I Am Giant

I Am Giant
I Am Giant performing in Invercargill, New Zealand, in 2012
Background information
Origin	London, United Kingdom
Genres	Rock, Post-grunge, Nu metal
Years active	2008–present
Labels	Sony, Plastic Head (UK)
Associated acts	Blindspott, Tadpole, Stylus, Volume, Exit Ten
Website	iamgiant.com
Members	Ryan Redman Shelton Woolright Paul Matthews Stuart Steele Aja Timu
Past members	Max O'Donnell Ed Martin Aja Timu

I Am Giant is a rock band based out of London, United Kingdom. They formed in London in late 2008 and released their debut album The Horrifying Truth on 1 August 2011 in Australia and New Zealand, where it has been certified Gold and delivered four Rock Chart No. 1's.^[1] The album was released in Asia on 23 March 2012, and in Europe and US on 8 October 2012.

The band originally consisted of New Zealanders Shelton Woolright, Paul Matthews, Max O'Donnell and Brit Ed Martin. Drummer Shelton Woolright is formerly from critically acclaimed triple platinum selling band Blindspott (EMI), the only rock band in New Zealand music history to have both their debut and follow up albums enter the charts at number 1. Bassist Paul Matthews credits include double platinum selling band Tadpole (EMI/Antenna), and more recently Stylus. Matthews is also a producer/engineer and has worked on several gold and platinum selling albums, and top 10 singles. Together with Woolright they co-produced Six60's Single Rise Up 2.0 which has now gone 2 x platinum.^[1] Ed Martin was the singer in UK band Volume and has worked as a vocalist with the likes of The Artful Dodger, Bruno Ellingham (engineer for KT Tunstall, Elbow and New Order)^[2] and Mark Hill.

The band have had tracks featured on many extreme sports DVD’s including Quiksilver Euroforce Surfing Videos, Mormail Brazilian surfing label's DVD through South America and North America, White Lines magazine in Europe, and 2009 film Cloud 9 (the Kelly Slater story). The band is sponsored by Gibson Guitars.^[1]

In December 2014 it was officially announced that Ed Martin was leaving the band to embark on a solo project which is to be produced by Paul Matthews. Though this change had already been made months earlier with Martin's replacement Ryan Redman (Exit Ten) beginning his tenure in the band during the bands tour of the UK in September along with former Exit Ten bandmate guitarist Stuart Steele.

History

Formation and City Limits / Neon Sunrise EP (2008–2010)

After the band Blindspott played their final concert in 2007,^[3] Shelton Woolright and fellow Kiwi Paul Matthews moved to London to look at starting a band in the UK. Matthews and Woolright auditioned over 150 singers and 120 guitarists before coming across Ed Martin and Max O'Donnell.

In 2010 Aja Timu who had previously played with both Matthews (Stylus) and Woolright (Blindspott) replaced Max O'Donnell on Guitars.
The band became the Quiksilver Ambassadors for Europe which lead to a number of festivals and events including Brixton's Skate and BMX Jam, Quiksilver's 'Chromataphobia' and the Quiksilver Pro Tour in Biarritz, France. In March the band sold out its first tour in New Zealand. In May I Am Giant performed at two Tiger Translate parties in Vietnam before returning for gigs in France, London, and Liverpool (Sound City showcase). They then toured New Zealand, Australia and America through June, July and August, before returning to the UK to play at the British Surf Champs and an encore performance at the Quiksilver Pro Tour in Biarritz, France.^[1]

In May the band recorded an acoustic cover of Slipknot's single Duality for New Zealand's The Rock Radio's Night show segment 'Like a Version'. The song was later released as a free download from the band's website in September 2012, due to numerous requests and hugely popular YouTube video.

The City Limits / Neon Sunrise EP was released on 26 March 2010 and immediately saw success in the New Zealand Charts due to high rotation on the New Zealand radio stations. The EP received Gold certification.

The Horrifying Truth (2011–2012)

Following the 2010 successes, the band spent most of the early months of 2011 in Australia, working on their debut album. Between January and April 2011 The Horrifying Truth was recorded with acclaimed Australian alternative rock producer/engineer Forrester Savell. The album was recorded between Sony Studios in Sydney, and Forrester's studio at Sing Sing Studios in Melbourne, and was co-produced by Matthews and Woolright. During this period, I Am Giant also supported Slash and Stone Temple Pilots during the Big Night Out concert in Singapore.

The Horrifying Truth was released on 1 August 2011. Three days later, the band started a nationwide tour in New Zealand, called 'The Horrifying Truth Tour', which was followed by concerts with Dead Letter Circus in Australia.^[4]

At the beginning of 2012 guitarist Aja Timu left the band. Rather than replacing Timu immediately, the band brought in a variety of session guitarists for tours and recording including Andrew Kerr and Michael Triponel. I Am Giant started 2012 with another tour of New Zealand and Australia. They played at what was intitaially called the final New Zealand Big Day Out, where they also shot part of the music video for "Purple Heart", with fans holding up frames from the video, which had been shot a week earlier. The video featuring event sponsor's Speight's Summit Beer was debuted during the band's set later that day.

That year, the band was kept busy with tours of Asia, including Manila, Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. They were supporting Slash's tour in Australia, and a UK tour in support of the October 2012 UK release of The Horrifying Truth. During this tour the band released a German version of the I Am Giant EP, which included their cover of Slipknot's song "Duality" and a new track "Blood Money". I Am Giant also began working on tracks for their second album.

In late December 2012 the band returned to New Zealand for a summer tour opening for New Zealand Rock Legends Shihad. The band debuted the live version of "Blood Money", which was shortly after made available on iTunes.

Science & Survival and The X Factor NZ (2013–present)

2013 started with the completion of the Shihad tour as well as a small tour of Australia. I Am Giant also headlined a free concert held by the Auckland Council as part of the council's Music In Parks summer events. I Am Giant were again in the line-up for Homegrown's Rock Stage, where it was announced that the band would be heading to France in May to record the new album.

In June the band started the recording of their unnamed second album at the Drop In Music Studio in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France. Andrew Kerr did not travel for the recording, Michael Triponel and bassist Paul Matthews filled in on guitars. As with The Horrifying Truth, Forrester Savell is producing the album.

Two singles were released ahead of the album release, "Razor Wire Reality" and "Death of You". The album, Science & Survival, was released on 4 July 2014. "Transmission" and "Standing on the Sun" were released after the tour of New Zealand, both songs being put onto high rotation on Rock radio stations in New Zealand.

On December 15 I Am Giant released for free download the new song "Russian Doll" which is the first song to feature new singer Ryan Redman.

On March 19, 2015, it was announced that Woolright would be replacing Willy Moon as a judge on The X Factor New Zealand, after Moon's sacking.

Band members

Current members Ryan Redman – vocals (2014–present) Paul Matthews – bass guitar, backup vocals, album guitars (2008–present) Stuart Steele – Lead Guitars (2014–present) Shelton Woolright – drums (2008–present) Touring Members Michael Triponel – guitars (2013–2014) Andrew Kerr – guitars (2012–2014)

Former Members Max O'Donnell – guitars (2008-2010) Aja Timu – Lead Guitars (2010-2012) (2014) Ed Martin – vocals (2008–2014) Michael Triponel – guitars (2013–2014) Andrew Kerr – guitars (2012–2014)

Timeline

Discography

I Am Giant discography

Releases
↙Studio albums	2
↙EPs	2
↙Singles	9

I Am Gaint's music artist discography features 2 studio albums, 2 extended plays (EPs) and 9 singles.

Studio albums

Year	Album	Peak chart positions	Certification
		NZ [5]
2011	The Horrifying Truth Released: 1 August 2011 Label: Giant Sound/Sony Music	2	NZ: Gold[6]
2014	Science & Survival Released: 4 July 2014 Label: Giant Sound/Sony Music	2

Extended plays

Year	Album	Peak chart positions	Certification
		NZ [5]
2010	City Limits / Neon Sunrise[7] Released: 26 March 2010 Label: Giant Sound/Sony Music	18	NZ: Gold[8]
2012	I Am Giant[9] German release Released: 30 November 2012 Label: Giant Sound/Sony Music	—
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Singles

I Am Giants' first single "City Limits" has been a hit on rock radio in New Zealand, having been on an A Rotate for nearly 5 months and, at number 10, was the only new entry in the Rock’s Top 20 Best Kiwi Songs of All Time. A music video for the song was released onto band's YouTube VEVO channel on 15 June 2011.^[10]

Their second single "Neon Sunrise" debuted in the Top 20 singles chart in NZ. The video features 11 times World Champion, USA surfer Kelly Slater.^[11] "Neon Sunrise" was featured prominently as the opening track for Derder Paintball 2010 video production Dementia.

Year	Single	Album	Peak chart positions	Music video
			NZ [5]
2010	"City Limits"	I Am Giant EP	38	[10]
	"Neon Sunrise"		—	[11]
	"Living The Crash"		—	[12]
2011	"And We'll Defy"	The Horrifying Truth	—	[13]
	"Let It Go"		—	[14]
2012	"Purple Heart"		—	[15]
2014	"Death Of You"	Science & Survival	9
	"Minefield"		10
	"Razor Wire Reality"		15	[16]
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

References

External links

• www.iamgiant.com
• www.iamgiant-army.com
• I Am Giant interview with Sound.wav Music