The Donde Stars
Encyclopedia
The Donde Stars are an indie rock band based in Cardiff
, Wales
. They consist of Luke Williams (vocals/guitar), Mathew Acreman (bass/backing vocals), Tyler Rhys (lead guitar/keyboards/vocals) and Steven Rodd (drums). Since their formation in 2003 in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales, the band have cemented a loyal local following and are renowned for their powerful and energetic live shows.
and XFM
, including a session for Adam Walton
.
Mike Thompson and Matthew Harris left the band in 2008 due to other commitments and so the band brought in local solo artist and film school graduate Tyler Rhys on guitar, and sound technician Steven Rodd on drums. Since the introduction of these new members the band has gone from strength to strength, with the song Bringer of the Dark being featured on BBC Introducing
with Tom Robinson.
The band since then have had a new drummer on board in the name of Guy Martinez. Guy had been frequenting the famous Rockfield studios in Monmouth as a session drummer for numerous bands and joined the rest of the band for their first official gig, which took place in Domodossola in Italy in January 2010 and the band gaining more high-profile shows including upcoming appearances at Square Festival, Aberystwyth and headline shows in Italy
.
(formerly of Spiritualized
) who has since been working with the band on their debut album, set for self-release on Antic Records in late 2009. Farewell, Tragic Lightning Boy is the proposed title of the album, which has been funded by the band and painstakingly put together over weekend trips to Aeriel studios in Carmenthenshire.
America will be the lead single off the album and will be available digitally. It was the first song to be recorded by the current line-up of the band and shows the intricate instrumentation the new members bring.
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. They consist of Luke Williams (vocals/guitar), Mathew Acreman (bass/backing vocals), Tyler Rhys (lead guitar/keyboards/vocals) and Steven Rodd (drums). Since their formation in 2003 in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales, the band have cemented a loyal local following and are renowned for their powerful and energetic live shows.
Background
The founding members, Luke Williams and Mathew Acreman were originally joined by drummer Mike Thompson and later by guitarist/keyboardist Matthew Harris. They gained popularity in south Wales following the release of their debut single, You Can Keep The Kids/Pianissimo in 2007. The band received positive reviews and were described as "…one of the best unsigned bands in the UK" (Claire Sturgess – XFM). They played well-received sets at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Metro Weekender Cardiff in 2007, as well as receiving radio-play from BBC WalesBBC Wales
BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services in both the Welsh and English languages.Outside...
and 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...
, including a session for Adam Walton
Adam Walton
Adam Walton is an alternative DJ for BBC Radio Wales. He was brought up in Nannerch, near Mold, North Wales....
.
Mike Thompson and Matthew Harris left the band in 2008 due to other commitments and so the band brought in local solo artist and film school graduate Tyler Rhys on guitar, and sound technician Steven Rodd on drums. Since the introduction of these new members the band has gone from strength to strength, with the song Bringer of the Dark being featured on BBC Introducing
BBC Introducing
BBC Introducing is the brand for new music programmes across the BBC radio stations, showcasing unsigned, self signed and other emerging musical talent primarily from the UK. Launched in 2007 the Introducing brand brings programming from across the BBC under a unified brand with each show retaining...
with Tom Robinson.
The band since then have had a new drummer on board in the name of Guy Martinez. Guy had been frequenting the famous Rockfield studios in Monmouth as a session drummer for numerous bands and joined the rest of the band for their first official gig, which took place in Domodossola in Italy in January 2010 and the band gaining more high-profile shows including upcoming appearances at Square Festival, Aberystwyth and headline shows in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
The band
The Donde Stars play grand and emotionally charged rock music which is notable for William's soaring and powerful vocals, Rhys' intricate lead guitar and the tight and heavy rhythm section of Harris and Rodd. Williams has until recently been the principal songwriter, and has written all the songs on the anticipated upcoming debut album. Tyler Rhys is also a songwriter, having previously released low-profile solo recordings, and the two have begun writing together for the band's second album. The band are fortunate in that the make up of the band, of two principal songwriters and two sound technicians, means that developing music can be done entirely in-house in a self-contained unit. Both Tyler Rhys and Guy Martinez are multi-instrumentalists and have been known to switch instruments for encores at shows. Bassist Harris owns his own practice and recording studio that the band have always at their disposal, and it will be re-decorated and used to demo their second album early next year.Releases
The Donde Stars released their first single, the double A-side, "You Can Keep The Kids/Pianissimo" on Reacharound Records in March 2007. It was recorded by Tim LewisThighpaulsandra
Thighpaulsandra is a Welsh experimental musician and multi-instrumentalist known mostly for performing on synthesizers and keyboards. As Tim Lewis, he began his career working with Julian Cope. A collaboration with Cope in 1993 followed, as the experimental duo Queen Elizabeth...
(formerly of Spiritualized
Spiritualized
Spiritualized are an English space rock band formed in 1990 in Rugby, Warwickshire by Jason Pierce after the demise of his previous outfit, space-rockers Spacemen 3...
) who has since been working with the band on their debut album, set for self-release on Antic Records in late 2009. Farewell, Tragic Lightning Boy is the proposed title of the album, which has been funded by the band and painstakingly put together over weekend trips to Aeriel studios in Carmenthenshire.
America will be the lead single off the album and will be available digitally. It was the first song to be recorded by the current line-up of the band and shows the intricate instrumentation the new members bring.
Singles
- "You Can Keep The Kids" / "Pianissimo" (March 2007, Reacharound Records)
- "America" (August 2009, Antic Records)