Institut Polaire

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Institut Polaire
Origin Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Genre(s) Indie
Years active 2004 – present
Label(s) Love Is My Velocity
Popfrenzy
Website Official website
Members
Ben Blakeney
Elliott Brannen
Catherine Colvin
Erik Hecht
David Thirkettle-Watts
Samantha Wass
Ash Blakeney
Rebecca May
Former members
Ash Blakeney
Russell Loasby

Institut Polaire are an indie band originating from Perth, Western Australia.

Contents

[edit] History

Institut Polaire formed as a three piece in 2004 by an American ex-pat (Erik Hecht), an English born scientist (David Thirkettle-Watts) and a country boy moved to the big city (Ash Blakeney; who left the band in 2005, handing over his role to cousin Ben). Institut Polaire has grown from three piece roots into a full-blown collective who currently number between seven and nine members toting everything from vintage Wurlitzer pianos to violins, banjos, trumpets, MacBooks and glockenspiels.

In recent times the collective have shared the stage with acclaimed artists and bands including Camera Obscura, The Clientele, Architecture in Helsinki, Jens Lekman, Lou Barlow, Gerling, New Buffalo, Starky, The Panics and The Lucksmiths.

Institut Polaire's debut 7" single "City Walls and Empires" (released through Love Is My Velocity Records) recently won them the Western Australian Music Industry's 'Song of the Year' Award for 2006 [1]and has since received national airplay.

"It was a fantastic confidence boost," Hecht said about the band's win in X-Press Magazine, "To see how much things have evolved in the band dynamic, instrumentation and songwriting since recording the debut single is exciting. I think most of us would agree that we are far more proud of the music we’ve been writing since. And I really suspect we may take some people by surprise with the records we put out this year."[2]

In 2007 Institut Polaire performed at the Perth leg of the Big Day Out having won Triple J's Unearthed competition for Western Australia [3]. They also performed with Bob Evans and Bobby Blackbird & The Bluejays at the WAMi-styled Triple J Live at the Wireless gig at the Rosemount Hotel.

The band were nominated for 'Best Indie Pop Act', at the 2007 WAMi Awards and also undertook their first national tour supporting Camera Obscura.

In February 2007 Institut Polaire announced that they have been signed as the first Australian artist on Popfrenzy Records[4].

"I think the main goal for 2007 is to continue to evolve and make some great records,” [5]

Their first release was an EP called The Fauna And The Flora which was released on October 1, 2007[6]. The EP was Drum Media and Rave Magazine's 'single of the week' and Wireless Bollinger's 'EP of the week'. Insitut Polaire have also been named as one of Triple J's Next Crop featured artists for Aus Music Month (November 2007) and have been nominated as for a 2007 J Award (Unearthed new artist category). The EP also debuted at #19 on the AIR (Association of Independent Record Labels) singles chart[7]. "City Walls and Empires" entered the Australian Top 40 Countdown chart at #40 in May, 2008.[8]

The band have also relocated to Melbourne for the foreseeable future and will undertake a national tour with Sydney's Cuthbert & The Night Walkers (presented by Triple J's 'Home and Hosed') in May 2008 before commencing recording of their debut LP which is due out in 2008.

[edit] Band members

  • Ben Blakeney - guitar, vocals
  • Elliott Brannen - trumpet, keys, vocals
  • Catherine Colvin - violin, vocals
  • Erik Hecht - vocals, guitar, banjo, keys
  • David Thirkettle-Watts - bass
  • Samantha Wass - acoustic guitar, vocals, keys
  • Ash Blakeney - drums, percussion
  • Rebecca May - keys

[edit] Discography

[edit] City Walls and Empires

Cover of "City Walls and Empires"
Cover of "City Walls and Empires"

"City Walls and Empires" is a split 7" single (w/ The Bank Holidays) released by Love Is My Velocity Records in May 2006.

  1. "City Walls and Empires" (Institut Polaire)
  2. "Bird" (The Bank Holidays)


[edit] The Fauna and the Flora

Cover of "The Flora and the Fauna"
Cover of "The Flora and the Fauna"

The Fauna & The Flora is the debut EP released by Popfrenzy Records on October 2, 2007

  1. "Kentucky Society Drought"
  2. "The Fauna and the Flora Are Too Closely Allied"
  3. "East, West & I"
  4. "Lullaby For A Warmonger"
  5. "City Walls & Empires (bonus track)"

[edit] Reviews

[edit] Awards and nominations

[edit] Awards

[edit] Nominations

  • 2007 Triple J - J Award (Unearthed category)
  • 2007 WAMi Award nomination - 'Best Indie Pop Act'
  • 2008 WAMi Award nomination - 'Most Popular EP/Single'
  • 2008 WAMi Award nomination - 'Most Popular Music Video'
  • 2008 WAMi Award nomination - 'Best Indie Pop Act'
  • 2008 WAMi Award nomination - 'Best Drummer'

[edit] References

  1. ^ Triple J Music News - (October 25, 2006)
  2. ^ Bob Gordon - Xpress Magazine (January 18, 2007)
  3. ^ Triple J Unearthed Competition Winners - Triple J (December 24, 2006)
  4. ^ Popfrenzy Records
  5. ^ Bob Gordon - Xpress Magazine (January 18, 2007)
  6. ^ Popfrenzy Records
  7. ^ AIR Charts - October 9, 2007
  8. ^ Take 40 Coutndown

[edit] External links