Omerta (band)
Encyclopedia
Omerta were an indie rock
band from Manchester
, England
.
The band consisted of:
Omerta combined synths, strings, bleeps and beeps, cutting guitar, and a solid rhythm section to create music that engaged both melodically and lyrically delivered by a heart-rending vocal. Their sound drew comparisons with Radiohead
, Interpol
, and The Killers.
Initially, the band were practicing all the time and writing new songs while learning where their musical influences would take them. By February 2004, they were playing venues across Manchester and the North West while still writing material.
By August 2004, Omerta had recorded their first demo CD
, and while playing in York
, they distributed all the copies they had to the gathered crowd. Positive reviews soon followed and interest in the band became more evident with increased attendance at gigs and requests for music from record companies. Omerta continued to perform live, record and write more material for the next few months.
In February 2005, the band were offered the chance to release their first single
with local indie label, Northern Ambition.
April 2005 saw the band release their debut Double A-side single Everyone is Frozen / Learn to Love the System on a limited 7" run and stockists were forced to restrict purchase to only one copy per customer in the interests of public order. In only three hectic days stocks in Manchester
and London
had disappeared. Fans who were too late made brave bids on eBay
for up to 15 times the disc's original value.
The Everyone is Frozen single was playlisted on XFM
, chosen as record of the week by Claire Sturgess
and recommended by Steve Lamacq
on his BBC 6 Music
show. On being invited to record a live session for XFM
by Sturgess shortly after this first release, they became one of only three unsigned bands to have been bestowed the honour.
In early October 2005 the band released their second single “One Chance” on a limited edition of 400 7” Vinyls and 400 CD’s. Much like the first single, “One Chance” received a mass of radioplay and press, and beat the sell-out time of their debut single into a pulp selling out all copies of “One Chance” across the UK in only one day. In addition the single also went in at Position 36 in the BBC Indie/Rock Official Chart Listing.
Omerta were in XFM's top 5 live sessions of 2005 (which included many signed artists) and they were Piccadilly Records' number 1 Indie Single of 2005 as well as making their list of 2005's best sellers{.
In 2006 the band were writing, recording and playing live across the UK. They also released a single "One More Minute" on Northern Ambition. However, by summer 2007 the band had split, and in 2008 Starkie, Turvin and Ryan formed a new band under the name The Slow Readers Club.
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 from Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The band consisted of:
- Aaron Starkie - lead vocals
- Nick Moylan - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, backing vocals - James Ryan - bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Neil Turvin - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
/percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
.
Omerta combined synths, strings, bleeps and beeps, cutting guitar, and a solid rhythm section to create music that engaged both melodically and lyrically delivered by a heart-rending vocal. Their sound drew comparisons with 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...
, Interpol
Interpol (band)
Interpol is an American indie rock and post-punk revival band from New York City. Formed in 1997, the band's original line-up consisted of Paul Banks , Daniel Kessler , Carlos Dengler and Greg Drudy . Drudy left the band in 2000 and was replaced by Sam Fogarino...
, and The Killers.
History
Omerta formed in 2003 when the 4 members decided to try to make a name for themselves by writing music that they enjoyed playing and listening to. James, Nick, and Neil were the first members of the band, having met one another while at school, they were already good friends and had previously been in a band called Foghead. They met Aaron in 2003 and Omerta was created.Initially, the band were practicing all the time and writing new songs while learning where their musical influences would take them. By February 2004, they were playing venues across Manchester and the North West while still writing material.
By August 2004, Omerta had recorded their first demo CD
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
, and while playing in York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, they distributed all the copies they had to the gathered crowd. Positive reviews soon followed and interest in the band became more evident with increased attendance at gigs and requests for music from record companies. Omerta continued to perform live, record and write more material for the next few months.
In February 2005, the band were offered the chance to release their first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
with local indie label, Northern Ambition.
April 2005 saw the band release their debut Double A-side single Everyone is Frozen / Learn to Love the System on a limited 7" run and stockists were forced to restrict purchase to only one copy per customer in the interests of public order. In only three hectic days stocks in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and 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...
had disappeared. Fans who were too late made brave bids on eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
for up to 15 times the disc's original value.
The Everyone is Frozen single was playlisted on XFM
Xfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
, chosen as record of the week by Claire Sturgess
Claire Sturgess
Claire Sturgess is a British disc jockey, and voiceover artist. She was a presenter on BBC Radio 1 from 1993, after working as a production assistant on the Simon Bates mid-morning show...
and recommended by Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq , sometimes known by his nicknames Lammo or "The Cat" is an English disc jockey, currently working with the BBC radio stations BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2.-Early career:He was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire...
on his BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music is one of the BBC's digital radio stations, was launched on 11 March 2002 and originally codenamed Network Y. It was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in 32 years....
show. On being invited to record a live session for XFM
Xfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
by Sturgess shortly after this first release, they became one of only three unsigned bands to have been bestowed the honour.
In early October 2005 the band released their second single “One Chance” on a limited edition of 400 7” Vinyls and 400 CD’s. Much like the first single, “One Chance” received a mass of radioplay and press, and beat the sell-out time of their debut single into a pulp selling out all copies of “One Chance” across the UK in only one day. In addition the single also went in at Position 36 in the BBC Indie/Rock Official Chart Listing.
Omerta were in XFM's top 5 live sessions of 2005 (which included many signed artists) and they were Piccadilly Records' number 1 Indie Single of 2005 as well as making their list of 2005's best sellers{.
In 2006 the band were writing, recording and playing live across the UK. They also released a single "One More Minute" on Northern Ambition. However, by summer 2007 the band had split, and in 2008 Starkie, Turvin and Ryan formed a new band under the name The Slow Readers Club.
External links
- Omerta on Myspace Music
- Official website of The Slow Readers Club