The Chakras

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = The Chakras


Background = group_or_band
Origin = Dublin, Ireland
Instruments =
Genre = Alternative rock, Rock, shoegazing, post-punk, psychedelic noise pop, dream pop
Years_active = 2006–present
URL =www.myspace.com/thechakras
Current_members = Rocky Whittaker
Richie McArdle
Gordo Whittaker
Bryan Pepper
Ian Kane
Osgar Dukes

The Chakras are an Irish alternative rock sestet from Dublin, Ireland. They formed in 2006 but only recently came to prominence with the release of their 2007 "Build Me A Swan" EP. The band is composed of Rocky Whittaker (lead vocals), Richie McArdle (lead guitar, other instruments), Gordo Whittaker (guitar, backing vocals), Ian Kane (bass guitar), Bryan Pepper (Piano, rhodes, glockenspiel, harmonium) and Osgar Dukes (drums, percussion).

The Chakras are currently busy recording their debut LP in recording studios in the UK and Ireland. Work on the album began in early 2008 with producer Chris Potter(The Verve) in Metropolis Studios in London. Although sessions had to be postponed for a short period of time, the album is due to be released towards the end of 2008.

A digital/download single taken from the debut album "We The People" is due for release in July 2008. The track was recorded in the early Potter sessions in Metropolis Studios, London and was mixed in Suite Studios, Dublin by Marc Carolan(Muse, The Cure).

wirling Sounds

One of the most remarkable aspects of The Chakras sound is the unusually ethereal sounds coupled with soaring melodies and a ferocious rhythm section. The heavy usage of digital reverb, pitch shifting and distortion has led to comparisons with bands such as My Bloody Valentine, The Verve and Doves. Always experimenting with sounds in the studio, the band have constantly strived towards creating "exciting and original sounding records". Rocky Whittaker, the visionary of the group, writes all of The Chakras lyrics. Rocky's reverb heavy vocals have become a trademark of the band's ethereal, yet dissonant sound. Several producers attempted to get the group to 'tone-down' the use of effect in their sound, in particular the use of reverb. However, this has resulted in certain tracks being binned as the results sounded too 'dry". "There are certain rules to recording in that you don't use too much of this effect or you have to follow the verse-chorus-structure but right from the start we wanted to dive headfirst in the opposite direction and really discover what you can and cannot get away with. Thats much more interestng to us".(Rocky 2008) The signature tone of The Chakras tracks a "high-pitched" soaring guitar tone provided by Richies Fender Telecaster Deluxe is accompanied by a bed of chainsaw guitars provided by Gordo drenched in digital delay, reverb and distortion effects. One of the key song writers in the group, keyboardist Bran Pepper use of harmonium, glockenspiel and rhodes playing is essential to the music. Although several other drummers were tried out ,the relationship and understanding between Osgar and Kane provides a solid foundation for the rest of band according to Richie "watching the two of them "sparring" together in rehearsals early on, it was frightening how quick they gelled together".