The Hoosiers
Encyclopedia
The Hoosiers are an English
pop
/rock
band
, consisting of members Irwin Sparkes (lead vocals
, lead guitar
), Martin Skarendahl (bass guitar
, rhythm guitar
) and Alan Sharland (drums
, percussion).
Their first single "Worried About Ray
" reached #5 on the UK Singles Chart
in July 2007. In October 2007, they released their debut album The Trick to Life
, which reached number 1 in the album charts. The band have recently released their second top ten album The Illusion of Safety
which was released on 16 August 2010 and was preceded by the lead single "Choices
" which was released on 1 August 2010.
(Sharland), Reading
(Sparkes) and Stockholm
(Skarendahl), the band claimed to create a sound that they called "odd pop", combining a number of musical genres with their first album The Trick to Life
. They reinvented themselves for the release of The Illusion of Safety
as a more conventional pop band with electro influences.
According to the band's self-penned biographies (found on websites and in album sleeves), 'Alphonso' Raymond Sharland (drummer) and Irwin Nathaniel Sparkes (lead singer and guitarist) spent some time in the United States
, encouraged by their chemistry teacher (Grant Serpell
who was part of the band Sailor
during their fame in the 1970s), in an attempt to broaden their horizons. The pair won themselves a football (soccer) scholarship
at the University of Indianapolis
, despite a reputed claim to be "allergic to running" (a claim which is backed up by lead singer Sparkes' asthma).
Their time spent in Indiana inspired the band's name: a citizen of Indiana
is colloquially called a Hoosier
. Having gathered enough material to compile an album, Al and Irwin returned to London where they met Swiss keyboard player and sound engineer Duri Darms and Martin Skarendahl, a Swedish ex-fireman who was then working with Darms as a recording studio engineer and studying at The London Music School. The original group included two band members (Tony Byrne and Tom Easey) who had by this point left, leaving Sparkes and Sharland to replace them with Skarendahl.
This newly-revamped trio of Sparkes, Skarendahl and Sharland subsequently signed to RCA
and released their first album The Trick to Life on 22 October 2007. The band have spoken of their desire to write songs that are about more than just "boy and girl... finding love on a Friday night on the lash with your mates".
In February 2008 they were named as Worst Band at the annual NME awards
. They are produced by ex-member of Jamiroquai
, Toby Smith
, and managed by Steve Morton.
The band's second single, "Goodbye Mr A
", appeared in the football video game FIFA 08
, and the game can also be seen in the "Goodbye Mr A" music video
. Lead singer Irwin Sparkes, who is from Reading
, is playing on the game as Reading
against Manchester United
. The song also appears in a trailer for the 2007 film Juno
. Following the release of "Worst Case Scenario
", the next release from The Trick to Life was "Cops and Robbers
", as confirmed in a live webchat with The Hoosiers on GMTV. The video was broadcast on Channel 4 at 12:10pm on 22 March 2008.
The title track "The Trick to Life" is featured as the end credits music on the thriller From Within
released in 2009 which is ironically about a series of unexplained deaths in a small town.
For their second album, The Illusion of Safety
, several changes were made including a new, more synthesised sound and the drummer 'Alphonso' returning to his given name Alan. The Illusion of Safety gave the first single "Choices" and includes the song "Unlikely Hero", for which a video was filmed in a quarry in Derbyshire. The latter was due to be a single until it was announced that this was not the case on 14 October 2010.
In February 2011, the band announced via their official website that "Bumpy Ride" was to be their new single and would be released at the end of March. Their new deluxe album, also titled Bumpy Ride, was out in the April of the same year. The music video for 'Bumpy Ride' tells a story of how The Hoosiers travelled around the United States of America by various means of transport, and was possibly inspired by their earlier travels.
, "I don't think many people knew that the second album had been released, so we're having to reissue it to bring it to people's awareness."
At an intimate gig for Real Radio in Sheffield
, the band announced that they were repackaging and rereleasing the album with a new title, Bumpy Ride, on April 11, 2011. The rerelease comes with 4 new album tracks, and a deluxe version comes with a DVD of live performances.
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...
pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
/rock
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
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...
, consisting of members Irwin Sparkes (lead vocals
Lead vocalist
The lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
, lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
), Martin Skarendahl (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
) and Alan Sharland (drums
Drum kit
A 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 ....
, percussion).
Their first single "Worried About Ray
Worried About Ray
"Worried About Ray" is the debut single by London pop rock band The Hoosiers, noted for its resemblance to The Turtles' 1967 hit "Happy Together". The resemblance was enough to ensure that Alan Gordon and Garry Bonner, the writers of "Happy Together", are credited as co-writers.It was the first...
" reached #5 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 ...
in July 2007. In October 2007, they released their debut album The Trick to Life
The Trick to Life
The Trick to Life is the debut album by London indie pop band The Hoosiers. It was released in the UK on October 22, 2007. Four singles were released from the album - "Worried About Ray", "Goodbye Mr A", "Worst Case Scenario" and "Cops and Robbers". The album was released with four different...
, which reached number 1 in the album charts. The band have recently released their second top ten album The Illusion of Safety
The Illusion of Safety (The Hoosiers album)
The Illusion of Safety is the second album released by London indie pop band The Hoosiers. It was released in the UK on 16 August 2010 and is preceded by the lead single, "Choices" which was released on 1 August 2010...
which was released on 16 August 2010 and was preceded by the lead single "Choices
Choices (The Hoosiers song)
"Choices" is the lead single from Indie pop band The Hoosiers taken from their second studio album, The Illusion of Safety and was released in the UK on 1 August 2010...
" which was released on 1 August 2010.
Biography
Hailing from ExeterExeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
(Sharland), Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
(Sparkes) and Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
(Skarendahl), the band claimed to create a sound that they called "odd pop", combining a number of musical genres with their first album The Trick to Life
The Trick to Life
The Trick to Life is the debut album by London indie pop band The Hoosiers. It was released in the UK on October 22, 2007. Four singles were released from the album - "Worried About Ray", "Goodbye Mr A", "Worst Case Scenario" and "Cops and Robbers". The album was released with four different...
. They reinvented themselves for the release of The Illusion of Safety
The Illusion of Safety (The Hoosiers album)
The Illusion of Safety is the second album released by London indie pop band The Hoosiers. It was released in the UK on 16 August 2010 and is preceded by the lead single, "Choices" which was released on 1 August 2010...
as a more conventional pop band with electro influences.
According to the band's self-penned biographies (found on websites and in album sleeves), 'Alphonso' Raymond Sharland (drummer) and Irwin Nathaniel Sparkes (lead singer and guitarist) spent some time in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, encouraged by their chemistry teacher (Grant Serpell
Grant Serpell
Grant Serpell was a member of several bands during the 1960s and 1970s, including Affinity and Sailor, and was an encouraging influence over two of the members of The Hoosiers while being their chemistry teacher at Waingels College.Serpell enjoyed a revival of Sailor's success, which started in...
who was part of the band Sailor
Sailor (band)
Sailor are a British pop group, best known in the 1970s for their hit singles "Glass of Champagne" and "Girls Girls Girls", written by the group's lead singer and 12-string guitar player, Georg Kajanus.-In the 1970s:...
during their fame in the 1970s), in an attempt to broaden their horizons. The pair won themselves a football (soccer) scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
at the University of Indianapolis
University of Indianapolis
The University of Indianapolis is a university located in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The shortened name it uses is UIndy...
, despite a reputed claim to be "allergic to running" (a claim which is backed up by lead singer Sparkes' asthma).
Their time spent in Indiana inspired the band's name: a citizen of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
is colloquially called a Hoosier
Hoosier
Hoosier is the official demonym for a resident of the U.S. state of Indiana. Although residents of most U.S. states typically adopt a derivative of the state name, e.g., "Indianan" or "Indianian", natives of Indiana rarely use these. Indiana adopted the nickname "Hoosier State" more than 150...
. Having gathered enough material to compile an album, Al and Irwin returned to London where they met Swiss keyboard player and sound engineer Duri Darms and Martin Skarendahl, a Swedish ex-fireman who was then working with Darms as a recording studio engineer and studying at The London Music School. The original group included two band members (Tony Byrne and Tom Easey) who had by this point left, leaving Sparkes and Sharland to replace them with Skarendahl.
This newly-revamped trio of Sparkes, Skarendahl and Sharland subsequently signed to RCA
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
and released their first album The Trick to Life on 22 October 2007. The band have spoken of their desire to write songs that are about more than just "boy and girl... finding love on a Friday night on the lash with your mates".
In February 2008 they were named as Worst Band at the annual NME awards
NME Awards
The NME Awards is an annual music awards show in the United Kingdom, founded by the music magazine, NME .The first awards show was held in 1953 as the NME Poll Winners Concerts, shortly after the founding of the magazine....
. They are produced by ex-member of Jamiroquai
Jamiroquai
Jamiroquai is a British jazz funk and acid jazz band formed in 1992. Jamiroquai were initially the most prominent component in the early-1990s London-based acid jazz movement, alongside groups such as Incognito, the James Taylor Quartet, and the Brand New Heavies. Other Acid Jazz artists such as...
, Toby Smith
Toby Smith
Toby Smith is a musician, most famous for being the keyboardist and co-songwriter for Jamiroquai from 1992 up to 2001....
, and managed by Steve Morton.
The band's second single, "Goodbye Mr A
Goodbye Mr A
"Goodbye Mr A" is the second single by UK pop rock band The Hoosiers from their debut album The Trick to Life. The song, released on 8 October 2007, has been noted by Digital Spy’s Alex Fletcher for its similarities to Electric Light Orchestra's single "Mr. Blue Sky"...
", appeared in the football video game FIFA 08
FIFA 08
FIFA 08 is the 2008 installment of EA Sports' series of football video games. Developed by EA Canada, it is published by Electronic Arts worldwide under the EA Sports label. It was released on all popular gaming formats in September 2007 in Europe, Australia, and Asia, and in October 2007 in North...
, and the game can also be seen in the "Goodbye Mr A" music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
. Lead singer Irwin Sparkes, who is from Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, is playing on the game as Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
against Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. The song also appears in a trailer for the 2007 film Juno
Juno (film)
Juno is a 2007 comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody. Ellen Page stars as the title character, an independent-minded teenager confronting an unplanned pregnancy and the subsequent events that put pressures of adult life onto her. Michael Cera, Olivia Thirlby, J. K....
. Following the release of "Worst Case Scenario
Worst Case Scenario (song)
"Worst Case Scenario" is the third single by the English indie band The Hoosiers from their 2007 #1 album The Trick to Life. It has been admitted by lead man Irwin on the bands website that it is one of the bands favourite songs.-History:...
", the next release from The Trick to Life was "Cops and Robbers
Cops and Robbers (song)
"Cops and Robbers" is a single by the UK Indie Band The Hoosiers. It was their fourth single to be released from their debut album, The Trick to Life. It was first made available to download through the album which was released on 22 October 2007. The single was physically released on 21 April 2008...
", as confirmed in a live webchat with The Hoosiers on GMTV. The video was broadcast on Channel 4 at 12:10pm on 22 March 2008.
The title track "The Trick to Life" is featured as the end credits music on the thriller From Within
From Within (film)
From Within is a horror film directed by Phedon Papamichael Jr. and written by Brad Keene. Filming took place in Maryland in fall 2007. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April-May 2008.-Premise:...
released in 2009 which is ironically about a series of unexplained deaths in a small town.
For their second album, The Illusion of Safety
The Illusion of Safety (The Hoosiers album)
The Illusion of Safety is the second album released by London indie pop band The Hoosiers. It was released in the UK on 16 August 2010 and is preceded by the lead single, "Choices" which was released on 1 August 2010...
, several changes were made including a new, more synthesised sound and the drummer 'Alphonso' returning to his given name Alan. The Illusion of Safety gave the first single "Choices" and includes the song "Unlikely Hero", for which a video was filmed in a quarry in Derbyshire. The latter was due to be a single until it was announced that this was not the case on 14 October 2010.
In February 2011, the band announced via their official website that "Bumpy Ride" was to be their new single and would be released at the end of March. Their new deluxe album, also titled Bumpy Ride, was out in the April of the same year. The music video for 'Bumpy Ride' tells a story of how The Hoosiers travelled around the United States of America by various means of transport, and was possibly inspired by their earlier travels.
Departure from record label
It was announced on April 1, 2011 that the band had departed from their record label Sony after a dispute over the promotion of their latest album The Illusion of Safety. Sparkes told Daily RecordDaily Record (Scotland)
The Daily Record is a Scottish tabloid newspaper based in Glasgow. It had been the best-selling daily paper in Scotland for many years with a paid circulation in August 2011 of 307,794 . It is now outsold by its arch-rival the Scottish Sun which in September 2010 had a circulation of 339,586 in...
, "I don't think many people knew that the second album had been released, so we're having to reissue it to bring it to people's awareness."
At an intimate gig for Real Radio in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, the band announced that they were repackaging and rereleasing the album with a new title, Bumpy Ride, on April 11, 2011. The rerelease comes with 4 new album tracks, and a deluxe version comes with a DVD of live performances.
Discography
- 2007: The Trick to LifeThe Trick to LifeThe Trick to Life is the debut album by London indie pop band The Hoosiers. It was released in the UK on October 22, 2007. Four singles were released from the album - "Worried About Ray", "Goodbye Mr A", "Worst Case Scenario" and "Cops and Robbers". The album was released with four different...
- 2010: The Illusion of SafetyThe Illusion of Safety (The Hoosiers album)The Illusion of Safety is the second album released by London indie pop band The Hoosiers. It was released in the UK on 16 August 2010 and is preceded by the lead single, "Choices" which was released on 1 August 2010...
- 2011: Bumpy RideBumpy Ride (The Hoosiers album)Bumpy Ride is an album released by London indie pop band The Hoosiers. It is a rereleased version of their 2010 album The Illusion of Safety. It was released in the UK on 11 April 2011. The album features 3 new tracks not present on The Illusion of Safety, as well as a cover of Soft Cell's "Say...