We Have Band

We Have Band
Origin Manchester, London
Genres Dance-punk, krautrock, indie rock, new wave
Years active 2007-present
Labels Naïve
Website www.wehaveband.com
Members Darren Bancroft
Thomas Wegg-Prosser
Dede Wegg-Prosser

We Have Band also known as "WHB" is a three-piece electronic music group from Manchester and London consisting of Darren Bancroft, as well as husband-and-wife duo Thomas Wegg-Prosser and Dede Wegg-Prosser.[1] They have released two albums through French based Naïve Records. Their début WHB (released on 5 April 2010)[2] and ten track second album Ternion (released on 29 January 2012).[3] We Have Band have remixed many artists including Gorillaz, Bloc Party, Micachu, Peter Bjorn and John and M83 amongst others.

Instruments and style

The band writes with guitars, bass, synthesizers, soft synthesizers, percussion, drum machines and drum samples. Within a few months of working together the band had the collection of songs that formed the backbone of their debut album. Many of these songs appeared as single releases and on various compilations including the Kitsuné Maison compilations. Their style has been variously described as disco revival [4] and depressive disco.[5] They have been lauded as punk funk standard bearers [5] and in their early days were described by Paul Lester of The Guardian as being "unsigned and undeniable".[6]

Career

Early live performances

The band started playing in London in April 2008 at nights such as Club Mother Fucker,[7] Dollop,[8] YoYo,[9] White Heat [10] and Durr.[11] In their early days they also made a number of festival appearances at events like Secret Garden Party, Glastonbury festival, SXSW, La Route du Rock, Rencontres Trans Musicales, Montreux Jazz Festival, CMJ, Berlin Festival and Art Basel Miami. This laid the foundations for the live following which saw the band tour solidly during 2009 and 2010. A highlight of their early live work was victory in the Glastonbury Festival emerging band competition in March 2009.[12]

Early single and compilation releases

The band released their debut single Oh! in November 2008 on the 50bones records [13] was notable for releasing early singles by Little Boots, and The Virgins. The single received much critical acclaim. This Is Faked DIY [14] described it as "the most chilled disco-funk ever and was described as "Kraftwerk running for the bus".[6] Oh! was remixed by Yo Majesty and Micachu & The Shapes. The video for this release was directed by Tom Ellis. Oh! was followed by You Came Out which was released on the Kill 'em All in June 2009. The video for You Came Out [15] was directed by David Wilson who has also directed videos for Metronomy and Little Boots. There were a number of remixes for You Came Out including ones by Stereogamus[16] and Blamma Blamma!.[17] The Kitsuné label were early fans of the band and 2 tracks were included on the Kitsune maison compilations. Hear It In The Cans featured on Maison 6 and Time After Time featured on Maison 7. The band have since played 2 kitsune events in Paris’s La Maroquonaire and London’s Scala.

Naïve label releases

WHB

Work on the bands debut album was finished in Autumn 2009. It was mixed and co-produced by Gareth Jones who has also worked with Depeche Mode, These New Puritans, and most recently Emmy The Great. The recording and mix was finished in Strongrooms and the record was mastered by Nils at The Exchange . It was signed to the French Independent label Naïve Records [18] at then end of 2009 and the album was released On 5 April 2010 on CD, vinyl and download formats (12). The album received much critical acclaim. The Times described it as "Brooding disco meets slick, new-wave indie" . The Fly Magazine said the album shows "just what a force they really are ",[19] whilst The Music Fix [20] said "These young shoulders have sired a mature yet minimal electro pop masterpiece." The album artwork was created by East London art director and designer Sam Ashby who is also responsible for the Queer Film magazine Little Joe.

Singles

Divisive was the first single proper from the album. It was iTunes single of the week on its release week of 22 March.[21] It received significant support from Radio 1 DJs Fearne Cotton and Jo Whiley . The video for Divisive [22] was made by jul&mat[23] for Solab who have also made videos for Metronomy. Divisive was remixed by Tom Starr[24] and Chicago house legend Carl Craig[25] amongst others. Divisive was followed by a re release of Oh!.[26] The re-release video was made by Blake Claridge. The final single taken from WHB was Love What You Doing? [27] Released on 6 December 2010 (18) the single was accompanied by remixes by Anoraak, Teenagers and Tokyo and JamesYuill.

Touring

From the 2008 London performances and early international festival performances the band have toured fairly constantly. At the Rencontres Trans Musicales in Late 2008 in Rennes the band were described as "The Revelation of the Festival". In 2009 and 2010 the band played 287 shows across 26 countries. They have played major festivals all over the UK including Glastonbury festival, The Big Chill, V Festival, Lovebox Festival, Secret Garden Party, Latitude and Isle of Wight Festival, Parklife, The Great Escape. Worldwide, they played SXSW, Melt! Festival, Berlin Festival Emmaboda (Sweden), Paleo Festival (Switzerland), Pohoda (Slovakia), La Route du Rock, Exit (Serbia), Montreux Jazz Festival, Printemps de Bourges, Pukkelpop, Calvi On The Rocks amongst many others. Playing live has given the band their real identity and allowed them to reach 10s of thousands to gig goers and their energetic Live Shows have earned them numerous plaudits,[4][28][29]

TV and film

Several of the band's songs have been used on TV advertisements. The track Honey Trap [30] was chose for the global Diesel Be Stupid campaign. Divisive was used in the hit TV series Mercy [31] and the Tom Starr remix was used on EA Games Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit [32] Their Third single Love What You Doing was chosen for Stella McCartney's Print Collection Fragrances adverts.[33] and twice on the TV show Made in Chelsea.[34] The band also appeared on the Channel 4 Top Shop ctrl event broadcast in April 2010[35] and was featured on the MTV live sessions.[36]

2011

The Band had several European dates and festivals, but mainly worked on their follow up to their first album WHB with producer Luke Smith who recently produced Foals and producer mixer Ben Hillier who has worked with Blur, Villagers and Elbow.

2012

Ternion

Ternion was released on 30 January 2012. The limited edition version of the record included a bonus disc Ternion Aside,[37] which is a 26 minute reworking of the album by Thomas Wegg-Prosser of WHB. The first single "Where Are Your People?" [38] was released on 5 February 2012, picking up television coverage on Sky's Soccer AM [39] along with radio plays on stations such as XFM, Amazing Radio and fm4 . There was significant interest on music blogs, including Clash Music,[40] Disco Naivete [41] and lagasta.[42] This single was accompanied by remixes from house act eatseverythingmusic [43] and Electronic Duo Walls.[44] The Video for the release was made by Alex Turvey.[45] The second single taken from Ternion, Tired Of Running[46] - was released on 4 June 2012. The video was shot in the woods of Marly Le Roi outside of Paris and was directed by Arthur Castillon & Fabien Pochez.[47] The single and video have attracted coverage from La Gasta,[48] Disco Naivete,[49] Daze Digital,[50] Electronic Beats,[51] ilikemusic.,[52] At the end of the year, they released 'What's Mine, What's Yours' single, online only,[53][54] to accompany the release was a montage style video edited and directed by Kate Bones,[54] Along with this Ternion Aside was re-released, previously only available on the Special Edition of Ternion, is a 26 minute re-work of Side A of Ternion [55] done by Tom Wegg-Prosser. Explained in his own words...

"It was inspired by The League Unlimited Orchestra’s ‘Love and Dancing’ Album. The idea of taking only the component parts from an original album recording and re-imagining them - creating a new and unique piece of music from what already existed whilst trying not to take a conventional remix approach. The 1st 5 tracks from ‘Ternion’ all worked within this concept and we love the way the music becomes something else."

this was available to listen to on soundcloud and 'What's Mine, What's Yours', the final track from the mix was available to download for free.[56]

Recordstore Day

On Recordstore day 21 April 2012 - the band released a limited edition double a-side of cover of The Horrors "Still Life" and Washed Out "Within Without".

The band have done the following live sessions to promote Ternion - All Saints Basement Sessions,[57] Daytrotter,[58] Play NetWork,[57] Nova Radio,[59] le Mouv [60] and The Clash.[61]

Touring

Their tour to accompany this album started on 15 February 2012 in Cargo London, and was followed by an extensive tour of Europe, then on to South America for 16º Festival Cultura Inglesa with Franz Ferdinand and The Horrors. European and UK festivals follow including, Lovebox, Latitude, Montreux Jazz Festival, Berlin Festival and Dockville. A European Autumn tour follow in September 2012, including Berlin Festival.[62] Continuing to play throughout the year. In 2013 they headed off to Mexico for some date with Bandtastic [63] and returned to do a German Tour. The band are currently working on their 3rd album.

Discography

Studio albums

Album title Album details
WHB
Ternion

Singles

Release details Release date Label
"Oh!" November 2008 50 Bones
"You Came Out" June 2009 Kill 'em All
"Divisive" March 2010 Naïve Records
"Oh!" June 2010 Naïve Records
"Love, What You Doing?" December 2010 Naïve Records
"Where Are Your People?" February 2012 Naïve Records
"Tired Of Running" June 2012 Naïve Records
"What's Mine, What's Yours" November 2012 Naïve Records

Remixing

Cover versions

Mixtapes

References

  1. ↑ "We Have Band". Last.fm. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
  2. ↑ "WHB (Bonus Track Version)". iTunes. 2010-04-05. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  3. ↑ "Ternion (Deluxe Edition)". iTunes. 2012-01-29. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Interview : We Have Band « Dirtbag Journalism". Dirtbagjournalism.wordpress.com. 2010-04-28. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "NME Album Reviews - Album Review: We Have Band - 'WHB' (WHB Records/Naive)". Nme.Com. 2010-04-09. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Paul Lester (2008-06-20). "No 338: We Have Band | Culture". London: guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  7. ↑ "Club Motherfu*ker". Clubmotherfucker.com. 2012-05-12. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  8. ↑ "dollop". Dollopdollop.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  9. ↑ "Thursday". Nottinghillartsclub.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  10. ↑ "White Heat Club. Every Tuesday night at Madame JoJo's in Soho, London". Whiteheatmayfair.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  11. ↑ "DURRR". DURRR. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  12. ↑ "News - We Have Band interview". Glastonbury Festivals. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  13. ↑ "It's a 50 Bones blog". 50bones.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  14. ↑ "We Have Band - Oh! | Single Reviews | DIY". Thisisfakediy.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  15. ↑ "We Have Band - You Came Out (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  16. ↑ "We Have Band - You Came Out (Stereogamous Bathhouse Version)". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  17. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE NEW DOWNLOAD: We Have Band (Blamma! Blamma!'s Fleetwood Mix)". Rcrd Lbl. 2009-08-19. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  18. ↑ "We Have Band - Page". Interview Magazine. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  19. ↑ "We Have Band / New Album Reviews / Music News from THE FLY - The UK's Most Popular Music Magazine". The Fly. 2010-04-01. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  20. ↑ Adrian Mules (2010-03-26). "We Have Band | Review | Music @ The Digital Fix". Music.thedigitalfix.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  21. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Divisive - EP by We Have Band". Itunes.apple.com. 2010-03-22. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  22. ↑ "We Have Band - Divisive". YouTube. 2010-02-22. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  23. ↑ "Jul & Mat Website". Juletmat.fr. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  24. ↑ "We Have Band — Divisive (Tom Staar Remix)". YouTube. 2010-01-11. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  25. ↑ "We Have Band - Divisive (Carl Craig Remix)". YouTube. 2010-09-13. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  26. ↑ "We Have Band - OH!". YouTube. 2010-06-14. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  27. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Love, What You Doing? - EP by We Have Band". Itunes.apple.com. 2010-12-06. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  28. ↑ "We Have Band / Live Reviews / Music News from THE FLY - The UK's Most Popular Music Magazine". The Fly. 2010-04-12. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  29. ↑ "Big Chill 2010: We Have Band | Clash Music Live Gig Concert or Festival Review". Clashmusic.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  30. ↑ "Be Stupid". Diesel. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  31. ↑ "Mercy - Season 1, Episode 22: That Crazy Bitch Was Right". TV.com. 2011-04-17. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  32. ↑ "NFS Hot Pursuit: We Have Band - Divisive (Tom Staar Remix)". YouTube. 2010-09-24. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  33. ↑ "Stella McCartney - The Print Collection on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. 2011-10-26. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  34. ↑ "Made in Chelsea - Episode 7 music". E4.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  35. ↑ "Trailer for the Topman CTRL Tour coming to Channel 4". YouTube. 2010-05-28. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  36. ↑ "You Came Out (MTV Session) | We Have Band | Live Session Video | MTV UK". Mtv.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  37. ↑ "We Have Band Unveil New Video For Single 'Tired Of Running', Play Lovebox This Weekend". Pressparty. 2012-06-12. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  38. ↑ "Where Are Your People? by We Have Band on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  39. ↑ "Sky Sports | Shows | Soccer AM | Week 21". Soccer AM. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  40. ↑ "We Have Band Announce Free EP - 11 Jan 2012 | Clash Music Latest Breaking Music News". Clashmusic.com. 2012-01-11. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  41. ↑ "disco naïveté » premiere: We Have Band - Where Are Your People?". Disconaivete.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  42. ↑ "We Have Band: “Where Are Your People?” « La.Ga.Sta". Lagasta.com. 2011-12-04. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  43. ↑ "Eats Everything". Facebook. 2012-06-21. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  44. ↑ "DJ Kamera (Electronic Duo) - Wall". Facebook. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  45. ↑ "AlexTurvey.com". Cargocollective.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  46. ↑ "We Have Band - Tired Of Running by We Have Band on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  47. ↑ "Wanda Productions - Director - Arthur Castillon & Fabien Pochez". Wanda.net. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  48. ↑ "We Have Band: “Tired Of Running” Video « La.Ga.Sta". Lagasta.com. 2012-06-12. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  49. ↑ "disco naïveté » video: We Have Band - Tired Of Running". Disconaivete.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  50. ↑ "We Have Band Video Premiere: Tired of Running". Dazed Digital. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  51. ↑ "EB Premiere: We Have Band - Tired Of Running". Electronic Beats. 2012-06-12. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  52. ↑ "VIDEO: We Have Band - Tired Of Running". I Like Music. 2012-06-12. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  53. ↑ "What's Mine, What's Yours (Ternion Aside Version) - FREE DOWNLOAD click arrow to the right by We Have Band on SoundCloud - Hear the world’s sounds". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 2013-07-24.
  54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 "We Have Band - What's Mine, What's Yours (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 2012-12-11. Retrieved 2013-07-24.
  55. ↑ "Ternion Aside by We Have Band on SoundCloud - Hear the world’s sounds". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 2013-07-24.
  56. ↑ "What's Mine, What's Yours (Ternion Aside Version) - FREE DOWNLOAD click arrow to the right by We Have Band on SoundCloud - Hear the world’s sounds". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 2013-07-24.
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 "We Have Band - Watertight (Acoustic)". Youtube. 2012-01-30. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  58. ↑
  59. ↑ "Radio Nova - 101.5 FM Paris - Listen Online". Tunein.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  60. ↑ "We Have Band | le mouv'". Lemouv.fr. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  61. ↑ "We Have Band - Watertight (Lovebox 2012) | Clash Music Exclusive Video". Clashmusic.com. 2012-06-21. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  62. ↑ "Berlin Festival | 6.+ 7. September 2013". Berlinfestival.de. Retrieved 2013-07-24.
  63. ↑ "We are working on the next big thing…". Bandtastic.me. Retrieved 2013-07-24.
  64. ↑ 64.0 64.1 "M83 - OK Pal download". Soundowl.com. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
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  66. ↑ "Bloc Party - Halo (We Have Band Dub)". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  67. ↑ "DOWNLOAD: Micachu - Lips (We Have Band Remix)". Rcrd Lbl. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  68. ↑ "Reviews, Interviews, Contests, Free MP3s". The Music Slut. 1999-02-22. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  69. ↑ "Monarchy - Gold in the Fire (We Have Band Remix)". YouTube. 2010-02-06. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  70. ↑ "We Have Band & Natalia Kills". Over Muziek. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  71. ↑ "Reviews, Interviews, Contests, Free MP3s". The Music Slut. 1999-02-22. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  72. ↑ "Try Me (We Have Band remix) by Anoraak on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free". Soundcloud.com. 2010-09-14. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  73. ↑ "teenagersintokyo + We Have Band + Nightschool on BIGSTEREO". This.bigstereo.net. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  74. ↑ "Filthy Dukes - Messages (We Have Band Remix)". YouTube. 2010-11-08. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  75. ↑ "Sweat King (We Have Band Remix): Brisa Roché". Amazon.de. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  76. ↑ "We Have Band - Let's Dance". YouTube. 2010-11-28. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  77. ↑ "We Have Band - Still Life (The Horrors Cover)". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  78. ↑ We Have Band (2012-04-17). "We Have Band - Within and Without (Washed Out Cover) by We Have Band on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  79. ↑ "We Have Band -West End Girls". YouTube. 2009-12-23. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  80. ↑ "We Have Band - Free Mixtape by We Have Band on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  81. ↑ "Listen: We Have Band - Christmas Mix - 9 Dec 2011 | Clash Music Latest Breaking Music News". Clashmusic.com. 2011-12-09. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  82. ↑ "[L'article que vous avez préféré la semaine dernière] Mixtape 43 | Digital Hunter". Digitalhunter.fr. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  83. ↑ "we have band « allez-allez". Allezallezclub.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  84. ↑ "Dummy Mix 24 // We Have Band | Dummy » Mixes". Dummymag.com. Retrieved 2012-07-16.