Cardia

NYC isn't as big of a town as one might think. In fact, it's small - especially the waning music scene. There are fewer and fewer venues, fewer and fewer studios, fewer and fewer real musicians... Certainly fewer musicians who feel it in their bones when they do it or who bridge the ever-widening chasm between artist and audience.

When Ian Love (Rival Schools, Burn) decided that fronting his own band was a soul-soothing necessity, he sought the companionship of professionals. He needed able bodies who could function well under the microscope of the studio, the rigors of the stage and in matters of the heart. "Emoting through music is no easy task," said Love. "It's all I do, though and, quite honestly, I need people who can stay the course."

This valiancy, combined with Ian's gift of song-craftsmanship, attracted the talent of Andy Action, drummer/producer (2 Skinnee J's, Speedball Baby). "At first, I thought we would just do a record together, but soon I realized that this was much more..." sighs Action, charictaristically nostalgic. "I was on tour in Europe when Ian mentioned that he wanted me to consider playing drums for the group. I was delighted - the music is right where my head is at and I felt like I fit right in. The other drummers Ian had worked with in the past (Alan Cage of Quicksand and Sammy Seigler of CIV, Rival Schools) set the bar pretty high. I was excited to take on the chair."

Jeff Botta, guitar hero and old friend of Ian's, was summoned to bring guitar duty in Cardia to the next level. "He's an accomplished player and the type of guy who can really push the envelope," says Ian of Jeff. "He came to the first rehearsal knowing the first album cold. Since then, it's been constant evolution."

Jake K. (Bluetip) rounds out the foursome bringing the sensitivity and experience necessary to hold his own. He has toured all over the world - US over 10 times, Europe 5 times, and Japan twice. "When I moved to NYC, the first band I saw was Cardia. I thought to myself, "This is the kind of band I want to be in. 2 weeks later, I joined! I'm glad to be aboard..."

The outfit needed a name, and when faced with the inadequacy of words to decribe sound, persona and vision, they landed on Cardia: a feminine variation on the Greek word for heart. "There's an epic quality there. The music has a graceful essence, but a strong backbone," said People Magazine's Rennie Dyball. "It really fits. Cardia, like their music are soft and strong at once."

Under their own roof, Ian and the lads forged an album on an epic scale, taking over a year to craft the tunes to exacting specifications. "At first we were all busy with various other projects; bands, producing, scoring flims, getting married," quips Love, "but soon, it became all encompassing. Other priorities in our lives fell off, one by one. It was all quite organic, pleasingly."

Having played the European Festival circuit with Rival Schools in 2002, Ian then made the decision to leave and to pursue Cardia full time.  "Because this music and this band are where my heart is, it was easy to make the decision. I needed to appease my soul. It was almost as if the decision was made for me." Soon after, Cardia embarked on a short UK tour to whet the appitites of the band's potential fans. London's XFM DJ, Zane Lowe began airing Cardia's 'Pretty Ones' regularly and the band began gathering momentum.

Teaming up with (former Burning Airlines') Mike Harbin's record label, SilverThree Sound Recordings, Cardia released their self-titled recording to great critical acclaim. Having played the Reading and Leeds festivals in the Summer of 2003, Kerrang Magazine featured the band in it's reputable 'Rising' column. Alternative Press inlcuded Cardia in their top 100 bands to watch in 2004.