Rosita (band)
Encyclopedia
Rosita was a band
formed by Marie Du Santiago
and Emmy-Kate Montrose, formerly one-half of the much-championed Kenickie
in the immediate aftermath of Kenickie's split in October 1998. Although best remembered as a Kenickie offshoot, their second single Santa Poca's Dream was a UK Independent Singles Chart
Top 20 hit and one of its bonus tracks Demon would be used as the soundtrack to a television advertisement for Leyland DAF
Vans.
immediately after the final Kenickie gig for a headline story on the breakup, DuSantiago and Montrose announced their plans for a "multimedia extravaganza" to consist of a record label, a clubnight and some new music of their own. While the label apparently never materialised and the clubnight was the short-lived Shimmy (in Soho
's Gerrard Street
), the new music component materialized as their new band Rosita.
The new band was unveiled in March 1999 - as a major news item with both the NME and Melody Maker- with a line-up of Du Santiago on lead vocals and rhythm guitar and Montrose on bass and backing vocals. Completing the line-up were, on guitar, Matt McGinn - (not the singer/songwriter of the same name
) who was previously a guitar technician for Kenickie and Paddy Pulzer
, formerly of Swervedriver
(and concurrently with Jack
) on drums. Dot Allan, Kenickie's former live keyboard player, was also initially involved but dropped out after the band's debut mini tour of southeast England.
Shortly after the tour, the band released a debut single 'Live It Down' on the Rough Trade Shop
subsidiary 'For Us'. They recorded a session of five songs (including the single) for BBC Radio 1
's Evening Session programme hosted by Steve Lamacq
, transmitted Monday 23rd - Thursday 26 August 1999. They also contributed one track (the anthemic "Sugar") on Fierce Panda compilation Otter Than July later that summer. At around this time, an official fanclub was set up by the band and run by their friend Lucy Madison, which at its peak had over 100 members.
On 25 October 1999, Rosita performed live in concert on the Evening Session show from Liverpool's Royal Court Theatre, in a support slot for Cast
(whose headline slot was also broadcast) as part of Radio 1's Sound City event. Rosita subsequently signed to Zubizaretta, a subsidiary of the Beastie Boys
' Grand Royal
record label. In April 2000, the label put out Rosita's second single, the Santa Poca's Dream EP, which hit #17 in the UK Indie singles chart. The track 'Demon', a Heavy Metal
-style instrumental
, was featured on a TV advertisement for Leyland DAF Vans and would reappear in 2002 on a BBC trailer for BBC Choice
's rescreenings of the TV series 24
. To promote the single, Rosita went on a six date headline tour of the UK, supported by fellow Grand Royal artists Mika Bomb
. On the final night of the tour, Mika Bomb joined Rosita onstage for their anthem 'Hey Hey Baby'. A video tour diary was filmed but apparently never screened for Channel 4's late night 4Music slot.
Following the collapse of Grand Royal and the departure of McGinn, Rosita played two further gigs in 2001 - the '$ukifun' festival in April and a concert at the Arts Café in London in August. The two dates featured new keyboardist Sarah McKeown and new guitarist Adrian Lobb of the band Vermont. In September 2001 Rosita announced their split, citing a wish to try other things in life than being in a band. After the split, DuSantiago and Montrose continued to DJ together, most notably at the Stay Beautiful club in early 2002. Otherwise, DuSantiago dropped out of music to concentrate on her day job until 2007 when, returning to the Northeast and reverting back to her real name Marie Nixon, she joined folk quartet The Cornshed Sisters. Nixon also appeared, along with McKeown, on Field Music
offshoot School Of Language
's 2008 album Sea From Shore.
Montrose also reverted back to her real name, Emma Jackson, and formed female synth trio The Pictures with McKeown and producer Isabel Waidner who gigged sporadically in 2002-03, including one 2003 London support slot for former Elastica
guitarist Donna Mathews
' band Klang (of which Waidner was also a member), which was reviewed by the Guardian. Since then, Jackson has occasionally played bass with the band Snakes And Ladders, and she and Waidner co-edited the journal The High Horse which ran for 10 editions from 2005 to 2007.
Matt McGinn, meanwhile, returned to his old employment as a guitar technician, eventually working for Coldplay. In 2010, Roadie, McGinn's memoir of his time working for Coldplay, was published by Anova Books
' Portico imprint.
(also contains tracks by Scribble, Fraff, Pop Threat, Hofman and Mo-Ho-Bish-O-Pi
)
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
formed by Marie Du Santiago
Kenickie
Kenickie were a four-piece rock band from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England. The band were formed in 1994 and consisted of lead vocalist, guitarist and lyricist Lauren Laverne , drummer Johnny X , lead guitarist and occasional vocalist Marie du Santiago and bass guitarist Emmy-Kate Montrose...
and Emmy-Kate Montrose, formerly one-half of the much-championed Kenickie
Kenickie
Kenickie were a four-piece rock band from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England. The band were formed in 1994 and consisted of lead vocalist, guitarist and lyricist Lauren Laverne , drummer Johnny X , lead guitarist and occasional vocalist Marie du Santiago and bass guitarist Emmy-Kate Montrose...
in the immediate aftermath of Kenickie's split in October 1998. Although best remembered as a Kenickie offshoot, their second single Santa Poca's Dream was a UK Independent Singles Chart
UK Indie Chart
The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
Top 20 hit and one of its bonus tracks Demon would be used as the soundtrack to a television advertisement for Leyland DAF
Leyland DAF
Leyland DAF was a commercial vehicle manufacturing company based in the United Kingdom, and a division of DAF NV. In 1993 DAF NV became insolvent and Leyland DAF went into receivership.-History:...
Vans.
History
Interviewed by Melody MakerMelody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
immediately after the final Kenickie gig for a headline story on the breakup, DuSantiago and Montrose announced their plans for a "multimedia extravaganza" to consist of a record label, a clubnight and some new music of their own. While the label apparently never materialised and the clubnight was the short-lived Shimmy (in Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
's Gerrard Street
Gerrard Street
There are several streets called Gerrard Street, including:*Gerrard Street in London, United Kingdom.*Gerrard Street in Toronto, Canada....
), the new music component materialized as their new band Rosita.
The new band was unveiled in March 1999 - as a major news item with both the NME and Melody Maker- with a line-up of Du Santiago on lead vocals and rhythm guitar and Montrose on bass and backing vocals. Completing the line-up were, on guitar, Matt McGinn - (not the singer/songwriter of the same name
Matt McGinn
Matt McGinn was a Scottish folk singer-songwriter and poet.Matthew McGinn was born in Ross Street at the corner of the Gallowgate in Calton, Glasgow in 1928, one of a family of nine. At the age of 12 he was sent to an approved school for two years...
) who was previously a guitar technician for Kenickie and Paddy Pulzer
Paddy Pulzer
Patrick Pulzer is a drummer/percussionist from Oxford, England who has been in numerous British indie bands. He started out in 1984 with the band Shake Appeal, who eventually evolved into Swervedriver after Pulzer's departure. Pulzer left Shake Appeal in 1989 to join the band Jack. He has also...
, formerly of Swervedriver
Swervedriver
Swervedriver are an English alternative rock band from Oxford. The band went on hiatus in 1998 before reforming in 2008 for a world tour, which included a performance at the high-profile Coachella Festival...
(and concurrently with Jack
Jack (band)
Jack were a British alternative rock band formed in Cardiff, Wales, in 1992. Their orchestral pop was heavily influenced by artists such as Scott Walker and drew comparisons to Pulp, Tindersticks and The Divine Comedy...
) on drums. Dot Allan, Kenickie's former live keyboard player, was also initially involved but dropped out after the band's debut mini tour of southeast England.
Shortly after the tour, the band released a debut single 'Live It Down' on the Rough Trade Shop
Rough Trade Shop
Rough Trade are two independent record shops based in London, UK.The first Rough Trade shop was opened in 1976 by Geoff Travis in the Portobello Road district of west London. In 1978 the shop spawned the famous Rough Trade Records, which was to go on to be home to bands from The Smiths to The...
subsidiary 'For Us'. They recorded a session of five songs (including the single) for BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
's Evening Session programme hosted 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...
, transmitted Monday 23rd - Thursday 26 August 1999. They also contributed one track (the anthemic "Sugar") on Fierce Panda compilation Otter Than July later that summer. At around this time, an official fanclub was set up by the band and run by their friend Lucy Madison, which at its peak had over 100 members.
On 25 October 1999, Rosita performed live in concert on the Evening Session show from Liverpool's Royal Court Theatre, in a support slot for Cast
Cast (band)
Cast are an English rock band from Liverpool, formed in 1992 by John Power and Peter Wilkinson after Power left The La's and Wilkinson's former band Shack had split...
(whose headline slot was also broadcast) as part of Radio 1's Sound City event. Rosita subsequently signed to Zubizaretta, a subsidiary of the Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
' Grand Royal
Grand Royal
Grand Royal was the Los Angeles, California based vanity record label set up in 1992 by the Beastie Boys in conjunction with Capitol Records after the group left Def Jam Recordings....
record label. In April 2000, the label put out Rosita's second single, the Santa Poca's Dream EP, which hit #17 in the UK Indie singles chart. The track 'Demon', a Heavy Metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
-style instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
, was featured on a TV advertisement for Leyland DAF Vans and would reappear in 2002 on a BBC trailer for BBC Choice
BBC Choice
BBC Choice was a BBC TV station which launched on 23 September 1998 and closed on 9 February 2003. It was the first British TV channel to broadcast exclusively in digital format, and was the first new channel from the BBC since BBC Two launched in 1964...
's rescreenings of the TV series 24
24 (TV series)
24 is an American television series produced for the Fox Network and syndicated worldwide, starring Kiefer Sutherland as Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer. Each 24-episode season covers 24 hours in the life of Bauer, using the real time method of narration...
. To promote the single, Rosita went on a six date headline tour of the UK, supported by fellow Grand Royal artists Mika Bomb
Mika Bomb
Mika Bomb is a London-based, Japanese pop-punk band.Lead singer Mika Handa arrived in London in 1998, with the goal of playing in a punk band. Recruitment for the band began with the arrival in London of the guitarist Agi , who now sings in the electronic duo, Long Kuan Jiu Duan...
. On the final night of the tour, Mika Bomb joined Rosita onstage for their anthem 'Hey Hey Baby'. A video tour diary was filmed but apparently never screened for Channel 4's late night 4Music slot.
Following the collapse of Grand Royal and the departure of McGinn, Rosita played two further gigs in 2001 - the '$ukifun' festival in April and a concert at the Arts Café in London in August. The two dates featured new keyboardist Sarah McKeown and new guitarist Adrian Lobb of the band Vermont. In September 2001 Rosita announced their split, citing a wish to try other things in life than being in a band. After the split, DuSantiago and Montrose continued to DJ together, most notably at the Stay Beautiful club in early 2002. Otherwise, DuSantiago dropped out of music to concentrate on her day job until 2007 when, returning to the Northeast and reverting back to her real name Marie Nixon, she joined folk quartet The Cornshed Sisters. Nixon also appeared, along with McKeown, on Field Music
Field Music
Field Music are a band from Sunderland, England who formed in 2004. The band's core consists of brothers David and Peter Brewis , with Andrew Moore. Their line-ups have at times featured members of both Maxïmo Park and The Futureheads...
offshoot School Of Language
Field Music
Field Music are a band from Sunderland, England who formed in 2004. The band's core consists of brothers David and Peter Brewis , with Andrew Moore. Their line-ups have at times featured members of both Maxïmo Park and The Futureheads...
's 2008 album Sea From Shore.
Montrose also reverted back to her real name, Emma Jackson, and formed female synth trio The Pictures with McKeown and producer Isabel Waidner who gigged sporadically in 2002-03, including one 2003 London support slot for former Elastica
Elastica
Elastica were an English alternative rock band that played punk rock-influenced music. They were best known for their 1995 album Elastica, which produced singles that charted in the US and the UK.-History:...
guitarist Donna Mathews
Donna Matthews
Donna Matthews was the lead guitarist of the Britpop band, Elastica.Matthews left Elastica in 1999. In May 2004, Matthews' new band, Klang, released their debut album, No Sound is Heard...
' band Klang (of which Waidner was also a member), which was reviewed by the Guardian. Since then, Jackson has occasionally played bass with the band Snakes And Ladders, and she and Waidner co-edited the journal The High Horse which ran for 10 editions from 2005 to 2007.
Matt McGinn, meanwhile, returned to his old employment as a guitar technician, eventually working for Coldplay. In 2010, Roadie, McGinn's memoir of his time working for Coldplay, was published by Anova Books
Anova Books
Anova Books is a UK-based publishing company founded in 2005, with the acquisition of the Chrysalis Books Group from the Chrysalis Group. Since its inception, the firm has acquired or created several other imprints...
' Portico imprint.
Singles
- Live It Down (For Us, FU 009, 1999, 7" vinyl only)
- "Live It Down"
- "If You've Heard" (listed on sleeve as "If You've Not Heard")
- Santa Poca's Dream EP (Zubizaretta, ZUB006CD, 2000, CD & 7" vinyl) - #17 in UK Indie Singles ChartUK Indie ChartThe UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
- "Santa Poca's Dream"
- "Down Here" (previously known at live gigs as "Waiting For You")
- "Demon" (instrumental)
Compilations
- Otter Than July (Fierce Panda, ning078cd/ning078, 1999, CD & 7" vinyl)
- "Sugar"
(also contains tracks by Scribble, Fraff, Pop Threat, Hofman and Mo-Ho-Bish-O-Pi
Mo-Ho-Bish-O-Pi
Mo-Ho-Bish-O-Pi were a Welsh indie rock group formed in 1996. The trio included Martin Bimrose on guitar, Richard Arnold on drums and Mike Carter on bass...
)
BBC Radio Sessions
- Evening Session with Steve Lamacq, Radio 1, recorded 3 August 1999
- "Hey Hey Baby" (performed live on-air 3 August 1999)
- "Santa Poca's Dream" (broadcast Monday 23 August 1999)
- "This Is Tonight" (broadcast Tuesday 24 August 1999)
- "Live It Down" (broadcast Wednesday 25 August 1999)
- "Around The Town" (broadcast Thursday 26 August 1999)
- Acoustic Session live on Radio Jupitus, with Phil Jupitus GLRBBC London 94.9BBC London 94.9 is London's BBC Local Radio station, and part of BBC London. Broadcasting across Greater London and beyond on 94.9 FM, DAB, Virgin Media Channel 930, Sky Channel 0152 and also online...
, summer 1999
- "Sugar"
- "Doing Fine" (aka "Around The Town")
- Evening Session Live In Concert on BBC Radio 1, 25 October 1999 from Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool, for Sound City event
- "Sugar"
- "Santa Poca's Dream"
- "Maybe I'm Right"
- "This Is Tonight"
Other songs
Songs performed live in concert but not officially released or performed on radio include:- "Lying's Easy" (circa 1999)
- "Sugar Baby LoveSugar Baby Love"Sugar Baby Love", recorded in autumn 1973 and released in January 1974, is a bubblegum pop song, and the debut single of the Rubettes. Written by Wayne Bickerton and Tony Waddington and produced by Wayne Bickerton, engineered by John Mackswith at Lansdowne Recording Studios, "Sugar Baby Love" was...
" - Rubettes cover version (circa 1999) - "Weepster" aka "Weepy Horses" (circa 2000)
- "Stomper" (circa 2000)
- "Racing" (circa 2000)
- "The Man Don't" aka "L'Homme Pas Du Tot" (circa 2000)
- "Stay With Me" (circa 2000)
- "Good As Gold" (circa 2000)
- "Where's The Summer Gone?" (circa 2001)
- "Dance With Me" (circa 2001)
- "Road Movie" (circa 2001)
- "And The Stars Look Down" (circa 2001)
External links
- http://freespace.virgin.net/scott.wills/rosita/rosita.html
- http://web.archive.org/web/20000709151941/http://members.tripod.co.uk/rosita/rosita.html