I Heart Sharks

I Heart Sharks
Background information
Origin	Berlin, Germany
Genres	Indietronica
Years active	2008–present
Labels	Island Records Berlin
Website	www.iheartsharks.net
Members	Pierre Bee Simon Wangemann Martin Wolf
Past members	Georg Steinmaier

I Heart Sharks are a German-British Indietronica band from Berlin, Germany. They are currently signed to Island Records Berlin.

History

Founded in 2008 after Pierre Bee moved to Berlin from London, I Heart Sharks have supported acts such as Cobra Starship,^[1][2] BLK JKS,^[3] Does It Offend You, Yeah?^[4] and Zoot Woman.^[5] In 2011 they went on tour in Germany with Friendly Fires^[6] and Natalia Kills.^[7]

The band cite a mixture of both German and British influences, including Kraftwerk and The Cure,^[8] and are celebrated for spearheading a new indie music scene in Berlin and Germany.^[9]

The band's first single, "Wolves", was released on Laserlaser/Rough Trade^[10] in July 2010 and included several remixes, including one from Cobra Starship guitarist Ryland Blackinton.

The second single, Neuzeit, was released digitally and as a handmade physical special edition limited to 300 copies on AdP Records/Alive on the 21st of October 2011.^[11] The song was the band's first venture into German lyrics, albeit only in the chorus, and the video features topless dancers with images of the band members projected upon them.^[12] On the 28th of October 2011, I Heart Sharks released their debut album, Summer, also on AdP Records/Alive. It was met with positive reviews from the German music press, many comparing the band to contemporaries Foals and Friendly Fires through their live show, but also mentioning that some of the live energy is lost on the LP.^[13]

On the 13th of December 2011, the band released a statement on their Tumblr blog that drummer Georg Steinmaier was leaving the band.^[14] After a brief period with a session drummer, I Heart Sharks started 2012 with new permanent member Martin Wolf.^[15]

Guitarist Simon Wangemann has also worked as a producer, remixer or engineer for other bands such as 'Ja, Panik', 'Bilderbuch', 'Dadajugend Polyform' and 'Lux Repeat'.^[16]

The song "Neuzeit" was chosen as the Berlin Festival Anthem in 2012.^[17]

"Anthems"

In 2013 I Heart Sharks signed a record deal with Island Records and finished producing their follow-up album "Anthems". ^[18] The album was recorded in an unused textile mill in Manchester and in the former DDR radio station in Köpenick in Berlin with the help of producer Joseph Cross of Hurts and The Courteeners fame. Other notable contributors include Midge Ure and Henning Sommer from Hamburg band Wilhelm Tell Me. ^[18]

"Anthems" was released in Germany, Austria and Switzerland on the 28th of March 2014, ^[18]and received a very positive responses from the press.^[19] The sound was described as poppier than the predecessor, "Summer", with more confident vocals and thicker arrangements, ^[20]some even going so far as to describe the band as "Berlin's Hipster Prophets".^[21]

Members

Pierre Bee - Synthesizer, Vocals.

Simon Wangemann - Guitar, Synthesizer, Vocals.

Martin Wolf - Drums, Synthesizer.

Discography

Albums

• 2014 - Anthems
• 2011 - Summer

Singles/EPs

• 2014 - To Be Young
• 2011 - Neuzeit
• 2010 - Wolves EP

References