Rollerskates (band)
Encyclopedia
Rollerskates are a five piece indie pop
band originating from Perth
, Western Australia
. Rollerskates mix of electronic sounds, tight dance music, hip-hop undertones, rock elements and touches of funk have seen this five piece grow into a popular music group in Perth
.
's) for 'Most Promising New Band' and 'Best Funk Act'. In 2001 the band released their first EP Tell Your Mother To Tell Her Friends. The EP was released by local record label, QStik Records and distributed nationally through MGM Distribution
. It received support from community radio stations across Australia, as well as Triple J
exposure with live performances on 'The Oz Music Show' and 'Hip Hop Show'. Rollerskates were named as Triple J
's first Australian Music 'New Wave' band for Ausmusic Month in November 2001.
This exposure helped the band reach a whole new audience nationwide, as well as solidifying their already growing fan base at home. This was boosted by Rollerskates reaching the final round of Channel [V
]'s Leg Up Competition.
Inspired by the performance of the first EP, Rollerskates moved back into the recording studio with well known engineer/producer Shaun O'Callaghan (Eskimo Joe
/Gyroscope
/John Butler Trio
). The result was the well received and popular EP The Movement. The Movement EP was launched in March 2002 at Perth
's Globe Entertainment Complex and featured support performances by the likes of On Inc and Jedi Master J from 28 Days
. The EP in addition to the seven tracks provided a multimedia component in a unique case.
, as well as receiving airplay on radio stations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. The entertaining music video for "The Movement" received national airplay on ABC
's Rage
, Channel [V
] and MTV
and was awarded Best Local Music Video at the 2002 WAMi
Awards.
In 2002 they performed at the Perth leg of The Big Day Out. Rollerskates then embarked on their first East Coast Tour in July 2002, playing to moderate sized crowds in Melbourne and Sydney, as well as a sell out crowd at SJ's in Newcastle
, where they (for the second time) supported Machine Gun Fellatio
. Continuing on from this exposure Rollerskates were invited to play at 'Music Business Adelaide', impressing industry types from all over the country with their live performance.
], Rage
(ABC
) and Saturday Morning Fly (ABC
). Rollerskates received a further three nominations at the 2003 WAMi awards for 'Most Popular Local Original Live Act', 'Most Popular Local Original Live Electronic Act' and 'Most Popular Local Original Urban Music Act'. Not long after, the band embarked on its second East Coast Tour in early 2004, this time incorporating Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra
, Wagga Wagga
, Albury
and Sydney.
The band then performed again at the Perth Big Day Out
in 2004. Rollerskates have been the supporting band for a number of well-known national artists including Gerling
, Jebediah
, Magic Dirt
, Machine Gun Fellatio
, One Dollar Short
, Resin Dogs
, pre.shrunk
and Regurgitator
.
putting it on its 'Hitlist', giving it high rotation and further raising the profile of the band.
In May 2006 the band released the second single, "Picture Book", followed by Rekkid in October, 2007.
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
band originating from Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. Rollerskates mix of electronic sounds, tight dance music, hip-hop undertones, rock elements and touches of funk have seen this five piece grow into a popular music group in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
.
Early years
Rollerskates were formed in 1998 when Stephen Callan (Stevie C), David Namour (Rufus) and Jordan Johnstone (Jordy) released an 20 track recording under the name Rollerskates, essentially a collection of samples and Casio keyboards. In order to recreate the tunes live they added Moflo Leigh and Gabriel Nicotra to the band. Within a year of their formation, Rollerskates had won two Western Australian Music Industry Awards (WAMiWest Australian Music Industry Awards
The Western Australian Music Industry Awards are annual awards presented to the local contemporary music industry, put on by the Western Australian Music Industry Association Inc...
's) for 'Most Promising New Band' and 'Best Funk Act'. In 2001 the band released their first EP Tell Your Mother To Tell Her Friends. The EP was released by local record label, QStik Records and distributed nationally through MGM Distribution
MGM Distribution
MGM Distribution is the largest independent distributor of Australian music and music related merchandise and was established in April 1998 by Sebastian Chase....
. It received support from community radio stations across Australia, as well as Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
exposure with live performances on 'The Oz Music Show' and 'Hip Hop Show'. Rollerskates were named as Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
's first Australian Music 'New Wave' band for Ausmusic Month in November 2001.
This exposure helped the band reach a whole new audience nationwide, as well as solidifying their already growing fan base at home. This was boosted by Rollerskates reaching the final round of Channel [V
Channel V
Channel [V] is the brand name for multiple international music television networks owned by STAR TV and Fox International Channels, fully owned subsidiaries of News Corporation.-Channel [V] International:...
]'s Leg Up Competition.
Inspired by the performance of the first EP, Rollerskates moved back into the recording studio with well known engineer/producer Shaun O'Callaghan (Eskimo Joe
Eskimo Joe
Eskimo Joe is an Australian alternative rock band formed by Stuart MacLeod on guitars, Joel Quartermain on drums and guitar and Kavyen Temperley on bass guitar and vocals, in East Fremantle, Western Australia in 1997....
/Gyroscope
Gyroscope (band)
Gyroscope is an Australian rock band from Perth, Western Australia, formed in 1997. The band comprises vocalist and guitarist Daniel Sanders, guitarist and back up vocalist Zoran Trivic, bassist and back up vocalist Brad Campbell and drummer Rob Nassif....
/John Butler Trio
John Butler Trio
The John Butler Trio are an eclectic roots and jam band from Australia led by guitarist and vocalist John Butler. They formed in Fremantle in 1998 with Jason McGann on drums and Gavin Shoesmith on bass guitar...
). The result was the well received and popular EP The Movement. The Movement EP was launched in March 2002 at Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
's Globe Entertainment Complex and featured support performances by the likes of On Inc and Jedi Master J from 28 Days
28 Days
28 Days are a punk rock band formed in Bacchus Marsh, Australia during 1997. At their career peak, they had a #1 album on the Australian ARIAnet Albums Chart and also a #12 single on the ARIAnet Singles Chart....
. The EP in addition to the seven tracks provided a multimedia component in a unique case.
The Movement
The Movement EP marked a bigger and better level for the band, with three songs off the CD, "The Movement", "Half A Loaf Of Funk - Remix" and "H.A.R.M" being added to national rotation on Triple JTriple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
, as well as receiving airplay on radio stations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. The entertaining music video for "The Movement" received national airplay on ABC
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
's Rage
Rage (TV program)
Rage is a popular all-night Australian music video program broadcast on ABC1 on Friday nights, Saturday mornings and Saturday nights. It was first screened on the weekend of Friday, 17 April 1987. With Soul Train no longer being produced, it is the oldest music television program currently still...
, Channel [V
Channel V
Channel [V] is the brand name for multiple international music television networks owned by STAR TV and Fox International Channels, fully owned subsidiaries of News Corporation.-Channel [V] International:...
] and MTV
MTV Australia
MTV Australia is 24 hour general entertainment channel specialising in music and youth culture programming which serves Australia and New Zealand. It is operated by Viacom International Media Networks Australia owned by Viacom and primarily features imported shows as well as locally produced...
and was awarded Best Local Music Video at the 2002 WAMi
West Australian Music Industry Awards
The Western Australian Music Industry Awards are annual awards presented to the local contemporary music industry, put on by the Western Australian Music Industry Association Inc...
Awards.
In 2002 they performed at the Perth leg of The Big Day Out. Rollerskates then embarked on their first East Coast Tour in July 2002, playing to moderate sized crowds in Melbourne and Sydney, as well as a sell out crowd at SJ's in Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, where they (for the second time) supported Machine Gun Fellatio
Machine Gun Fellatio
Machine Gun Fellatio was an Australian alternative rock band, formed in 1997. They were well-known for their provocative on-stage antics and humorous lyrics, as well as the musical merit of their songs. Their outrage-provoking name gives some idea of the attitude that pervades the band's work...
. Continuing on from this exposure Rollerskates were invited to play at 'Music Business Adelaide', impressing industry types from all over the country with their live performance.
Polyether 1944
Polyether 1944, with its eerie, space-like vibe was the bands third release, gaining immediate rotation all over the country in 2003. The music video for "Polyether 1944" with its innovative use of animated effects was played on Channel [VChannel V
Channel [V] is the brand name for multiple international music television networks owned by STAR TV and Fox International Channels, fully owned subsidiaries of News Corporation.-Channel [V] International:...
], Rage
Rage (TV program)
Rage is a popular all-night Australian music video program broadcast on ABC1 on Friday nights, Saturday mornings and Saturday nights. It was first screened on the weekend of Friday, 17 April 1987. With Soul Train no longer being produced, it is the oldest music television program currently still...
(ABC
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
) and Saturday Morning Fly (ABC
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
). Rollerskates received a further three nominations at the 2003 WAMi awards for 'Most Popular Local Original Live Act', 'Most Popular Local Original Live Electronic Act' and 'Most Popular Local Original Urban Music Act'. Not long after, the band embarked on its second East Coast Tour in early 2004, this time incorporating Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, Wagga Wagga
Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
Wagga Wagga is a city in New South Wales, Australia. Straddling the Murrumbidgee River, and with an urban population of 46,735 people, Wagga Wagga is the state's largest inland city, as well as an important agricultural, military, and transport hub of Australia...
, Albury
Albury, New South Wales
Albury is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia, located on the Hume Highway on the northern side of the Murray River. It is located wholly within the boundaries of the City of Albury Local Government Area...
and Sydney.
The band then performed again at the Perth Big Day Out
Big Day Out
The Big Day Out is an annual music festival held in several cities in Australia and New Zealand in late January. It started in Sydney in 1992, spread to Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth by 1993, with the Gold Coast and Auckland joining in 1994...
in 2004. Rollerskates have been the supporting band for a number of well-known national artists including Gerling
Gerling
Gerling were an alternative guitar and electronic act from Australia. They formed in 1993, and are based in Sydney.-History:The band formed in 1993 with the line-up of Darren Cross , Presser and Brad Herdson...
, Jebediah
Jebediah
Jebediah is an Australian alternative rock band formed in 1994 in Perth, Western Australia. The group consists of vocalist and guitarist Kevin Mitchell, guitarist Chris Daymond, bassist Vanessa Thornton, and Kevin's brother Brett Mitchell on drums...
, Magic Dirt
Magic Dirt
Magic Dirt are an Australian rock band, which formed in 1991 in Geelong, Victoria, with Daniel Herring on guitar, Adam Robertson on drums, Adalita Srsen on vocals and guitar, and Dean Turner on bass guitar. Initially known as Deer Bubbles and then The Jim Jims, they were renamed as Magic Dirt in...
, Machine Gun Fellatio
Machine Gun Fellatio
Machine Gun Fellatio was an Australian alternative rock band, formed in 1997. They were well-known for their provocative on-stage antics and humorous lyrics, as well as the musical merit of their songs. Their outrage-provoking name gives some idea of the attitude that pervades the band's work...
, One Dollar Short
One Dollar Short
One Dollar Short were an Australian punk rock band. Formed in 1998, and hailing from Terrigal in New South Wales' Central Coast region, members included Michael Smith , Trent Crawford , Tim Flaherty , Adam Check and Scott E. Woods...
, Resin Dogs
Resin Dogs
Resin Dogs are a Brisbane, Australia-based hip hop band, originally formed in 1996. Resin Dogs are a loose collective, a cut and paste sample band who use live drums, live bass, and elements of hip hop via turntables and samplers to create all forms of ritual dance sounds...
, pre.shrunk
Pre.shrunk
pre.shrunk is an ARIA nominated Melbourne based rock band consisting of two bass players and a drummer.-Discography:*Exhibit [A] ep *Sudden Blinding Certainty ep - Redcap Records*"Triple A Side" single - Black Yak...
and Regurgitator
Regurgitator
Regurgitator are an Australian rock band from Brisbane, currently consisting of Quan Yeomans , Ben Ely and Peter Kostic . The band formed in 1994, its original line-up consisting of Yeomans, Ely and drummer Martin Lee...
.
New Album
The band then undertook a brief hiatus, working on new material for their debut album, Rekkid. The first single, released from the album, in early 2005 was "Gettit". It received significant nationwide attention with Triple JTriple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
putting it on its 'Hitlist', giving it high rotation and further raising the profile of the band.
In May 2006 the band released the second single, "Picture Book", followed by Rekkid in October, 2007.
Band members
- Mofloleigh - Vocals / Samples
- Jordan Johnston - guitar/vocals
- David Namour - bass
- Stephen Callan - keyboards/vocals
- Gabriel Nicotra - drums/percussion
EP's
- Tell Your Mother To Tell Her Friends - QStik Records/MGM (1 May 2001)
- The Movement - QStik Records/MGM (2 April 2002)
Singles
- "Polyether 1944" - (2003)
- "Seventy Pie" - (2004)
- "Gettit" - (2005)
- "Picture Book" - QStik Records/MGM DistributionMGM DistributionMGM Distribution is the largest independent distributor of Australian music and music related merchandise and was established in April 1998 by Sebastian Chase....
(2006)
Trivia
- Steve Callan, Gabriel Nicotra and David Namour also play in Perth band The Panda BandThe Panda BandThe Panda Band are an indie pop band originating from Perth, Western Australia. They have a reputation for combining numerous musical genres. They have toured nationally as support acts for bands such as The Sleepy Jackson, Little Birdy, The Grates and Evermore.-Biography:The band originally...
.