British India (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = British India


Img_capt =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Melbourne, Australia
Genre = Alternative rock
Garage rockcite web|url=http://www.accessallareas.net.au/data/EkEykplVyyAZfrPMye.php|title=British India: Thieves|publisher=Access All Areas.net.au|date=2008-07-17|accessdate=2008-07-30]
Years_active = 2004–present
Label = Flashpoint Records
Shock Records
URL = [http://www.myspace.com/britishindia Official MySpace]
Current_members = Declan Melia
Nic Wilson
Will Drummond
Matt O'Gorman
Past_members =

British India is a garage rock band based in Australia. The band formed in Melbourne, Australia in 2004, comprising lead vocalist, lyricist and guitarist Declan Melia, guitarist Nic Wilson, bassist Will Drummond and drummer Matt O'Gorman. [cite web|url=http://guides.news.com.au/music/artist/?30474 |title=British India|publisher=news.com.au |accessdate=2008-07-07] They have released two studio albums, both within a 12 month period from 2007-2008.

History

Formation and early work

The members of British India met at high school,cite web|url=http://www.sanity.com.au/product/product.asp?sku=2112072|title=British India/Thieves|accessdate=2008-07-30] forming when friends Declan Melia and Nic Wilson asked schoolmates Will Drummond and Matt O'Gorman to join their band, whilst attending St. Bede's College, in Melbourne, Australia, in 2004. Reportedly social misfits throughout high school, the quartet played cover versions of songs by the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Beatles, Blur, and Starsailor. The band's name was originally noticed by Wilson on a b-side by Strawberry Alarm Clock.cite web|url=http://www.beat.com.au/article.php?id=922 |title=British India|publisher="Beat"|author=Christine Lan|date=15 August 2007|accessdate=2008-07-18] In 2005, after playing regularly across Australia for a year, the band signed with In-Fidelity Recordings and began work on their debut EP, with producer Lindsay Gravina. In June 2005 they released a single, "Outside 109 / Automatic Blitzkrieg". [cite web|url=http://www.amo.org.au/release.asp?id=7301 |title=Outside 109 / Automatic Blitzkrieg|publisher=Australian Music Online|accessdate=2008-07-18] The song's inspiration came from a quip made by Mick Jagger in an interview in 1964. Melia told Australian Music Online the song's lyrics referred to the band's gigging in Melbourne, and "being just outside of international recognition". [cite web|url=http://www.amo.org.au/qa_interview.asp?id=806 |title=British India lay bare their debut single... (June 05)|publisher=Australian Music Online|date=6 June 2005|accessdate=2008-07-18]

On 21 November 2005, the band released their debut EP "Counter Culture", on Flashpoint Records. Following recording at Sydney's Flashpoint Studios with studio owner Harry Vanda. [cite web|url=http://www.amo.org.au/release.asp?id=7529 |title=Counter Culture|publisher=Australian Music Online|accessdate=2008-07-19] Drummond said that in recording the EP, the band "crammed all [their] youthful exuberance" onto it. [cite web|url=http://www.amo.org.au/qa_interview.asp?id=1009 |title=British India talk about recording with Harry Vanda (Nov 05)...|publisher=Australian Music Online|date=21 November 2005|accessdate=2008-07-18]

National success

British India spent a couple of years receiving "premature hype" from the likes of Australian radio station Triple J, [cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/cd-reviews/thieves/2008/07/18/1216163139647.html|title=Thieves|accessdate=2008-07-30] until finally making their break with 2007 single "Tie Up My Hands", taking the number one spot in the "jtv" music television programme. Along with the single, in 2007 they released their debut album, "Guillotine", which was produced by Harry Vanda. "Guillotine" was also nominated for Triple J's J Award in 2007, as well as winning the AIR Award for Best New Independent Artist. [cite web|url=http://www.air.org.au/index.php?cID=2130&apply=&webpage=air_charts&menuID=536|title=AIR 2007 Winners. |accessdate=2008-02-25] Through the 11 months following the release of "Guillotine", British India played to an array of sold out shows and also at music festivals Big Day Out, Homebake, Golden Plains, Pyramid Rock, and Come Together Music Festival.

In April and May 2008, British India recorded a second album, again going to Flashpoint Studios to record their sophomore album, "Thieves". The album was released just 12 months after their debut and found massive success on the Australian national charts, entering the ARIA Album Chart at #5. The first single to be released from the album was titled "I Said I'm Sorry". The band are setting off on a tour of Europe and the UK in late 2008. [cite web|url=http://www.tsunamimag.com/articles/british-india.html|title=British India|accessdate=2008-08-15]

Discography

Albums

* "Guillotine" - 30 June 2007
* "Thieves" - 19 July 2008 AUS#5 (ARIA Album Chart)

EPs

* "Counter Culture" - 21 November 2005

ingles

* "Outside 109 / Automatic Blitzkrieg" (2005)
* "Black & White Radio" (2006)
* "Tie Up My Hands" (2007)
* "Run the Red Light" (2007) AUS#50 / AUS#22 (ARIA Physical Singles Chart)
* "I Said I'm Sorry" (2008)

Compilation appearances

* "Discoveries" (2007) – "Black & White Radio"
* "Triple J Hottest 100 Vol.15" (2008) - "Tie Up My Hands"

Music videos

References

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/britishindia Official British India MySpace]
* [http://www.webwombat.com.au/entertainment/music/british-india-live.htm British India - Live & Acoustic]