Music
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We can charge the ’90s for heinous crimes against the pop genre, forever ruining its image. For some. But not for others, like Sydney’s Happenstance, who don’t care whether you like pop or not, because they sure do and aren’t afraid to show it.
But this four piece is far from derivative. Fantastic vocal hooks, smooth, melodic bass lines courtesy of David Grant and subtle attention to detail in ‘If I’m Not Mistaken’ elevates it from being just another bottom-rung, stock-standard pop-rock tune into a fine example of good songwriting. Something bright, anyway, for your Friday!
Dom Alessio - Friday, March 7, 2008
http://whothehell.net/archives/1513 - http://whothehell.net/archives/1513
"This local quartet have got impressive musical chops (the close suspended harmonies, the dexterous bass of David M Grant, the odd time signature tweak) and in a world where Maroon Five and Thirsty Merc have found significant audiences there's absolutely no musical reason why Happenstance couldn't enjoy the fruits of daytime mainstream radio play. The production is clean and the packaging handsome and 'If I'm Not Mistaken' has already hit 1 at www.mp3.com.au. Sure, you've heard it all before, but they do it very, very well."
(Drum Media, 9 October) - Drum Media
Happenstance are a bunch of Sydney-siders who have created one of the catchiest EP's I've listened to in a while. Their pop-rock sound is not unlike Maroon 5 and it's so easy to imagine hearing their music on mainstream radio. 'Here I Am Again' was my personal favourite but you should definitely check out their Myspace and listen to 'Do You Wanna'; it will make you wanna sing along in harmony! - couriermail.com.au
In a time of emo punk bands and grungy Brit pop, Happenstance takes a different stance.
If you combined the Whitlams with the Beatles, you would get some idea of the Sydney band's catchy, poppy sound.
It's a niche lead singer Ben Grace is happy to occupy.
"I suppose we did make the decision to go down the pop-rock road but it's just what we write and we want to make it as catchy as possible," Grace says.
"If it sticks in our heads it will stick in others' heads."
But there's more substance than cliched melodies.
"The Beatles, Queen, Crowded House and those bands with a twist of humour, like Ben Folds Five and Cake, inspire us," he says.
"We spend ages on lyrics and use them if they make us laugh.
"There's not a lot of narrative pop rock around these days,"
Another point of difference is they include the first female to go through the Conservatory of Music on drums, Ali Foster.
"She's the star of our show," Grace says.
- Vanessa Santer, mX News, Monday November 12, 2007 - mX News
"Their funky, bluesy take on indie rock recalls Hanson's recent material - which is a good thing in this case. Long story short: I like Happenstance, you will too" - Liam Casey, Drum Media, 6 Nov
- Drum Media
Happenstance create a sound that keeps it purity but manages to crossover into the pop genre. The band's infectious melodies and repetitive choruses are very akin to some of the Whitlams earlier work. The songs 'Do You Wanna?' and 'Here I am again' would not be out of place on commercial radio and I wouldn't be surprised if happenstance was a name we heard a lot of in the near future. - Robert Hazel, Southern Highland News, 26 Oct - Southern Highland News
"Taking classic pop as their signpost, Happenstance are a very competent and tight outfit, employing great harmonies and some of that sparkle that comes from old-fashioned songwriting" – HQ - Drum Media
Discography
Debut selftitled EP released on Sep 1 2007. Containing the tracks Do You Wanna?, Here I Am Again, If I'm Not Mistaken, Crossed The Line and I Wanna Write Songs (bonus track). The EP has been featured heavily on Australian community radio and is also now getting attention in LA thanks to our track 'If I'm Not Mistaken' being the first track on the Power Pop Overthrow Vol 2 compilation CD.
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Bio
In a serious city called Sydney where angry rock bands gather a-plenty, one band chooses to ignore the road rage & channel the hectic pace into cheerful pop/rock music. Happenstance are two charismatic front-men Ben Grace & Nick Woodford, the virtuosic David Grant on bass & dynamic drummer Ali Foster (winner of the 2007 Jann Rutherford Memorial Award for women instrumentalists in jazz). Happenstance’s on-stage sound has been likened to the Beatles, Crowded House, Maroon 5, Queen, early Whitlams, Phish, Supergrass and Jellyfish.
Happenstance have been playing the Sydney scene for a short time and have wasted no time producing their first EP along side ARIA award winning producer/engineer Anton Hagop (Silverchair, Powderfinger, the Dissociatives) and their debut film clip directed by the upcoming Kane Christopher & award winning cinematographer Geoffrey Simpson (Shine, Romulus my Father).
This stylistically varied debut EP serves as an entree to Happenstance’s extensive repertoire. Two of the EP tracks recently made into the top 30 in the national New Artists 2 Radio (2007) competition and in September the newly launched mp3.com.au charts made their debut with Happenstance at no. 1.
In late 2008 'If I'm Not Mistaken' was featured as the opening track on the US compilation CD "Power Pop Overthrow Vol. 2" and sees it being added to US college radio. In early 2008 'Here I Am Again' secured a spot on the Perisher Blue 'Launch Your Band' compilation CD.
Happenstance have played at venues such as the Gaelic Club, the Annandale, the Hopetoun, the Excelsior, Will & Toby's, the Lansdowne, the Cat & Fiddle, HQ, Mandarin Club, Orange Grove Hotel and Vic on the Park and Windsor’s infamous Jolly Frog Hotel and have also taken the show on the road to Newcastle, Wollongong, Port Macquarie, Armidale & Coffs Harbour.
Happenstance recently shared the stage with Youth Group, the Audreys, the Verses & many other great bands at the NAB Dream Festival in Melbourne. They have also shared the stage with the likes of Mental as Anything, Jack Nolan Band, the Sunpilots, Custom Kings, Cloud Control, Le Kingste, Ellington, Where's Jerome, Playjerize, Wagons, Jumbledat, Lowrider, Custom Kings, Here Come the Birds, The Glass Ceiling, Vaudeville, Fictions, mcArtney, Yen, Jordan Millar & the Question and Brian Campeau.
What people are saying about Happenstance:
“With a strong following, good looks and the right attitude Happenstance are out to refresh the mainstream with their very fun and slightly addictive sound. Including the catchy number ‘If I’m Not Mistaken’ – with a chorus that you just can’t get out of your head this track perfectly blends rock with the energetic pop melodies that we all love.” – MP3.COM.AU
“Happenstance already stand out as unique unlike the plethora of sound-alike Sydney bands” – Dave Reynolds, Producer for Red Recordings and former member of Lime, Skin, Wrecking Crew and Mother Hubbard
"An intelligent outfit, generously feeding the masses with a storehouse of uplifting sounds, melodies and eclectic themes" – Luke Jurevicius, Award winning Director and Composer for ABC's 'Dust Echoes' Series
“Your music sounds great ... when are coming to Melbourne?” - Angie Hart, Frente, Splendid & Holidays on Ice
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