How much education and musical training have you had?
Mark and Mark trained at Music College and Al and James have both studied Music Tech.
What were your goals when first starting your band? Did you reach them?
We wanted to create fun and good music that was melodic and uplifting.  We think we have a great debut album and that the songs on the album say quite a bit about Kaleidophone. A career in music is a journey and we are loving every step.
I heard for the first three months of the bands career, you built a studio instead of making music. Please explain why you did that instead of the conventional way of making music.
Its all in the preparation. Like an exquisite dish, heart stopping architecture, or the strategy of a chess match - each action is carefully co-ordinated to reach the end goal! Building the studio was part of our preparation and strategy and we now have our own place for rehearsals and recording which has been invaluable.
How did you get your record label?
They originally came to check out our studio for possible future use and while there, they heard our first single shortly after we had recorded it and wanted to be part of what we were doing.
Who writes your music and how do you come up with the songs you write?
Al and Mark come with the initial ideas for a new song then we spend time as a band writing the song together. Some take a few weeks, some take months or even years to get to the place where we are happy with them.
What has been the most interesting experience of your career?
Interesting probably opening a folk festival in The Brecon Beacons.  Traveling up to a remote hill side in South Wales on a terrain that really should have been traveled using 4x4s but was instead done in a long wheel base minibus full of band, equipment and roadie!
Whats the story behind your debut album, Whats Your Tonic?
We released 2 singles with Tin Robot Records which received a great response and generated some really positive feedback from many areas of the music industry.  We then felt the only step we could take next was to go for it and record our the debut studio album.
The title, 'What's Your Tonic?', is related to the eclectic nature of the record - people are all different, and every track on our record has its own identity. It's really a celebration of diversity.
How did you come about your recording process?
Having the studio which we built was invaluable as we didnt have the usual time constraints that many bands have to work with when hiring some studio time. We were able to utilize the amazing talent within the band and self-produce our record and the label gave us the freedom to do that.
What song are you most proud of and why?
Thats a difficult one. From a production point of view were proud of Wrecking Ball and also as the lead track for the album it has received a lot of radio play.  From a musical, lyrical and sentimental point of view, 'Hometown' holds a special place in our hearts.
Where have you been able to tour?
We have toured a lot around England and later this year we are doing a larger tour which will take us further throughout the UK and into one or two of the islands surrounding ours.
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?
New York City circa 1935. It was such an age classic culture and a time when the city was home to a thousand dreams - it's something that resonates with us on a very personal level, and something that's come through in our music and image.
What has been your biggest success so far?
The album itself has been a great success and national radio coverage in the UK was thrilling.
What are your future plans?
To tour the UK in the next few months, then maybe Europe, the States and of course well be working towards the 2nd album.
What do you want to say to your future and current fans?

To get in contact with us - to us, music is a two-way street and we want to join in and make a true connection with those who like what we're about.

1 comment:

  1. I have a lot of love for this band, they are really amazing.

    themusicfuture.blogspot.com

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