Sparkadia
Encyclopedia
Sparkadia is the project of alternative pop musician Alexander Burnett. Originally a band, Sparkadia formed in Sydney
, Australia
, in 2004. Up until 2009, Sparkadia was a four-piece band.
in 2004 and were originally known as The Spark. The brainchild of Alex Burnett (vocals, guitar) and Dave Hall (drums), Sparkadia became a reality with the addition of Nick Rabone (bass) and Josephine Ayling (keyboards, guitar, vocals) in 2006.
They first came into prominence in Australia
with their debut EP
titled Things Behind the Sun. The EP was released in Australia on 20 February 2007; with the lead single "Morning Light" being the #1 most downloaded track off Australian national broadcasters Triple J
's website with 32,000 downloads in two months. This was followed by extensive Australian touring and led to signing with UK label Ark Recordings.
With a line-up change in 2008 with Tiffany Preece replacing Josephine Ayling, Sparkadia released their debut studio album
Postcards
on 31 May 2008. The album was recorded with producer Ben Hillier (Blur, Depeche Mode, Doves, Elbow etc.) at Miloco Studios, London. The album peaked at #23 on the ARIA
albums chart.
The debut single off the album Animals was The Guardian' s single of the week and received rotation on BBC Radio One. This was followed by the release of the singles "Too Much to Do", "Jealousy" and "Morning Light".
Subsequent single "Too Much to Do" was B listed by Radio 2, played by everyone from Colin Murray to Terry Wogan, and earned accolades from Mojo, Q4 Music and The Guardian. All four singles received airplay on Australian radio station Triple J
. In January 2009 Sparkadia's hit Jealousy was number 79 in the triple j Hottest 100
of 2008.
The singles "Talking Like I'm Falling Down Stairs" (10 September 2010) and "China" (27 January 2011) were released in Australia and "Mary" (14 February 2011) was released in the UK ahead of the album "The Great Impression" (18 March 2011).
In 2007 Sparkadia supported Elbow on their tour of Australia following the release of their EP Things Behind the Sun. This was followed by a tour of the UK which included supporting Irish band The Thrills, whom they were to support again the following year in Australia.
In 2008 after returning to Australia for Pyramid Rock Festival over NYE, Sparkadia travelled back overseas to tour with Jimmy Eat World. This was followed by shows with Vampire Weekend, as well as their own headline shows across the UK and Europe. Festivals appearances at that time include Glastonbury, T in the Park, V Festival and Oxegen Festival.
Returning to Australia, Sparkadia supported Faker on their Are You Magnetic? tour across Australia, before heading out on their own headline tour.
In 2009 Sparkadia toured Australia as part of the Big Day Out, before embarking on a string of sold out shows across Australia before amicably parting ways as a four piece.
After travelling around the US and Europe, Alex Burnett finished working on the second album in London with Mark Tieku (Florence and the Machine); playing multiple instruments on the recording. The came out in out early 2011, with the first single off the album "Talking Like I'm Falling Down Stairs" released in September 2010, coinciding with the Little Red Midnight Remember tour which Sparkadia opened for.
Henry Eastham – Lead guitar, backing vocals
Adam Gammage – Drums
Bluey May – Bass, chimes, backing vocals
Following the national 2009 Big Day Out tour, it was announced that Tiffany Preece was leaving the band to have a baby. Later that year after the band's 'Auf Wiedersehen' in April 2009, founding member David Hall and Nick Rabone left the band to pursue other interests, although Rabone still plays live with the band for some Australian shows.
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, in 2004. Up until 2009, Sparkadia was a four-piece band.
History
The band formed in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in 2004 and were originally known as The Spark. The brainchild of Alex Burnett (vocals, guitar) and Dave Hall (drums), Sparkadia became a reality with the addition of Nick Rabone (bass) and Josephine Ayling (keyboards, guitar, vocals) in 2006.
They first came into prominence in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
with their debut EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
titled Things Behind the Sun. The EP was released in Australia on 20 February 2007; with the lead single "Morning Light" being the #1 most downloaded track off Australian national broadcasters 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 website with 32,000 downloads in two months. This was followed by extensive Australian touring and led to signing with UK label Ark Recordings.
With a line-up change in 2008 with Tiffany Preece replacing Josephine Ayling, Sparkadia released their debut studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
Postcards
Postcards (Sparkadia album)
Postcards is the debut album by Australian alternative rock band Sparkadia. The album was recorded in 2007 in London. Sparkadia worked with producer Ben Hillier who has previously worked with famous acts such as; U2, Blur, Doves, Suede and Depeche Mode...
on 31 May 2008. The album was recorded with producer Ben Hillier (Blur, Depeche Mode, Doves, Elbow etc.) at Miloco Studios, London. The album peaked at #23 on the ARIA
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
albums chart.
The debut single off the album Animals was The Guardian
Subsequent single "Too Much to Do" was B listed by Radio 2, played by everyone from Colin Murray to Terry Wogan, and earned accolades from Mojo, Q4 Music and The Guardian. All four singles received airplay on Australian radio station 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...
. In January 2009 Sparkadia's hit Jealousy was number 79 in the triple j Hottest 100
Triple J Hottest 100
The Triple J Hottest 100 is an annual music poll, based on the votes of national Australian radio station Triple J listeners, in order to determine their favourite song of the year. Voting is conducted by the internet and begins roughly two weeks prior to the new year for the previous year's songs...
of 2008.
The singles "Talking Like I'm Falling Down Stairs" (10 September 2010) and "China" (27 January 2011) were released in Australia and "Mary" (14 February 2011) was released in the UK ahead of the album "The Great Impression" (18 March 2011).
Touring
The band has toured across Australia, UK and Europe several times over the past few years with large fan bases in Britain and Germany outside of the native Australia. Over the years the band has performed with many diverse artists such as:- Death Cab for CutieDeath Cab for CutieDeath Cab for Cutie is an American alternative rock band formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1997. The band consists of Ben Gibbard , Chris Walla , Nick Harmer and Jason McGerr ....
- ElbowElbow (band)Elbow are an English rock band. They have played together since 1990 and recorded five studio albums, the most recent of which is Build a Rocket Boys!, released in March 2011...
- Tegan & Sara
- The ThrillsThe ThrillsThe Thrills are an Irish rock band, formed in 2001 in Dublin, Ireland. The band was founded by lead vocalist Conor Deasy and guitarist Daniel Ryan, guitarist and bass player Padraic McMahon, pianist Kevin Horan and drummer Ben Carrigan. Their big break came with their debut album, So Much for the...
- Jimmy Eat WorldJimmy Eat WorldJimmy Eat World is an American alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona, that formed in 1993. The band is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind....
- Vampire WeekendVampire WeekendVampire Weekend is an American indie rock band from New York City that formed in 2006 and signed to XL Recordings. The Band has four members: Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij, Chris Tomson, and Chris Baio. The band released its first album Vampire Weekend in 2008, which produced the singles "Mansard...
- The Temper TrapThe Temper TrapThe Temper Trap is an Australian indie rock band which formed in 2005. The core members are Jonathon Aherne on bass guitar and vocals, Toby Dundas on drums and programming, Dougy Mandagi on vocals and guitar, and Lorenzo Sillitto on guitar, keyboards and vocals. They are supplemented on tours with...
- Pet Shop BoysPet Shop BoysPet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
- The FeelingThe FeelingThe Feeling are a BRIT award-nominated English pop band from West Sussex and London. The band categorise their music as "pop".Following a limited release of their first single "Fill My Little World" in late 2005, the band entered the UK Singles Chart at #7 with their first full release "Sewn" in...
- Modest MouseModest MouseModest Mouse is an American indie rock band formed in 1993 in Issaquah, Washington, by singer/lyricist/guitarist Isaac Brock, drummer Jeremiah Green, and bassist Eric Judy. They are based in Portland, Oregon. Since their 1996 debut album, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think...
- Hot Hot HeatHot Hot HeatHot Hot Heat is a Canadian indie rock band formed in 1999 from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.-Career:Dustin Hawthorne and Steve Bays had been in many different bands together since 1995 and met Hawley in 1998. In 1999, Hawley bought a Juno 6 keyboard and asked Bays to try playing it, as no one...
- Little RedLittle RedLittle Red is a rock band from Melbourne, Australia consisting of Adrian Beltrame , Dominic Byrne , Quang Dinh , Tom Hartney and Taka Honda .-Biography:...
- Ben LeeBen LeeBenjamin Michael "Ben" Lee is an ARIA Award winning musician and actor. Lee began his career as a musician at the age of 14 with the Sydney band Noise Addict, but focused on his solo career when the band broke up in 1995. He appeared as the protagonist in the Australian film The Rage in Placid Lake...
In 2007 Sparkadia supported Elbow on their tour of Australia following the release of their EP Things Behind the Sun. This was followed by a tour of the UK which included supporting Irish band The Thrills, whom they were to support again the following year in Australia.
In 2008 after returning to Australia for Pyramid Rock Festival over NYE, Sparkadia travelled back overseas to tour with Jimmy Eat World. This was followed by shows with Vampire Weekend, as well as their own headline shows across the UK and Europe. Festivals appearances at that time include Glastonbury, T in the Park, V Festival and Oxegen Festival.
Returning to Australia, Sparkadia supported Faker on their Are You Magnetic? tour across Australia, before heading out on their own headline tour.
In 2009 Sparkadia toured Australia as part of the Big Day Out, before embarking on a string of sold out shows across Australia before amicably parting ways as a four piece.
After travelling around the US and Europe, Alex Burnett finished working on the second album in London with Mark Tieku (Florence and the Machine); playing multiple instruments on the recording. The came out in out early 2011, with the first single off the album "Talking Like I'm Falling Down Stairs" released in September 2010, coinciding with the Little Red Midnight Remember tour which Sparkadia opened for.
Touring band
Edwin “Eddie” Montgomery – Keyboards, backing vocalsHenry Eastham – Lead guitar, backing vocals
Adam Gammage – Drums
Bluey May – Bass, chimes, backing vocals
Departed members
In 2008, Josephine Ayling moved overseas and was replaced with Tiffany Preece. Josephine is now based in Madrid and performs in the 3-piece band Boat Beam.Following the national 2009 Big Day Out tour, it was announced that Tiffany Preece was leaving the band to have a baby. Later that year after the band's 'Auf Wiedersehen' in April 2009, founding member David Hall and Nick Rabone left the band to pursue other interests, although Rabone still plays live with the band for some Australian shows.
Festival performances
- Newtown Festival (2005)
- Come Together (2005)
- Playground Weekender (2007)
- The Great Escape (2007)
- Shoreshocked Festival (2007)
- Pyramid Rock Festival (2007)
- Come Together (2008)
- Glastonbury (2008)
- Wireless Festival (2008)
- Z008 Festival (2008)
- Oxegen Festival (2008)
- T in the Park (2008)
- Frequency Festival (2008)
- V Festival (2008)
- Trackside (2008)
- Homebake (2008)
- Peats Ridge (2008)
- Big Day Out (2009)
- Rock It Festival (2009)
- Soundscape Festival (2011) - Last minute cancellation.
- Splendour in the Grass (2011)
Studio albums
- 2008: PostcardsPostcards (Sparkadia album)Postcards is the debut album by Australian alternative rock band Sparkadia. The album was recorded in 2007 in London. Sparkadia worked with producer Ben Hillier who has previously worked with famous acts such as; U2, Blur, Doves, Suede and Depeche Mode...
#23 AUS - 2011: The Great ImpressionThe Great ImpressionThe Great Impression is the second full-length studio album by Australian alternative rock band Sparkadia. It was released on 18 March 2011, with "Talking Like I'm Falling Down Stairs" and "China" released as singles prior to the album's release....
#8 AUS
Singles
- 2007: "AnimalsAnimals (Sparkadia song)"Animals" is the debut single taken from Sparkadia's debut album Postcards. The single was released digitally in the UK and in Australia. The single brought recognition to the band and made it onto the Triple J's Hottest 100 playlist of 2007.-Chart positions:...
" - 2008: "Too Much to Do"
- 2008: "JealousyJealousy (Sparkadia song)"Jealousy" is the third single and tenth track taken from Sparkadia's debut album Postcards. The song got 'Premier Pick of the Week' which is a future prediction on the Australian Music Report site which is the official site for Australian radio...
" - 2008: "Morning LightMorning Light (Sparkadia song)"Morning Light" is the fourth single released from Sparkadia's debut album Postcards. It was on high rotation on Australian radio program 'Triple J' in 2007, but was scrapped from being released as the debut single. Three versions of the single exist, they are the 'Album Version', 'Radio Version'...
" - 2010: "Talking Like I'm Falling Down Stairs" #59 AUS
- 2011: "China" #81 AUS
- 2011: "Mary"