Steriogram
Encyclopedia
Steriogram is a rock
band that formed in Auckland
, New Zealand
, in 1999. Their 2004 song "Walkie Talkie Man
" was used in an advertisement for the iPod
and a number of films and video games.
, who joined with Tyson Kennedy and Tim Youngson, two friends from Auckland. They started performing as a melodic rock four-piece band with a manic live show. They released the EP Soccerstar in December that year. It had three tracks, "Chiqboom", "Soccerstar" and "Aeroplane". Only 500 copies were made.
Their second recording, "White Trash", released in August 2001, was more successful. Its b-side was "Soccerstar". They made a video for "White Trash" with drummer Kennedy rapping
and it got so much exposure they decided he should stop drumming and move to the front of the stage to rap. They then recruited mutual friend Jared Wrennall as drummer and became a five-piece. From then they started writing more of their songs with a hip hop
influence. Steriogram toured New Zealand in a friend's van without any support crew, doing gigs where they could.
In 2002, still unsigned, they joined several other New Zealand bands in the inaugural Boost Mobile School's Tour, playing for free during high school lunch hours to get exposure, as well as at bars at night. During the tour they released the EP Sing the Night Away, which contained five tracks: "Sing the Night Away", "Free", "Big Lady Loving", "White Trash (DLT remix)" and "West Side!". A video was made for the song "Sing The Night Away".
While recording at a rented beach house in 2002 they were contacted by a scout for American label Capitol Records
, who had come upon their music video for "White Trash" on the internet, and were signed to Capitol Records later that year. 2004 saw the release of their debut album Schmack!
. In addition to "White Trash", five more tracks from it were released as singles: "Walkie Talkie Man
", "Roadtrip", "Go", "Tsunami" and "On and On". Three songs from Sing the Night Away featured on singles from the album: "Sing the Night Away", "Free" and "Big Lady Loving".
There were two main factors contributing to Steriogram’s immediate success. First, the national school tour helped to generate a wider fan base. The other factor was their internet site and the use of fans' loyalty. On the site fans were able to join up for the band’s newsletter and then eventually to what was known as a "fan street pack". This was sent to the fan via mail and contained promo CDs that had five of the tracks to be featured on their upcoming CD, and lots of stickers. This was where Steriogram relied on the support of fans, to hand out the promo CDs and stickers. These points proved to be very successful and rewarding for Steriogram as a new band.
Their big break came with the release of "Walkie Talkie Man", which was used for iPod
advertisements, and its music video, in which characters and objects were created by knitting puppets and animating them using stopmotion. The video, directed by Michel Gondry
, was nominated for four MTV
music awards. The song debuted at #19 on the UK Singles Chart
.
It was used in several film
s and video games.
The band toured New Zealand during New Zealand Music Month in May 2005 with the support of other New Zealand bands 48May
and Goodnight Nurse
. Also in 2005, their album Schmack! was re-released as a special edition containing three songs from Sing the Night Away and a cover of AC/DC
's "Back in Black
".
at York Street Studio
in Auckland and released it in New Zealand on 16 October 2006. Unlike the first album, it was not released under Capitol Records. In an interview with Juice TV
, band members Brad Carter and Tyson Kennedy stated that all the band's connections at Capitol had left since the release of Schmack!, and they decided it would be easier to release the new album themselves. The first single off the album was "Just Like You". Rock Ridge Music released the album in the United States in October 2007. With the release of This Is Not the Target Market the band toured extensively through the year with such bands as Rise Against
and German band Die Ärzte
. Steriogram then went on the road with Bad Religion
in June 2008.
Steriogram's third album, Taping the Radio
, was released on 18 September 2010 on iTunes, and subsequently made available in New Zealand stores on 2 November 2010.
Steriogram have been working on a movie titled The Life and Death of Steriogram, "a rock-u-mentary which delves into the world of New Zealand's biggest rock band, Steriogram, providing a behind the scenes look at their new tour and the obstacles they face as they try to scrape themselves, once again, to the top of the rock and roll pile."
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band that formed in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, in 1999. Their 2004 song "Walkie Talkie Man
Walkie Talkie Man
"Walkie Talkie Man" is a song by the New Zealand band Steriogram, released in 2004 on the album Schmack! and as a single.The song is widely recognized as bringing Steriogram the majority of their popularity...
" was used in an advertisement for the iPod
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
and a number of films and video games.
Formation and first album, 1999–2005
Steriogram was formed in June 1999 by Brad Carter and Jake Adams, two friends from WhangareiWhangarei
Whangarei, pronounced , is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although commonly classified as a city, it is officially part of the Whangarei District, administered by the Whangarei District Council a local body created in 1989 to administer both the...
, who joined with Tyson Kennedy and Tim Youngson, two friends from Auckland. They started performing as a melodic rock four-piece band with a manic live show. They released the EP Soccerstar in December that year. It had three tracks, "Chiqboom", "Soccerstar" and "Aeroplane". Only 500 copies were made.
Their second recording, "White Trash", released in August 2001, was more successful. Its b-side was "Soccerstar". They made a video for "White Trash" with drummer Kennedy rapping
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
and it got so much exposure they decided he should stop drumming and move to the front of the stage to rap. They then recruited mutual friend Jared Wrennall as drummer and became a five-piece. From then they started writing more of their songs with a hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
influence. Steriogram toured New Zealand in a friend's van without any support crew, doing gigs where they could.
In 2002, still unsigned, they joined several other New Zealand bands in the inaugural Boost Mobile School's Tour, playing for free during high school lunch hours to get exposure, as well as at bars at night. During the tour they released the EP Sing the Night Away, which contained five tracks: "Sing the Night Away", "Free", "Big Lady Loving", "White Trash (DLT remix)" and "West Side!". A video was made for the song "Sing The Night Away".
While recording at a rented beach house in 2002 they were contacted by a scout for American label Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
, who had come upon their music video for "White Trash" on the internet, and were signed to Capitol Records later that year. 2004 saw the release of their debut album Schmack!
Schmack!
Schmack! is the debut album by New Zealand band Steriogram, released in 2004. The album was re-released as a tour edition in 2005. The song "Walkie Talkie Man" featured on an Apple iPod ad and a number of films and video games, and its video clip was nominated for a Grammy and four MTV music...
. In addition to "White Trash", five more tracks from it were released as singles: "Walkie Talkie Man
Walkie Talkie Man
"Walkie Talkie Man" is a song by the New Zealand band Steriogram, released in 2004 on the album Schmack! and as a single.The song is widely recognized as bringing Steriogram the majority of their popularity...
", "Roadtrip", "Go", "Tsunami" and "On and On". Three songs from Sing the Night Away featured on singles from the album: "Sing the Night Away", "Free" and "Big Lady Loving".
There were two main factors contributing to Steriogram’s immediate success. First, the national school tour helped to generate a wider fan base. The other factor was their internet site and the use of fans' loyalty. On the site fans were able to join up for the band’s newsletter and then eventually to what was known as a "fan street pack". This was sent to the fan via mail and contained promo CDs that had five of the tracks to be featured on their upcoming CD, and lots of stickers. This was where Steriogram relied on the support of fans, to hand out the promo CDs and stickers. These points proved to be very successful and rewarding for Steriogram as a new band.
Their big break came with the release of "Walkie Talkie Man", which was used for iPod
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
advertisements, and its music video, in which characters and objects were created by knitting puppets and animating them using stopmotion. The video, directed by Michel Gondry
Michel Gondry
Michel Gondry is an Academy Award winning filmmaker, whose works include being a commercial director, music video director, and a screenwriter. He is noted for his inventive visual style and manipulation of mise en scène. - Life and career :...
, was nominated for four MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
music awards. The song debuted at #19 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
It was used in several film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s and video games.
The band toured New Zealand during New Zealand Music Month in May 2005 with the support of other New Zealand bands 48May
48May
48May is a New Zealand pop rock group. The band consists of Jon Austin , CaptainHook , Stan Bicknell and Shannon Brown...
and Goodnight Nurse
Goodnight Nurse
Goodnight Nurse was a pop punk band from New Zealand, formed in Auckland, in 2001. The group originally began as a trio, but later changed to a four-piece prior to the release of their second album...
. Also in 2005, their album Schmack! was re-released as a special edition containing three songs from Sing the Night Away and a cover of AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
's "Back in Black
Back in Black (song)
"Back in Black" is a song by AC/DC, appearing as the first track on side two of their 1980 album, Back in Black. Known for its opening guitar riff, the song was AC/DC's tribute to their former singer Bon Scott...
".
Second and third albums, 2006 onwards
The band recorded the album This Is Not the Target MarketThis Is Not the Target Market
This Is Not the Target Market is the second album by New Zealand punk band Steriogram. It was their first independent release after leaving major label Capitol Records.-Track listing:# "Get Up" – 2:45# "Talk About It" – 2:32# "Own Way Home" – 2:42...
at York Street Studio
York Street Studio
York Street Recording Studio is a Recording Studio based in Auckland, New Zealand. Founded and built by producer and engineer Martin Williams, producer Malcolm Welsford and Jaz Coleman it quickly became New Zealand's leading music recording, mixing and mastering facility...
in Auckland and released it in New Zealand on 16 October 2006. Unlike the first album, it was not released under Capitol Records. In an interview with Juice TV
Juice TV
Juice TV is a 24 hour music television channel operating from the Auckland suburb of Parnell in New Zealand. It is the only music channel that is New Zealand based.-History:...
, band members Brad Carter and Tyson Kennedy stated that all the band's connections at Capitol had left since the release of Schmack!, and they decided it would be easier to release the new album themselves. The first single off the album was "Just Like You". Rock Ridge Music released the album in the United States in October 2007. With the release of This Is Not the Target Market the band toured extensively through the year with such bands as Rise Against
Rise Against
Rise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1999. The band currently consists of Tim McIlrath , Zach Blair , Joe Principe and Brandon Barnes .Rise Against spent its first five years signed to the independent record label Fat Wreck Chords, on which it...
and German band Die Ärzte
Die Ärzte
Die Ärzte is a punk band from Berlin. Die Ärzte are one of the best-known German punk rock bands and have released over 20 albums. The band consists of guitarist Farin Urlaub, drummer Bela B. and bass player Rodrigo González...
. Steriogram then went on the road with Bad Religion
Bad Religion
Bad Religion is a punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1979. Their current line-up consists of Greg Graffin , Brett Gurewitz , Jay Bentley , Greg Hetson , Brian Baker and Brooks Wackerman . Gurewitz is also the founder of the label Epitaph Records, which has released almost all of the...
in June 2008.
Steriogram's third album, Taping the Radio
Taping the Radio
Taping the Radio is the third studio album by New Zealand punk band Steriogram.-Track listing:# "Shamoe" – 03:38# "Skinny Runt Revolution" – 02:32# "Taping The Radio" – 03:43# "Ready For Action" – 02:31# "Kevvo" – 02:12# "No Ordinary Man" – 03:29...
, was released on 18 September 2010 on iTunes, and subsequently made available in New Zealand stores on 2 November 2010.
Steriogram have been working on a movie titled The Life and Death of Steriogram, "a rock-u-mentary which delves into the world of New Zealand's biggest rock band, Steriogram, providing a behind the scenes look at their new tour and the obstacles they face as they try to scrape themselves, once again, to the top of the rock and roll pile."
Band members
- Tyson Kennedy - (vocals)
- Tim Youngson - (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...
) - Brad Carter - (vocals/guitars)
- Jared Wrennall - (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 ....
/vocals) - Jake Adams - (bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
)
Studio albums
- 2004: Schmack!Schmack!Schmack! is the debut album by New Zealand band Steriogram, released in 2004. The album was re-released as a tour edition in 2005. The song "Walkie Talkie Man" featured on an Apple iPod ad and a number of films and video games, and its video clip was nominated for a Grammy and four MTV music...
- 2007: This Is Not the Target MarketThis Is Not the Target MarketThis Is Not the Target Market is the second album by New Zealand punk band Steriogram. It was their first independent release after leaving major label Capitol Records.-Track listing:# "Get Up" – 2:45# "Talk About It" – 2:32# "Own Way Home" – 2:42...
- 2010: Taping the RadioTaping the RadioTaping the Radio is the third studio album by New Zealand punk band Steriogram.-Track listing:# "Shamoe" – 03:38# "Skinny Runt Revolution" – 02:32# "Taping The Radio" – 03:43# "Ready For Action" – 02:31# "Kevvo" – 02:12# "No Ordinary Man" – 03:29...
Singles
| Year | Single | Charted | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Soccerstar | — | Soccerstar EP |
| 2001 | Sing The Night Away | - | Sing The Night Away |
| 2001 | White Trash | — | Schmack! |
| 2004 | Walkie Talkie Man Walkie Talkie Man "Walkie Talkie Man" is a song by the New Zealand band Steriogram, released in 2004 on the album Schmack! and as a single.The song is widely recognized as bringing Steriogram the majority of their popularity... |
#14 (NZ) #19 (UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... ) |
|
| Roadtrip | — | ||
| 2005 | Go | #28 (NZ) | |
| Tsunami | — | ||
| On and On | — | ||
| 2006 | Just Like You | — | This Is Not the Target Market |
| 2007 | Own Way Home | — | |
| 2010 | Ready For Action | — | Taping The Radio |
| Skinny Runt Revolution | — | ||
| Moving On | — |
Featured appearances
The group have appeared on the following compilations and soundtracks.- 2002: Channel Z: The Best Of Vol. 3Channel Z: The Best Of Vol. 3Channel Z: The Best Of Vol. 3 is a 2-disc New Zealand compilation album released in 2002 featuring the best songs played on New Zealand radio station, Channel Z.-Disc one:#Pts.of.athrty - Linkin Park#Boom P.O.D.#Prayer - Disturbed...
(Warner Music) - "Sing The Night Away" - 2004: State of the Nation: Fresh New Zealand Rock (EMIEMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
) - "Roadtrip" - 2004: Hot Wheels: Hot Hits 4 (Shock RecordsShock RecordsShock Records is Australia's largest independent record label. It helps distribute records from overseas records labels such as Epitaph Records, and also for small record labels designed specifically for that band such as Cement Records...
) - "Walkie Talkie Man" - 2004: Pump It Up Exceed SEPump It UpPump It Up, commonly abbreviated as PIU or shortened to just Pump, is a music video game series currently developed by Nexcade and published by Andamiro, a Korean arcade game producer. The game is typically played on a dance pad with five arrow panels: up-left, up-right, bottom-left, bottom-right,...
(AndamiroAndamiroOriginally founded in Korea in 1992 as Oksan Entertainment Co. Ltd, the company changed its name to Anda Miro Entertainment in 1999. The company holds its main office in Seoul, Korea....
) - "Walkie Talkie Man" - 2005: Robots (Virgin RecordsVirgin RecordsVirgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
) - "Walkie Talkie Man" - 2005: Top of the Pops 2005Top of the Pops 2005 (N.Z. compilation album)Top of the Pops 2005 is a New Zealand compilation album that was released in 2005 alongside the New Zealand version of the television series, "Top of the Pops".-Disc one:#"Shut Up" - The Black Eyed Peas#"Dip It Low" - Christina Milian...
(Universal Music) - "Walkie Talkie Man" - 2005: Now That's What I Call Music 17Now That's What I Call Music 17 (N.Z. series)Now That's What I Call Music 17 or Now 17 was released on March 15, 2005. The album is the 17th edition of the Now! series.-Track listing:#Gwen Stefani : "What You Waiting For?"#Jennifer Lopez : "Get Right"...
(EMIEMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
) - "Go" - 2005: Kicking & Screaming (soundtrack)
- 2005: Punked (Warner Music) - "Walkie Talkie Man"
- 2006: More NatureMore NatureMore Nature is a one-disc compilation album of twenty notable New Zealand popular music songs from 2000-2005, intended to be a supplement to the Nature's Best series of compilation albums...
(Sony BMG) - "Walkie Talkie Man" - 2006: Elite Beat AgentsElite Beat AgentsElite Beat Agents is a music video game developed by iNiS and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It was first released in North America, and has since been released in Europe and South Korea . It is the spiritual sequel to Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan, a Japanese rhythm game...
(NintendoNintendois a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
) - "Walkie Talkie Man" - 2005: MVP Baseball 2004
- 2008: WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by THQ for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, Wii, and Xbox 360 video game consoles. It is the tenth video game in the WWE SmackDown vs. Raw series, and is the...
- "Get Up"