A HISTORY
London, England, United Kingdom | SELF
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here is a little thrill to this band, a frisson, a bit like going to a house party where you don’t know anybody, the lights are low and everybody is strangely beautiful. A bit Siouxsie at times dropped into a bed of first album XX. The band label the track ‘Glitter Doom’ as a genre. It is a little doom laden and indeed glittery. Think less of the soundcloud genre tag and more of the slow motion rise of a shirtless, glitter-specked chest in the dappled light of post apocalypse London. - Fresh on the Net
here is a little thrill to this band, a frisson, a bit like going to a house party where you don’t know anybody, the lights are low and everybody is strangely beautiful. A bit Siouxsie at times dropped into a bed of first album XX. The band label the track ‘Glitter Doom’ as a genre. It is a little doom laden and indeed glittery. Think less of the soundcloud genre tag and more of the slow motion rise of a shirtless, glitter-specked chest in the dappled light of post apocalypse London. - Fresh on the Net
Take one recent graduate of all female Alt- choir Gaggle, add an Australian guitarist and refuge from the London metal scene and complete the musical triangle with one of Andalusia’s only female drummers and the result is ? A History! Aquila Rose, Graham Alderton, and Bel Conde are A History and their début single ‘Fox’ is a dramatic glitter frosted gem that weaves a poetic narrative alongside broodingly, beautiful dark cinematic pop.
We could of course employ any number of musical aphorisms or journalistic clichés, but its best to just immerse yourself in the sound. A History agree, they think that new music deserves to be something more than just an instant download! They have therefore invited people to ‘step inside’ their début album “Tina In The Green Dress” by creating a multi-sensory experience via a collaboration with theatre company Twisted Hip which runs from Feb 1st – 3rd 2013 at Londons Roundhouse. The album itself is inspired by a collection of letters found by the band in an old suitcase at a flea market and follows the story of Tina after her finance, Jimmy, is sent to fight in the Vietnam War. - The VPME
Take one recent graduate of all female Alt- choir Gaggle, add an Australian guitarist and refuge from the London metal scene and complete the musical triangle with one of Andalusia’s only female drummers and the result is ? A History! Aquila Rose, Graham Alderton, and Bel Conde are A History and their début single ‘Fox’ is a dramatic glitter frosted gem that weaves a poetic narrative alongside broodingly, beautiful dark cinematic pop.
We could of course employ any number of musical aphorisms or journalistic clichés, but its best to just immerse yourself in the sound. A History agree, they think that new music deserves to be something more than just an instant download! They have therefore invited people to ‘step inside’ their début album “Tina In The Green Dress” by creating a multi-sensory experience via a collaboration with theatre company Twisted Hip which runs from Feb 1st – 3rd 2013 at Londons Roundhouse. The album itself is inspired by a collection of letters found by the band in an old suitcase at a flea market and follows the story of Tina after her finance, Jimmy, is sent to fight in the Vietnam War. - The VPME
New music deserves more than an instant download. Delve into the musical imagination of emerging band A History in this innovative theatrical event and meet the mysterious character from their conceptual album.
Tina, In The Green Dress, is a multi-sensory experience of A History’s music, created by theatre company TwistedHip. A spectacular promenade production; audiences will literally step inside the music video of the emerging band, walking through their songs in a three dimensional landscape.
A History’s songs tell the story of Tina, a young tear-away and Jimmy, a solider, through an exchange of letters after he is drafted to Vietnam. Each song follows Tina as she travels cross-country from Mississippi to New York, struggling to come to terms with the loss of her lover. The narrative was inspired by a collection of letters found by Rose in a market in Coney Island, Brooklyn. Engaged from toe to eardrum, audiences are moved through visually rich and atmospheric environments as they follow the dreamy, yet darkly tinged journey of Tina. The ultimate crescendo will see the band playing live in the visceral theatre setting, bringing Tina, a wild girl in a green dress, to life. - Roundhouse London
limited to just 250 copies and hand numbered by the band. glitter-doom trio a history debut single 'fox' falls through the cracks of genre, to rise up in a spectacular crescendo of drums, guitar and vocals. amid the sultry account of a doomed love, the tune sinks a little deeper into the skin, giving a brooding nod to siouxsie, the xx and fleetwood mac. listen to this when you've stamped out your last cigarette, when your life is on the turn. it is filled with longing, longing for just one more refrain. - Rough Trade Record Store
You performed ‘Tina, In The Green Dress’, at London’s Roundhouse at the beginning of the month. Please tell us about the concept of the show and how did you feel it went?
Aquila: It was incredible working with such talented performers. We had twelve dancers and actors who were so into the project and it was wonderful seeing them interact with our music. The concept was to get the audience excited about watching live music again. Making a big deal out of a gig, a ceremony, it was almost like playing at your own funeral.
A HISTORY, How did the band come together and with what ambitions?
Aquila: We met on a sofa in North London after being up for days and started talking about Tom Waits and how we both wanted to be him. That's pretty much it.
Graham: I mainly wanted to be like Tom Waits guitarist Marc Ribot. The other thing we really clicked with was a love of big drums.
Your debut single ‘Fox’ was released on 04 February. The band’s music has been described as ”Glitter-doom”. How would to describe your sound for people yet to hear your songs?
Aquila: Our sound is something I struggle with defining. It's cinematic, takes you on a journey but, the type of journey that leaves you with a love bite and a little bit of a shitty hangover. One that you will never quite remember or, forget.
Single released, is there an album on the way, or anything already recorded for your next release?
Aquila: We're cooking the songs at the moment, but like a good chef you never quite know when they will be ready.
What is your song writing process and where do you tend to be located when the seed of new ideas are sown?
Aquila: I'm normally on my bike and it will hit me like a bumper and I'll have to turn back and record it there and then. The winter has been a bad time for song writing.
Graham: After that spark I'll take Aquila's idea or demo and pull it apart and put it back to together with different instrumentation. Then bounce it back to her again and work it some - The Rock Club
A compelling proposition from Gaggle graduate Aquila Rose, A History sees her join forces with Andalusian drummer Bel Conde and guitarist Graham Alderton.
‘Fox’ is a strong opening gambit from the London-based trio, who have masterminded a conceptual multi-sensory experience to launch their début ‘album’ Tina in a Green Dress. The album was inspired by a collection of letters found by the band in a suitcase on a market stall. Along with theatre company Twisted Hip, the band will perform Tina in a Green Dress: The Experience for three nights from 1 February at London’s Roundhouse. - The Line of Best Fit
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
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Bio
A HISTORY are described as 'more Glitter than Doom.' This London outfit bring together stadium drums, desert guitars and haunting vocals.
An equation of diversity, each corner of the band holds a staff in their own field. Aquila Rose began chanting with holy men in the Himalayas and she's been swimming in the murky depths of the minimal scene ever since.
Graham Alderton learnt guitar in the deserts of Australia. With dust still on his boots he entered the London metal scene and finally plugged in his Epiphone and laptop and started making beats.
Bel Conde is one of Andalusia's only female drummers, beating her way through seven storey buildings and into the line up of a girl band.
A HISTORY weave a sparkling dark stage show, with one of the sexiest followings in London they make sex, drugs and rock and roll have a whole new meaning.
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