A Silent Film (band)

A Silent Film
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Background information
Origin Oxford, United Kingdom
Genres Piano rock,[1] Alternative rock[2]
Years active 2005-present
Labels Xtra Mile Recordings
Bieler Bros.
Members
Robert Stevenson
Karl Bareham
Ali Hussain
Spencer Walker

A Silent Film is a 4 piece alternative rock band[3] from Oxford England. The band consists of Robert Stevenson (vocals/piano), Karl Bareham (guitar), Ali Hussain (bass) and Spencer Walker (drums).[4] Their first album, 'A City That Sleeps', was released on October 6, 2008.[5][6] with reviewers describing it as 'a surefire winner'.[7]

Critics have compared A Silent Film to Coldplay, Snow Patrol and The Killers.[8]

Contents

Biography

Formation and early years

The band formed in 2005. Two of the four members (Robert Stevenson & Spencer Walker) had been members of another band named Shouting Myke,[9] which formed in early 2000. In 2005 two members (Benn Clarke and Steve Meyer-Rassow) left the band and were replaced by Ali Hussain. The newly-formed band chose the name 'A Silent Film' after the lead singer, Robert Stevenson, wrote a song using the melody from a song from a Charlie Chaplin film;[10] the band agreed they liked the style and chose the name as a reference to Charlie Chaplin's many silent films.

The band released their first single in 2007, an EP titled 'The Projectionist'.[11] They performed on the BBC Introducing Stage at Glastonbury in 2007[12] and their first album, The City That Sleeps, was released in October 2008.

The band cites its influences as 'Love, sex and death, and everything inbetween'.[13]

The City That Sleeps

Main article: The City That Sleeps

The original UK version of the album, produced by Sam Williams,[14] contains 11 tracks, including the single 'You Will Leave a Mark'. This single was number one in the Sunday Times Culture magazine's 'Hottest Downloads' chart.[15] The album was compared to the music of bands such as Coldplay and reviewers described it as 'catchy and accessible.[16]

After the album's release the band toured the UK and then Portugal where they quickly became popular.[17] After a matter of weeks their song 'You Will Leave A Mark' reached top of the Portuguese download singles charts, followed by the album soon after.[18]

The band have played and toured with OneRepublic, Scouting for Girls, The Smashing Pumpkins, Temper Trap, Sleigh Bells, Biffy Clyro, Fitz & The Tantrums, Civil Twilight and Athlete.[19]

The song 'You Will Leave A Mark' was featured as an iTunes Discovery Download as has so far been downloaded over 110,000 times.[20]

In 2009, the song You Will Leave A Mark' was nominated for the XFM New Music Award.[21]

In 2010 'The City That Sleeps' was re-released with the addition of two new tracks,[22] Driven By Their Beating Hearts and Firefly In My Window.

In 2010 'Aurora' was featured on Linkin Park's itunes celebrity playlist podcast.[23]

'You Will Leave A Mark' topped national radio most requested playlists,[24] picking up first place at the Sirius Alt Nation awards for 'Best In Studio Performance' & No. 4 'Song of the Year' only behind Mumford & Sons, The Black Keys & Vampire Weekend.[25]

The band performed at SXSW in March 2011. As one of the festivals 'buzz bands' they successfully performed to a capacity room.[26]

Multiple syncs on MTV's The Hills,[27]The Hard Times of R J Berger,[28] Investigation Discovery[29] and an appearance on the Rockband video game[30] have all helped raise the awareness of the band in the United States.

Discography

Albums

Album information
The City That Sleeps (UK edition)
The City That Sleeps (US edition)

EPs/Singles

Album information
The Projectionist
  • Released: July 2007
  • Label: Xtra Mile Recordings
  • Format: CD, EP
You Will Leave A Mark
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: Xtra Mile Recordings
  • Format: CD

References

  1. ^ "A Silent Film's biography - INTERVIEW". 6lyrics. http://www.6lyrics.com/a_silent_film-biography.aspx. Retrieved April 20, 2011. 
  2. ^ "A SILENT FILM - INTERVIEW". The405. http://thefourohfive.com/articles/910. Retrieved April 20, 2011. 
  3. ^ "A SILENT FILM - INTERVIEW". The405. http://thefourohfive.com/articles/910. Retrieved April 20, 2011. 
  4. ^ "A Silent Film". Safe Concerts. http://www.safeconcerts.com/safe-concerts-gigs-tours.asp?nurn=2662. Retrieved April 20, 2011. 
  5. ^ "A Silent Film". All Music. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1444917. Retrieved April 20, 2011. 
  6. ^ "A Silent Film: The City That Sleeps". Penny Black Music. http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Review.aspx?id=6204. Retrieved April 20, 2011. 
  7. ^ "Album Review: A Silent Film - The City That Sleeps". absolutepunk.net. http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1658162. Retrieved April 20, 2011. 
  8. ^ "Album Review: A Silent Film - The City That Sleeps". Alter the Press!. http://www.alterthepress.com/2010/12/album-review-silent-film-city-that.html. Retrieved April 22, 2011. 
  9. ^ "Shouting Myke". Gigs Unlimited. http://www.gigs-unlimited.co.uk/upandcoming/bandinfo.asp?UPID=87. Retrieved April 22, 2011. 
  10. ^ "A SILENT FILM - INTERVIEW". The405. http://thefourohfive.com/articles/910. Retrieved April 20, 2011. 
  11. ^ "A Silent Film". 100 XR. http://www.100xr.com/100_XR/Artists/A/A_Silent_Film.htm. Retrieved April 20, 2011. 
  12. ^ "A Silent Film - The LampLight". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/f0e5c9e5-b24f-4d84-8d2a-b166865d8678#p00fm89t. Retrieved April 24, 2011. 
  13. ^ "A SILENT FILM - INTERVIEW". The405. http://thefourohfive.com/articles/910. Retrieved April 20, 2011. 
  14. ^ "A Silent Film". Safe Concerts. http://www.safeconcerts.com/safe-concerts-gigs-tours.asp?nurn=2662. Retrieved April 20, 2011. 
  15. ^ "A Silent Film - The City That Sleeps (Xtra Mile)". dailymusicguide. http://www.dailymusicguide.com/Reviews/a-silent-film-the-city-that-sleeps-album-review-28102008-1151.aspx. Retrieved April 20, 2011. 
  16. ^ "A Silent Film: The City That Sleeps". Penny Black Music. http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Review.aspx?id=6204. Retrieved April 20, 2011. 
  17. ^ "A Silent Film re-release The City That Sleeps album". Buzzin Music. http://www.buzzinmusicblog.co.uk/a-silent-film-re-release-the-city-that-sleeps-album/3153. Retrieved April 20, 2011. 
  18. ^ "A Silent Film re-release The City That Sleeps album". Buzzin Music. http://www.buzzinmusicblog.co.uk/a-silent-film-re-release-the-city-that-sleeps-album/3153. Retrieved April 20, 2011. 
  19. ^ "A Silent Film". Disappear Here Mag. http://disappearheremag.com/features/article/a_silent_film/. Retrieved April 23, 2011. 
  20. ^ "A Silent Film re-release The City That Sleeps album". Buzzin Music. http://www.buzzinmusicblog.co.uk/a-silent-film-re-release-the-city-that-sleeps-album/3153. Retrieved April 20, 2011. 
  21. ^ "XFM New Music Award 2009". XFM. http://www.xfm.co.uk/news/2009/vote-for-the-xfm-new-music-award-2009. Retrieved April 23, 2011. 
  22. ^ "A Silent Film re-release The City That Sleeps album". Buzzin Music. http://www.buzzinmusicblog.co.uk/a-silent-film-re-release-the-city-that-sleeps-album/3153. Retrieved April 20, 2011. 
  23. ^ "Linkin Park on iTunes Celebrity Playlist Podcast". "Mike Shinoda Clan". http://mikeshinodaclan.com/2010/10/linkin-park-on-itunes-celebrity-playlist-podcast/. Retrieved September 17, 2011. 
  24. ^ "A Silent Film". "Reverb Nation". http://www.reverbnation.com/asilentfilm. Retrieved September 17, 2011. 
  25. ^ "U.K. Buzz Band A Silent Film Relocates to Phoenix". Phoenix New Times". http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/uponsun/2011/06/uk_buzz_band_a_silent_film_rel.php. Retrieved September 17, 2011. 
  26. ^ "A Silent Film Will Leave A Mark!". Best New Bands". http://bestnewbands.com/bands/item/1441-a-silent-film-will-leave-a-mark. Retrieved September 17, 2011. 
  27. ^ "A Silent Film". Sam Williams Music". http://www.samwilliamsmusic.com/news/index/?id=20. Retrieved September 19, 2011. 
  28. ^ "A Silent Film". "Leeds Music Scene". http://www.leedsmusicscene.net/article/8738/. Retrieved September 17, 2011. 
  29. ^ "Investigation Discovery promo featuring A Silent Film's "You Will Leave A Mark"". "Zoofs.com". http://www.zoofs.com/v/viyRGarCLWA. Retrieved September 17, 2011. 
  30. ^ "A Silent Film". "Rockband.com". http://www.rockband.com/songs/artists/A+Silent+Film. Retrieved September 17, 2011.