Films of Colour
Encyclopedia
Films of Colour are an English alternative rock band formed in 2008 by lead vocalist Andy Clutterbuck and lead guitarist James Hatcher whilst studying at a University in Guildford
, UK. After forming as a duo, James Rees-Flynn was asked to join the group as the drummer and Jack Allinson as the bassist & backing singer, completing the line-up. They originally started gigging under the name of Spires but as there were other bands already established by this name, they later changed their name to Films of Colour. After seeing them at their second gig, they were taken under the wing of Phil Catchpole (Relentless Records
) where he developed their sound and put them in the studio and finally on tour with Cage the Elephant
. Paul Carey joined the band as a Co-Manager in 2009, but when Phil Catchpole left in 2010, Paul Carey continued on and took command as their sole manager. On the 4th October 2010, the band released their first single “Actions” with the B-side “Circles” (both produced/mixed by Duncan "Pixie" Mills (Florence and the Machine
). The single was released digitally and on limited edition 7” Vinyl by Fierce Panda’s
sister label – Label Fandango
. The band's sound were compared to acts such as Radiohead
, Muse
, Coldplay
, early Bloc Party
and Swedish act – Miike Snow
. Simon Williams, head of Fierce panda
described the band “as the best band he's signed since Radiohead and Coldplay”. Picked up as The Guardian’s New Band of the Day, Best of Myspace Winners, The Independent newspaper’s Barometer: One to Watch and Steve Lamacq’s Favourite New Band. There was radio support from 6 Music, Absolute Radio, BBC Radio 2
aswell as holding the number 1 spot for two weeks on Amazing Radio
", a song off of the 2002 album - Heathen by David Bowie
. The band received personal endorsement from the legendary producer - Tony Visconti
who had produced and played on the original. It was picked up by David Bowie's official website and listed as an exclusive download. Visconti has worked on numerous albums, working on the majority of releases from David Bowie
, Thin Lizzy
, T. Rex (band)
and most recently, the latest Kaiser Chiefs
album The Future Is Medieval
.
He said in an interview :
This endorsement brought the band great exposure and shot the band into the public eye, getting features in the Evening Standard
, The Sun, NME
online and Q
online hot list.
with producer Duncan "Pixie" Mills and Tom Bailey to record their next single A-side "Capital" along with B-Side "Persinette". This had its first airplay on Q Radio (July 2011) as well as the Selector Radio show which is broadcasted in over 29 Countries worldwide and to an estimated audience of over 2 million listeners by The British Council. Featured in the Londonist as "the most 'Londony' song", Capital/Persinette is set to be released on July 25, 2011 on Believe Records
in the series of "The X Factor (UK)
2010, In the City 2010
, The Great Escape 2009
, they also headlined a venue on their debut appearance at the 2011 The Camden Crawl. 2011 also saw the band play the mainstage at Y Not Festival
2011, along with headliners Maxïmo Park
and shared the stage with Fenech-Soler
at Fieldview Festival
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
, UK. After forming as a duo, James Rees-Flynn was asked to join the group as the drummer and Jack Allinson as the bassist & backing singer, completing the line-up. They originally started gigging under the name of Spires but as there were other bands already established by this name, they later changed their name to Films of Colour. After seeing them at their second gig, they were taken under the wing of Phil Catchpole (Relentless Records
Relentless Records
Relentless Records, founded by Shabs Jobanputra and Paul Franklyn in 1999 is now a part of Sony Music based in London, UK. Having achieved large scale successes with Joss Stone, KT Tunstall and several urban artists such as Artful Dodger and So Solid Crew, the label is now building a small focused...
) where he developed their sound and put them in the studio and finally on tour with Cage the Elephant
Cage the Elephant
Cage the Elephant is an American rock band from Bowling Green, Kentucky, that formed in mid-2006. Since their formation, the band has gained a large following in the US as well as the UK and Canada for their sound and their high-energy live performances. The band released their self-titled debut...
. Paul Carey joined the band as a Co-Manager in 2009, but when Phil Catchpole left in 2010, Paul Carey continued on and took command as their sole manager. On the 4th October 2010, the band released their first single “Actions” with the B-side “Circles” (both produced/mixed by Duncan "Pixie" Mills (Florence and the Machine
Florence and the Machine
Florence and the Machine is the recording name of English musician Florence Welch and a collaboration of other artists who provide music for her voice. Florence and the Machine's sound has been described as a combination of various genres, including rock and soul...
). The single was released digitally and on limited edition 7” Vinyl by Fierce Panda’s
Fierce Panda Records
Fierce Panda Records is a London-based independent record label, with its first release in February 1994. It also produced a small number of releases that year by now famous artists such as Ash, The Bluetones, Baby Bird and Supergrass...
sister label – Label Fandango
Label Fandango
Label Fandango is an independent record label based in Highbury, London. Evolving out of parent companies Fierce Panda Records and Pointy Records, it has been releasing limited edition music singles since 2005...
. The band's sound were compared to acts such as Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
, Muse
Muse
The Muses in Greek mythology, poetry, and literature, are the goddesses who inspire the creation of literature and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge, related orally for centuries in the ancient culture, that was contained in poetic lyrics and myths...
, Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
, early Bloc Party
Bloc Party
Bloc Party are a British Indie rock band, composed of Kele Okereke , Russell Lissack , Gordon Moakes , and Matt Tong...
and Swedish act – Miike Snow
Miike Snow
Miike Snow is a Swedish indie pop band formed in 2007. The band consists of producing team Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg and Andrew Wyatt.-Early years:Miike Snow was formed in 2007 in Stockholm, Sweden....
. Simon Williams, head of Fierce panda
Fierce Panda Records
Fierce Panda Records is a London-based independent record label, with its first release in February 1994. It also produced a small number of releases that year by now famous artists such as Ash, The Bluetones, Baby Bird and Supergrass...
described the band “as the best band he's signed since Radiohead and Coldplay”. Picked up as The Guardian’s New Band of the Day, Best of Myspace Winners, The Independent newspaper’s Barometer: One to Watch and Steve Lamacq’s Favourite New Band. There was radio support from 6 Music, Absolute Radio, BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
aswell as holding the number 1 spot for two weeks on Amazing Radio
Members
- Andy Clutterbuck - Vocals & Guitarist
- James Hatcher - Lead Guitarist and Backing Vocals
- Jack Allinson - Bassist and Backing Vocals
- James Rees-Flynn - Drummer
David Bowie & Tony Visconti
In 2011, the band released a cover of the "Slow BurnSlow Burn (song)
"Slow Burn" is a song written by David Bowie for the album Heathen in 2002. The recording features Pete Townshend on guitar. In June 2002 it was released as a single...
", a song off of the 2002 album - Heathen by David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
. The band received personal endorsement from the legendary producer - Tony Visconti
Tony Visconti
Anthony Edward Visconti is an American record producer and sometimes a musician or singer.Since the late 1960s, he has worked with an array of performers; his lengthiest involvement with any artist is with David Bowie: intermittently from Bowie's 1969 album Space Oddity to 2003's Reality, Visconti...
who had produced and played on the original. It was picked up by David Bowie's official website and listed as an exclusive download. Visconti has worked on numerous albums, working on the majority of releases from David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
, T. Rex (band)
T. Rex (band)
T. Rex were a British rock band, formed in 1967 by singer/songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. The band formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex, releasing four folk albums under the name...
and most recently, the latest Kaiser Chiefs
Kaiser Chiefs
Kaiser Chiefs are an English indie rock band from Leeds who formed in 1996. They were named after the South African football club Kaizer Chiefs....
album The Future Is Medieval
The Future Is Medieval
The Future Is Medieval is the fourth studio album by English rock band Kaiser Chiefs, originally released through their website on 3 June 2011, a physical release was released on 27 June 2011.-Album information:...
.
He said in an interview :
- "When I was given a batch of demos to consider working with Films Of Colour I was struck with how many catchy songs they had written. I was also impressed with the quality of their demos; that they were clever, creative lads was very apparent. But one song stuck out, sounding so familiar yet I didn't really recognise it until the second chorus. I knew the song because I produced it with David Bowie for his 2002 Heathen album release. But Films of Colour had altered it so much they had clearly made it their own. I think Bowie is one of the most difficult artists to cover, since his versions of his own compositions seem to be the definitive versions. After I heard Films of Colour's version I was completely won over."
This endorsement brought the band great exposure and shot the band into the public eye, getting features in the Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
, The Sun, NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
online and Q
Q (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
online hot list.
New releases
In May 2011, the band entered back into Studio 1 at Strongroom Studios, ShoreditchShoreditch
Shoreditch is an area of London within the London Borough of Hackney in England. It is a built-up part of the inner city immediately to the north of the City of London, located east-northeast of Charing Cross.-Etymology:...
with producer Duncan "Pixie" Mills and Tom Bailey to record their next single A-side "Capital" along with B-Side "Persinette". This had its first airplay on Q Radio (July 2011) as well as the Selector Radio show which is broadcasted in over 29 Countries worldwide and to an estimated audience of over 2 million listeners by The British Council. Featured in the Londonist as "the most 'Londony' song", Capital/Persinette is set to be released on July 25, 2011 on Believe Records
In popular media
In October 2010, "Actions" by Films of Colour was used as backing music for Matt CardleMatt Cardle
Matthew Sheridan "Matt" Cardle is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist who rose to fame after winning the seventh series of The X Factor in 2010. He received a £1 million recording contract with Syco Music by winning, and his debut number one single "When We Collide" was released immediately...
in the series of "The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
Festival appearances
Films of Colour have appeared at numerous music festivals nationwide including the Isle of Wight FestivalIsle of Wight Festival
The Isle of Wight Festival is a music festival which takes place every year on the Isle of Wight in England. It was originally held from 1968 to 1970. These original events were promoted and organised by the Foulk brothers under the banner of their company Fiery Creations Limited...
2010, In the City 2010
In The City (festival)
In The City is an annual music industry conference and festival founded by the late Tony Wilson, formerly of Factory Records and Granada Television, and his partner Yvette Livesey....
, The Great Escape 2009
The Great Escape Festival
The Great Escape Festival is a major music festival that covers all genres of music and is held in the city of Brighton every year over 3 days in May. The dates for 2012 are May 10th to 12th. It kick starts the festival season, introducing 15,000 music lovers to the key artists and sounds of the...
, they also headlined a venue on their debut appearance at the 2011 The Camden Crawl. 2011 also saw the band play the mainstage at Y Not Festival
Y Not Festival
The Y Not Festival was born in a small quarry in Derbyshire. A modest scaffold stage and hand-made DJ booth housed the acts, but a new venue was needed to allow expansion. The home of Y Not was moved to Pikehall, Derbyshire.- Y Not Festivals 2011 :...
2011, along with headliners Maxïmo Park
Maxïmo Park
Maxïmo Park are a British alternative rock band, formed in 2000. They are signed to Warp Records. The band consists of Paul Smith , Duncan Lloyd , Archis Tiku , Lukas Wooller and Tom English...
and shared the stage with Fenech-Soler
Fenech-Soler
Fenech-Soler are a British electropop band from Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire that formed in 2006. It consists of four members: Ross Duffy, Ben Duffy, Daniel Soler and Andrew Lindsay. The name Fenech-Soler is taken from Daniel Soler's full surname, which is Maltese...
at Fieldview Festival