Bôa
Encyclopedia
Bôa are a British alternative
/indie
band formed in London
in 1993 by drummer Ed Herten.
Their latest album, Get There, was released on February 1, 2005. It took Bôa in a new direction, with more structure in lyrics and melody, as well as a more mellow, yet more harder-edged/indie-rock format. It also had more acoustic elements than the first album.
band formed in 1993 by drummer Ed Herten, keyboardist Paul Turrell and Steve Rodgers on guitar and vocals.
Alex Caird, who had played with Ed in another band Draggin' Bones, was soon recruited on bass guitar. Steve's younger sister, Jasmine Rodgers, was invited to sing the chorus part of one of their first songs called "Fran", and she soon became the lead singer of the group. Ben Henderson, who had played with Alex in the band Doctor Sky, was recruited shortly afterwards to play saxophone.
Their first live performance was in January 1994 at the London Forum
supporting Steve and Jasmine's father, classic rock
singer Paul Rodgers
(of Free
& Bad Company
fame). In the summer of the same year, Ed Herten decided to leave the band to concentrate on his studies, and they recruited a new drummer, Lee Sullivan
. Lee Sullivan is the son of Terry Sullivan, drummer in the band Renaissance. Lee brought a rockier feel to the group's sound which complemented a natural progression away from funk by the band and a migration from saxophone to guitar by Ben Henderson. In 2000, Ben Henderson left the band to concentrate on his other band, Moth
, with his wife, singer songwriter Tina. BoA continued to perform live and in September 2002, they held a live performance at the Hammersmith Apollo (London) and received strong acolades for their performance.
Bôa honed their live performances with many gigs in across the South of England and, in 1996, they accepted a recording contract with a Japanese Company, Polystar. Although the album was recorded and produced in England, Jasmine and Steve traveled to Japan
in 1998 to promote the debut album Race of the Thousand Camels, which was released only in that country.
While signed with Polystar, the band released their first single in 1998, called "Duvet". It was an instant success in Japan and became the opening theme of the anime
series Serial Experiments Lain
. "Duvet" was also on the 1998 album Race of a Thousand Camels in Japan. Race of a Thousand Camels was retitled to Twilight
and then released to a US audience in 2001 by Pioneer Music. Tall Snake EP
was also released by Polystar in 2000. Duvet was remixed] and in October 2003 was released on another Lain soundtrack titled the Serial Experiment Lain Soundtrack: Cyberia Mix. The band also released a video to go with the single which is reported to be filmed on top of the roof of Lee Sullivan
's flat.
The band then began touring more extensively and used this time to gain inspiration for their next album. Then, Bôa signed to Geneon
(formerly Pioneer), U.S. distributors of Lain, and went to perform a live concert at the Otakon
convention in the same year, being well-received. In 2001, Bôa released their U.S. debut album called Twilight, on Pioneer's label by Todd Culberhouse with songs from their original Japanese album plus other new tracks, and made their first mini-tour in Los Angeles
to promote the album. But in that year they had another loss: Paul Turrell left the band to pursue other interests.
By 2003, the band decided to establish their own recording label, called BoA Recordings. They then returned to the recording studio which resulted in their next successful album titled Get There which was released independently by BoA Recordings in 2004. The band started to record their third album in 2003 but was released in 2005, called Get There, and is on sale the iTunes Store
. However, both their albums Twilight and Get There can be found on their official distributor CD Baby.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
/indie
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band formed in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1993 by drummer Ed Herten.
Their latest album, Get There, was released on February 1, 2005. It took Bôa in a new direction, with more structure in lyrics and melody, as well as a more mellow, yet more harder-edged/indie-rock format. It also had more acoustic elements than the first album.
Biography
Bôa were originally a funkFunk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
band formed in 1993 by drummer Ed Herten, keyboardist Paul Turrell and Steve Rodgers on guitar and vocals.
Alex Caird, who had played with Ed in another band Draggin' Bones, was soon recruited on bass guitar. Steve's younger sister, Jasmine Rodgers, was invited to sing the chorus part of one of their first songs called "Fran", and she soon became the lead singer of the group. Ben Henderson, who had played with Alex in the band Doctor Sky, was recruited shortly afterwards to play saxophone.
Their first live performance was in January 1994 at the London Forum
London Forum
The London Forum, or sometimes Kentish Town Forum is a well-known venue for concerts in Kentish Town, London, United Kingdom owned by the MAMA Group. The venue was built in 1934 and was originally used as an art deco cinema. After the closure of the cinema, The Town & Country Club was established...
supporting Steve and Jasmine's father, classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
singer Paul Rodgers
Paul Rodgers
Paul Bernard Rodgers is an English rock singer-songwriter, best known for his success in the 1970s as a member of Free and Bad Company. After stints in two less successful bands in the 1980s and early 1990s, The Firm and The Law, he became a solo artist. He has recently toured and recorded with...
(of Free
Free (band)
Free were an English rock band, formed in London in 1968, best known for their 1970 signature song "All Right Now". They disbanded in 1973 and lead singer Paul Rodgers went on to become a frontman of the band Bad Company along with Simon Kirke on drums; lead guitarist Paul Kossoff died from a...
& Bad Company
Bad Company
Bad Company were an English rock supergroup founded in 1973, consisting of two former Free band members — singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke — as well as Mott the Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs and King Crimson bassist Boz Burrell. Peter Grant, who, in years prior, was a key component of...
fame). In the summer of the same year, Ed Herten decided to leave the band to concentrate on his studies, and they recruited a new drummer, Lee Sullivan
Lee Sullivan
Lee Terence Sullivan is the drummer for the London based alternative rock band Bôa. Lee is the son of Terry Sullivan, the drummer for the rock band Renaissance.-References:...
. Lee Sullivan is the son of Terry Sullivan, drummer in the band Renaissance. Lee brought a rockier feel to the group's sound which complemented a natural progression away from funk by the band and a migration from saxophone to guitar by Ben Henderson. In 2000, Ben Henderson left the band to concentrate on his other band, Moth
Moth (band)
Moth is a U.S. alternative rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio formed in 1989. The band has released five albums including a major label release on Virgin Records. They have done live performances on The Late Late Show, AOL, and Mancow's Morning Madhouse, numerous national tours and a UK tour...
, with his wife, singer songwriter Tina. BoA continued to perform live and in September 2002, they held a live performance at the Hammersmith Apollo (London) and received strong acolades for their performance.
Bôa honed their live performances with many gigs in across the South of England and, in 1996, they accepted a recording contract with a Japanese Company, Polystar. Although the album was recorded and produced in England, Jasmine and Steve traveled to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in 1998 to promote the debut album Race of the Thousand Camels, which was released only in that country.
While signed with Polystar, the band released their first single in 1998, called "Duvet". It was an instant success in Japan and became the opening theme of the anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series Serial Experiments Lain
Serial Experiments Lain
Serial Experiments Lain is an anime series directed by Ryutaro Nakamura, original character design by Yoshitoshi ABe, screenplay written by Chiaki J. Konaka, and produced by Yasuyuki Ueda for Triangle Staff. It was broadcast on TV Tokyo from July to September 1998...
. "Duvet" was also on the 1998 album Race of a Thousand Camels in Japan. Race of a Thousand Camels was retitled to Twilight
Twilight (Bôa album)
Twilight is an album by Bôa, released in 2000. During the release of this album, the band had six members ....
and then released to a US audience in 2001 by Pioneer Music. Tall Snake EP
Tall Snake EP
Tall Snake is the first EP by Bôa. It was released on April 28, 1999. It contains three versions of the single "Duvet". They include the original version, an acoustic version, and an electronic version mixed by DJ Wasei. It also includes two non-album songs....
was also released by Polystar in 2000. Duvet was remixed] and in October 2003 was released on another Lain soundtrack titled the Serial Experiment Lain Soundtrack: Cyberia Mix. The band also released a video to go with the single which is reported to be filmed on top of the roof of Lee Sullivan
Lee Sullivan
Lee Terence Sullivan is the drummer for the London based alternative rock band Bôa. Lee is the son of Terry Sullivan, the drummer for the rock band Renaissance.-References:...
's flat.
The band then began touring more extensively and used this time to gain inspiration for their next album. Then, Bôa signed to Geneon
Geneon
is a Japanese music, anime and home entertainment production and distribution enterprise headquartered in Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Geneon has been involved in the production and distribution of several anime in Japan...
(formerly Pioneer), U.S. distributors of Lain, and went to perform a live concert at the Otakon
Otakon
Otakon is a fan convention in the United States focusing on East Asian popular culture and its fandom. The name is a portmanteau derived from convention and the Japanese word otaku...
convention in the same year, being well-received. In 2001, Bôa released their U.S. debut album called Twilight, on Pioneer's label by Todd Culberhouse with songs from their original Japanese album plus other new tracks, and made their first mini-tour in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to promote the album. But in that year they had another loss: Paul Turrell left the band to pursue other interests.
By 2003, the band decided to establish their own recording label, called BoA Recordings. They then returned to the recording studio which resulted in their next successful album titled Get There which was released independently by BoA Recordings in 2004. The band started to record their third album in 2003 but was released in 2005, called Get There, and is on sale the iTunes Store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
. However, both their albums Twilight and Get There can be found on their official distributor CD Baby.
Current lineup
- Jasmine Rodgers – lead vocals, acoustic guitars, percussion
- Steve Rodgers – electric and acoustic guitars, vocals
- Alex Caird – bass guitars
- Lee SullivanLee SullivanLee Terence Sullivan is the drummer for the London based alternative rock band Bôa. Lee is the son of Terry Sullivan, the drummer for the rock band Renaissance.-References:...
– drums, percussion, keyboards
Former members
- Paul Turrell – composer, keyboards, strings arrangements, percussion, electric guitars on Race of a Thousand Camels and Twilight albums and Tall Snake EP
- Ben Henderson – composer, electric and acoustic guitars, saxophone, percussion on Race of a Thousand Camels and Twilight albums and Tall Snake EP
Session musicians
- Sue Baker – 1st violin
- Jude Gonella – 2nd violin
- Kate Wills – viola
- Hannah Birch – cello
Discography
- Duvet (1997)
- The Race of a Thousand Camels (1998)
- Serial Experiemnts of Lain OST 'Duvet' (1998)
- Tall Snake EPTall Snake EPTall Snake is the first EP by Bôa. It was released on April 28, 1999. It contains three versions of the single "Duvet". They include the original version, an acoustic version, and an electronic version mixed by DJ Wasei. It also includes two non-album songs....
(1999) - TwilightTwilight (Bôa album)Twilight is an album by Bôa, released in 2000. During the release of this album, the band had six members ....
(2001) - Serial Experiment Lain Soundtrack: Cyberia Mix 'Duvet remix'Serial Experiments LainSerial Experiments Lain is an anime series directed by Ryutaro Nakamura, original character design by Yoshitoshi ABe, screenplay written by Chiaki J. Konaka, and produced by Yasuyuki Ueda for Triangle Staff. It was broadcast on TV Tokyo from July to September 1998...
(2003) - Get There (2005)